Sigh No More [Bonus Tracks]

• Artist: Gamma Ray
• Rating:
• Release Date: March 18, 2003
• Genre: Rock

Review

The first three records from Kai Hansen's band tried to follow a certain innovation/evolution within German power metal's restricted scene. Sigh No More, the second of these, does not escape this noble intention of the former Helloween guitarist. The record shows a band finding its identity through 11 cuts where various influences mark the route all along its path. It takes a series of bumps, where the peaks mark the creative apex of the group and the valleys border the dullest mediocrity. Probably, Sigh No More is the most innovative and imaginative effort from the German band, and the one that the passing of time digests with greater pride. The work begins with "Changes," a tune with a magnificently constructed refrain. Also, the haunting title song, the experimental "The Spirit," and the powerful "As Time Goes By," a song in which Ralf Scheepers' vocal skills are demonstrated to be enviable, stand out as the album's highlights. But overall, "One with the World" must be recognized as the record's indisputable masterpiece, a wrenching, rather old-fashioned anthemic tune à la Manowar, with a perfect feeling to be shouted at the shows from the band. The rest of the record rambles along with some similarly ambitious tracks, but with less brilliant results. After Sigh No More would come the irregular Insanity & Genius and later on, Land of the Free, where the German guitarist and his troupe would finally find their long sought-after sound, a melody-based power metal sound that would definitively win them fans across genres. That would lead them to release more accessible and predictable albums year after year, less fissured than Sigh No More and surely without the same surprise capacity. [This version of the album includes bonus material.] ~ Robert Aniento, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Changes	Kai Hansen, Ralf Scheepers, Uwe Wessel	Gamma Ray	(5:43)
Rich and Famous	Kai Hansen	Gamma Ray	(4:38)
As Time Goes By	Kai Hansen, Piet Sielck	Gamma Ray	(4:41)
(We Won't) Stop the War	Kai Hansen, Uwe Wessel	Gamma Ray	(3:47)
Father and Son	Ralf Scheepers	Gamma Ray	(4:25)
One with the World	Kai Hansen, Uwe Wessel	Gamma Ray	(4:47)
Start Running	Ralf Scheepers, Uwe Wessel	Gamma Ray	(3:56)
Countdown	Kai Hansen	Gamma Ray	(4:15)
Dream Healer	Kai Hansen, Ralf Scheepers	Gamma Ray	(6:21)
The Spirit	Kai Hansen, Ralf Scheepers, Uwe Wessel	Gamma Ray	(4:17)
Heroes [*]	Kai Hansen, Ralf Scheepers, Uwe Wessel	Gamma Ray	(4:58)
Dream Healer [Pre-Production Version][*]	Kai Hansen, Ralf Scheepers	Gamma Ray	(9:38)
Who Do You Think You Are [*]	Kai Hansen	Gamma Ray	(5:06)

Credits

Gamma Ray (Arranger), Gamma Ray (Vocals (Background)), Gamma Ray (Cover Art Concept), Tommy Hansen (Keyboards), Rolf Kohler (Vocals (Background)), Tommy Newton (Arranger), Tommy Newton (Guitar (Rhythm)), Tommy Newton (Vocals (Background)), Tommy Newton (Engineer), Tommy Newton (Talk Box), Tommy Newton (Mixing), Tommy Newton (Soloist), Tommy Newton (Guest Appearance), Fritz Randow (Drums (Snare)), Fritz Randow (Guest Appearance), Karl-Ulrich Walterbach (Executive Producer), Roger Gorman (Cover Design)