PLEASE NOTE: Michael D's is currently in READ ONLY MODE. Anything submitted will simply not be written to the database.
Lots of stuff is still broken, but at least reviews can now be looked up and read.
PLEASE NOTE: Michael D's is currently in READ ONLY MODE. Anything submitted will simply not be written to the database.
Lots of stuff is still broken, but at least reviews can now be looked up and read.
Gamma Ray-Heading for the East (1990)

Gamma Ray-Heading for the East (1990)

If you create a user account, you can add your own review of this DVD

Released 5-May-2003

Cover Art

This review is sponsored by
BUY IT

Details At A Glance

General Extras
Category Music Menu Animation & Audio
Featurette-Review by Malcolm Dome
DVD Credits
Audio Commentary-Malcolm Dome
Rating Rated E
Year Of Production 1990
Running Time 89:51 (Case: 55)
RSDL / Flipper No/No Cast & Crew
Start Up Menu
Region Coding 4 Directed By Steve Payne
Studio
Distributor

Warner Vision
Starring Kai Hansen
Ralph Scheepers
Uli Kusch
Dirk Schlachter
Uwe Wenzel
Joern Ellerbrock
Case Amaray-Transparent-Secure Clip
RPI $34.95 Music Gamma Ray


Video Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame Full Frame English Dolby Digital 5.1 (448Kb/s)
English Audio Commentary Dolby Digital 5.1 (448Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio None
16x9 Enhancement No
Video Format 576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures No
Subtitles None Smoking No
Annoying Product Placement No
Action In or After Credits Yes, credits are played over the stage farewells.

NOTE: The Profanity Filter is ON. Turn it off here.

Plot Synopsis

    Gamma Ray were formed by guitarist Kai Hansen after quitting German metal band Helloween in 1989. Helloween were at their peak after the successful Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part 2 album, and Hansen's sudden departure stunned many fans and critics. Gamma Ray does sound a lot like Kai's previous band - one wonders what could possibly be the benefit of starting a new outfit that is a virtual clone of the one you left. Still, other sources of inspiration are obvious here - bands like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest clearly had some influence on Hansen's song writing - and the twin guitar harmonising in particular consistently reminded me of Iron Maiden. A lot of the songs presented here are from the band's first album, Heading For Tomorrow, and some of Hansen's earlier Helloween contributions are thrown in - one of which Hansen sings himself. These would have certainly been a treat for fans at the time.

    The line-up of musicians in this performance is impressive, and would be labelled a metal supergroup by today's standards. Vocalist Ralph Scheepers has an astounding tone and vocal presence, and is one of the most recognisable voices in the genre. Scheepers went on to later form power metal outfit Primal Fear and at one point was rumoured to be Rob Halford's replacement in Judas Priest. Drummer Uli Kusch later joined Helloween himself, and more recently formed the excellent Masterplan, who - to totally confuse you - is now touring Europe with Gamma Ray.

    The production as a whole appears a bit dated, and the flow of the live performance is interrupted by segments of grainy home video footage, but fans of the band or this era of metal will rejoice with this DVD regardless.

Don't wish to see plot synopses in the future? Change your configuration.

Track Listing

1. Lust For Life
2. Heaven Can Wait
3. Space Eater
4. Freetime
5. Who Do You Think You Are
6. The Silence
7. Save Us
8. I Want Out
9. Ride The Sky / Hold Your Ground
10. Money
11. Heading For Tomorrow

Transfer Quality

Video

    This is an adequate transfer, considering the age of the source material.

    The video transfer is presented in 1.33:1, full frame.

    The level of sharpness is generally good, but not up to the standard we are used to in more recent productions. Shadow detail is similarly unspectacular, with very few examples of truly solid blacks. There was no noticeable low level noise.

    Colours are very bright and regularly show signs of bleeding, such as on Kai's arm at 25:20.

    There are no MPEG artefacts to speak of, and aliasing is quite minimal. There is some considerable grain in the intermittent home video footage, but the most distracting artefact here are the frequent motion trails left by the bright stage lighting, but being an analogue production this is hardly surprising.

    There are no subtitles available on this single layered disc.

Video Ratings Summary
Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    There are two audio options; an English Dolby Digital 5.1 mix and an audio commentary.

    Dialogue and vocal presence are very good in the concert mix, but suffer quite a bit in the home video footage. There are no issues with audio sync.

    Surround usage is limited to some slight spill from the rhythm guitar and vocal, with cheering and crowd noise between songs to give the viewer that front row feel. The mix did feel a little unbalanced at times, and I often found myself straining to hear the rhythm guitar or keyboards over the guitar solos, but I suspect this is a matter of personal preference rather than an error.

    The subwoofer kicked in to add some bottom end to the kick drum and bass guitar very effectively, without being at all overpowering.

Audio Ratings Summary
Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Extras

    There are a couple of extras worth noting on this disc, but not much to get excited about.

Menu

    The menus are animated with scenes from the concert, accompanied by Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. None of the menus are 16x9 enhanced.

Review (1:08)

    Journalist Malcolm Dome - recognisable from the excellent Classic Albums series - offers his thoughts on how Gamma Ray came to be, and why this gig is significant in the band's history.

DVD Credits (0:35)

    Self explanatory.

Audio Commentary - Malcolm Dome

    Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 with a slightly lower volume than the feature audio, metal nerd extraordinaire Malcolm Dome tries hard, spouting a very passionate single sentence introduction to each song, using hilarious superlatives such as "rollicking, rousing rhythm" and "metal to the max". A bit silly, really.

R4 vs R1

NOTE: To view non-R4 releases, your equipment needs to be multi-zone compatible and usually also NTSC compatible.

    This disc is identical across all regions.

Summary

    If German Heavy Metal from the late 1980s is your thing, then you won't want to miss this DVD. This isn't a disc that will sell millions, but it will certainly satisfy a lot of fans.

    The video transfer is adequate for a dated analogue production.

    The audio transfer is a good surround effort.

    The extras have little replay value for fans and casual viewers alike.

Ratings (out of 5)

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

© Rob Giles (readen de bio, bork, bork, bork.)
Sunday, August 17, 2003
Review Equipment
DVDPioneer DV-525, using Component output
DisplayPanasonic TX76PW10A 76cm Widescreen 100Hz. Calibrated with Video Essentials. This display device is 16x9 capable.
Audio DecoderBuilt in to amplifier/receiver. Calibrated with Video Essentials.
AmplificationDenon AVR-2802 Dolby EX/DTS ES Discrete
SpeakersOrpheus Aurora lll Mains (bi-wired), Rears, Centre Rear. Orpheus Centaurus .5 Front Centre. Mirage 10 inch sub.

Other Reviews
DVD Net - Adrian T