Heading for tomorrow / N 0151-1 / SPV 08-0406-1 Import

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Heading For Tomorrow is the debut album by the legendary German Power Metal band Gamma Ray. It was released in 1990, after guitarist and primary songwriter Kai Hansen left Helloween who had released the incredibly influential Keeper Of The Seven Keys albums.The vocals on this album are handled by Ralf Scheepers (later of Primal Fear) as opposed to Kai himself, who took over vocal duties on the band's fourth album. There are additional bass contributions on two of the tracks from Dirk Schlächter, who would later become one of the band's longest lasting members, first as the band's guitarist and later bassist.Opening with the grand, symphonic sounding intro track `Welcome' which sets the scene for things to come, the album starts off strong, kicking into `Lust For Life' which is one of the strongest tracks on the record. Its full of memorable vocal lines, impressive lead guitar work and an interesting structure, therefore pretty much setting the template for Gamma Ray in general.Other highlights include `Money' which has a bit of an eccentric feel, as well as the catchy `Space Eater' and `Free Time' which is a sort of out-of-place glam number that shouldn't work but does.The album ends with a 14-minute title track that has a progressive feel and then a cover of Uriah Heep's `Look At Yourself.'Later Gamma Ray albums would have a much more direct Queen and especially Judas Priest influence in the sound, and would go further to replicate the sound or at least spirit of Helloween's Keeper Of The Seven Keys albums, which leaves this debut in a sort of unique position in the band's catalogue. If you've only ever heard their later work it should provide an interesting contrast.Overall; Looking For Tomorrow is a strong debut from a great band. It is a bit more eccentric and covers more ground than their later work, and its full of interesting music all the way through. If you like anything Kai has ever done, or indeed either the band's he was inspired by or that he has inspired then this is certainly worth at least giving a listen.

This is very good, but not the best Gamma Ray album out there.Only buy it if you like meoldic screaming guitars, a decent rythmn with the bass/drums and good song writing. Ideal driving music.Granted it's not Land Of The Free, but what metal albums are?Suitable for all fans of Iron Maiden, Saxon, Judas Priest, Helloween, Uriah Heep, Edguy, Iron Saviour, Firewind, etc.Givge it a go, but if you are more into Rush or Yes, try Land Of The Free instead.

I give this opening Gamma Ray album 5 stars on this simple basis. The opening Welcome/Lust for life is simply the best opening to a heavy metal album ever. The fact that there are (I'm sorry) a couple of weaker songs before the finale "Heading for tomorrow" brings it to a close is neither here nor there. It is fast and heavy and theatrical and fun in turns, then there is the voice that is Ralf Scheepers. Awesome!

This an excellent album by Gamma Ray. If you have never listened to them before I would start with this one. Ralf Scheepers from Primal fear was the original lead singer for this group. You can tell that the influence of his first band Gamma Ray carried over into Primal Fear. His vocal style and range stayed pretty much unchanged from this group to the next. The songs on this disc are great and sound somewhat like helloween if I had to complare them to anyone. Give this disc a try if you want to check them out. It is very much worth the money in my opinion and is at least historical in the realm of early power metal.

The fathers of power metal!!!

Heading For Tomorrow is the debut album by the legendary German Power Metal band Gamma Ray. It was released in 1990, after guitarist and primary songwriter Kai Hansen left Helloween who had released the incredibly influential Keeper Of The Seven Keys albums.The vocals on this album are handled by Ralf Scheepers (later of Primal Fear) as opposed to Kai himself, who took over vocal duties on the band's fourth album. There are additional bass contributions on two of the tracks from Dirk Schlächter, who would later become one of the band's longest lasting members, first as the band's guitarist and later bassist.Opening with the grand, symphonic sounding intro track `Welcome' which sets the scene for things to come, the album starts off strong, kicking into `Lust For Life' which is one of the strongest tracks on the record. Its full of memorable vocal lines, impressive lead guitar work and an interesting structure, therefore pretty much setting the template for Gamma Ray in general.Other highlights include `Money' which has a bit of an eccentric feel, as well as the catchy `Space Eater' and `Free Time' which is a sort of out-of-place glam number that shouldn't work but does.The album ends with a 14-minute title track that has a progressive feel and then a cover of Uriah Heep's `Look At Yourself.'Later Gamma Ray albums would have a much more direct Queen and especially Judas Priest influence in the sound, and would go further to replicate the sound or at least spirit of Helloween's Keeper Of The Seven Keys albums, which leaves this debut in a sort of unique position in the band's catalogue. If you've only ever heard their later work it should provide an interesting contrast.Overall; Looking For Tomorrow is a strong debut from a great band. It is a bit more eccentric and covers more ground than their later work, and its full of interesting music all the way through. If you like anything Kai has ever done, or indeed either the band's he was inspired by or that he has inspired then this is certainly worth at least giving a listen.

Kai Hansen, ex-guitarist and singer for Helloween basically went solo and brought along a few friends for the ride. Kai handles all the guitarwork on this CD, leaving the vocals to a guy name Ralph Scheepers (now fronting Primal Fear). All I can say is what an album! And by checking out the two concert films they made, what a live band as well. Ralph stayed for 2 more albums then left leaving Kai to the lead vocals and therefore putting Gamma Ray back in the middle of the pack. Kai just doesn't have the vocal power or range of Ralph. This is a very good, consistent metal record. Now it has 3 bonus tracks as well. When it was first released it had one, Uriah Heep's "Look at Yourself", which is perfect for this band. Or they make the song perfect for them. Anyway, songs like "Money", "Freetime", and "Heaven Can Wait" are just good time fun rockers. The 14 minute + epic "Heading For Tomorrow" is probably the weakest song, falling short of Kai's previous effort, "Halloween". Still, a good song with a lot of different changes and riffs. Look here for one great metal record. A album from a time when Gamma Ray was head and shoulders above the rest!

This album eclipses Keeper of the Seven Keys proving that Kai Hansen was the creative genius behind Helloween. I love this album because it is so positive, uplifting and musically brilliant. It culminates in the sublime epic Heading For Tomorrow.