Gamma Ray's second live album in ten years is quite the package-2 CD's in a deluxe digi-pack format (jewel case also available), complete with video tracks, and a 32 page booklet chock full of live photos that serves as a sort of mini-tour program. Since leaving Helloween after the successfull Keys albums, Kai Hansen has forged on with Gamma Ray, releasing many albums and taking the band through countless tours of the word, solidifying their spot as one of the leaders of modern power metal.
And create quality power metal this band does extremely well. Instead of a relentless barrage of manic riffing, faster-than-speed-of-light double bass drums, and fantasy lyrics about demons and wizards, Gamma Ray mix up their sound quite a bit, injecting some vintage Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and of course early Helloween, into a melodic, fast, and heavy package. Skeletons in the Closet can be an exhaustive listen as far as live albums go. Containing over 103 minutes of audio, all recorded in Barcelona and Strasbourg on a small tour in 2002, the CD contains 18 total tracks, many of which hadn't been played live in quite a while. This was apparently the point of the whole tour, as Hansen & Co. wanted to play for the fans some older and rare material that normally doesn't get covered live, or that normally wouldn't be included in a live album or greatest hits setting. Talk about giving something back to your dedicated following!
The twin guitars of Hansen and Henjo Richter are all over the place here, especially on a tune like the anthem "Armageddon", with its heavy riffing , blistering solos, dual harmony lines, not to mention the sing-along chorus which wil have you pumping your fist in the air. Hints of Accept can be heard on the rampaging dirge of "Heavy Metal Universe" an old-school metal tune if you'll ever hear one, while "Garden's of the Sinner" is menacing sounding power metal at its finest, dark, heavy, and speedy, with evil tinged vocals from Hansen. "Razorblade Sigh" contains some serious riff-o-rama, and the band approaches technical prog-metal territory on the lethal "Heart of the Unicorn." Old Helloween fans will revel in the bands version of "Victims of Fate", a perfect example of 80's speed metal, with Hansen and Richter's guitars working overtime. The catchy "New World Order", the title track from the bands most recent studio release, breathes new life here, and is eight minutes of pure metal fury.
It's refeshing to see a metal band that really cares for its audience and makes a point to give them what they want. Gamma Ray has clearly done that here with Skeletons in the Closet, 2 CD's filled with live versions of songs that the fans wanted to hear. If you have never given power metal a try, this is as good a place to start as any.
Track Listing
CD 1
1) Welcome
2) Gardens of the Sinner
3) Rich and Famous
4) All of the Damned
5) No Return
6) Armageddon
7) Heavy Metal Universe
8) One With the World
9) Dan's Solo
CD 2
10) Razorblade Sigh
11) Heart of the Unicorn
12) Last Before the Storm
13) Victim of Fate
14) Rising Star/Shine On
15) The Silence
16) Heaven or Hell
17) Guardians of Mankind
18) New World Order
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