(
/54)
Gamma Ray
Mejeriet, Lund 2007
Text: Tobias Nilsson Photo: Lunah Lauridsen
Wow, Gamma Ray and Helloween playing together! This was some thing I wasn't alone in wanting to see, seeing how the show was completely sold out. Although, it feels a bit weird having Gamma Ray as a mere support band. In my opinion Gamma Ray is, at this point in time, the more interesting of the two bands, although you cannot deny the history of Helloween. A co-headlined tour is requested for the next time, please.
Gamma Ray started the set off with Heaven Can Wait, and already from the get go you could tell this was going to be a good show. The front of the audience was directly getting into it, and the middle and back of the hall soon followed. The band was also in a great mood, and giving a good performance, although not as lively as I've seen them at other events. This could be explained by Helloween's stage setup though, which didn't leave much room for the support bands. Great show, none the less.
The connection with the audience was perfect, just as could be expected from these guys. Kai's speaking in between songs worked well, and of course there were the dreaded sing-a-long parts. I think all bands, especially in this genre, have them, but I also think that there is no band that can rival Gamma Ray in the length, use and abuse of said parts. I was actually thinking to myself that it should not be allowed to put Heavy Metal Universe and Somewhere Out In Space in the same set, seeing how both of these songs are usually made two to three times longer than normal, due to time spent crowd-pleasing. Surprisingly, the usual singing in Somewhere Out In Space was completely absent, although the song was lengthened by a long improvisation part instead.
In general, I thought it was a bit of a surprise to hear that they had chosen so many long songs, in spite of the short time they had to play.
This was not Gamma Ray at their very best, but it was still a fantastic show, and there's not a negative thought about it from my side.
Setlist:
Heaven Can Wait
New World Order
The Land Of The Free
Into The Storm
Empress
Rebellion In Dreamland
Heavy Metal Universe
Silence
Ride The Sky
Somewhere Out In Space
Send Me A Sign
Gamma Ray started the set off with Heaven Can Wait, and already from the get go you could tell this was going to be a good show. The front of the audience was directly getting into it, and the middle and back of the hall soon followed. The band was also in a great mood, and giving a good performance, although not as lively as I've seen them at other events. This could be explained by Helloween's stage setup though, which didn't leave much room for the support bands. Great show, none the less.
The connection with the audience was perfect, just as could be expected from these guys. Kai's speaking in between songs worked well, and of course there were the dreaded sing-a-long parts. I think all bands, especially in this genre, have them, but I also think that there is no band that can rival Gamma Ray in the length, use and abuse of said parts. I was actually thinking to myself that it should not be allowed to put Heavy Metal Universe and Somewhere Out In Space in the same set, seeing how both of these songs are usually made two to three times longer than normal, due to time spent crowd-pleasing. Surprisingly, the usual singing in Somewhere Out In Space was completely absent, although the song was lengthened by a long improvisation part instead.
In general, I thought it was a bit of a surprise to hear that they had chosen so many long songs, in spite of the short time they had to play.
This was not Gamma Ray at their very best, but it was still a fantastic show, and there's not a negative thought about it from my side.
Setlist:
Heaven Can Wait
New World Order
The Land Of The Free
Into The Storm
Empress
Rebellion In Dreamland
Heavy Metal Universe
Silence
Ride The Sky
Somewhere Out In Space
Send Me A Sign
Gamma Ray
