To The Metal!

About five years ago, I really got into power metal. Stuff like Sabaton, Blind Guardian, Hammerfall, and of course Gamma Ray. Man, at the time, I ate that shit up. I couldn't get enough and I even had my sights set on expensive first pressings for some of those heavy hitters. I did end up throwing some good money at a couple early Sabaton first pressings, but never really made the moves that I anticipated making for Gamma Ray. When I noticed that there were some 2020 colored vinyl reissues for their records, I shrugged my shoulders and figured that was much easier to swallow than $100 first pressings...especially since I don't spin this stuff nearly as much as I used to.

To The Metal is the 10th studio album from Gamma Ray, and when I first started to get into the band, it was one of my favorites from the band. There was even a DVD video that was released for the making of the album, and I remember getting such a kick out of those behind the scenes details. This is good shit for when I'm in the mood for some fun, uplifting metal.

This 2020 reissue is well done...including a couple of bonus tracks and the colored vinyl looks fantastic.

Numbered out of 1,500 pressed.

Undead Gamma Ray

Despite having been around since 1989, Gamma Ray and I sat down for the first time and got to know each other last summer.

I'd never paid the band any attention before, but remembering that Doug once told me that Gamma Ray was basically the same as early Helloween, I figured that I'd take the plunge and check them out when I was looking for something new.

Sometimes music hits you when you least expect it, and when I sat down to check out Gamma Ray, I had no idea how quickly I was going to become obsessed with them. I'd always kind of kept Power Metal at arms length, preferring the all out attack of Thrash instead, but man, they soon sank their hooks in deep, and didn't let go. The band have eleven studio albums, and I currently have five of them sitting on my iPod.

When it came time to start adding some vinyl to the collection, it was a tough call on where to begin. While Land Of The Free from 1995 can command a price tag easily over $100, I figured that maybe I'd start by setting my sights a little lower, and aimed for 2014's Empire Of The Undead. A search of the discogs marketplace quickly revealed a still sealed copy that some seller was looking to unload for only $14. Sold.

Man, I'm eating this stuff up lately. How long will it take for me to break the bank, and make a run at Land Of The Free?