Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Freedom Call
Label: SPV Records
Released: 2002
Rating: 2.5/5
Two years ago, when I first heard about this band, I immediately thought – just another copy of Helloween and Gamma Ray, of which power metal has no shortage. Especially once I saw it with my own eyes in early 2001, when they opened for Virgin Steele and Hammerfall. From the very first chorus I felt like I was listening to something in the style of old Helloween from the “Seven Keys” era, which didn’t surprise me one bit, since this is the band of Dan Zimmermann, better known as the Gamma Ray drummer. Then again, this band is just one more offshoot of the Helloween legacy, like Gamma Ray, Iron Savior and Primal Fear. In Freedom Call, Dan, together with Chris Bay (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards), is the band’s decisive cornerstone, since he’s the producer and the writer of most of the music, the lyrics and their light bedtime stories about an immortal warrior traveling across magical lands. “Eternity” is the third part of the saga about his deeds on the road to immortality, which will probably turn into a mere trifle for him once he finally grabs his sword and battle horn.
Right from the intro, comparisons with the rest of the power metal crowd rain down, starting with “Metal Invasion”. After a Rhapsody-style, Latin-flavored intro, they start racing into a world of ultra-melodic metal with typical Helloween-style passages and crystal-clear vocals. These lean quite heavily toward the vocals of Tobias Sammet (Edguy), who actually contributed his backing vocals here. “Flying High” is clearly a tribute to early Helloween, spiced with melodic keyboards, guitar solos and a chorus in the vein of “March Of Time”. The same could be said for “Ages Of Power”, which sounds like some Viking anthem, peppered with fast picking in the main riffs, typical of old Helloween. “Warriors” sounds like some Gamma Ray opener, with which Dan once again proved to Kai that Gamma Ray are far from just Hansen’s band anymore. All the choruses are ultra-melodic as usual, and with them Freedom Call zealously defend their reputation as true metal merrymakers. I’d single out “Bleeding Heart” as the most original piece on the record, mainly thanks to the symphonic arrangements. “Land Of Light” also shines in full feel-good glory, with the keyboardist doing a very good job. The last track on the album, “Turn Back Time”, is a ballad, but luckily it’s not as syrupy and tasteless as most power metal ballads are (always one of the weak points of this genre). They did well to leave it for the end, since that way it doesn’t spoil the enviably high tempo of the whole record.
Freedom Call are genuine power metal merrymakers, and with their positive approach they stand in sharp contrast to the often so-called metal “blackness”. Some will find the lyrics rather childish and naive, since they mostly describe the hero’s journey into a mystical ice world and his feelings along the way, which is, after all, just another power metal cliché. Still, on “Eternity” they showed a noticeably bigger share of their own ideas, which is definitely a plus. Some of the orchestral arrangements in particular are interesting and nicely woven into the guitar riffs. However, given how saturated the market is with similar bands in this genre, they’re walking a thin line. A line that could push them into the sea of anonymity and clichéd imitation. “Eternity” marks a certain step forward in the search for their own voice, and with a little more patient work they could even break through, like the previously mentioned young hyperactives Edguy. Sadly, though, they still lie at the mercy of the metal music market, which rules out any excessive innovation.
Lineup
Chris Bay – vocals, guitar, keyboards
Cedric Dupont – guitar
Ilker Ersin – bass guitar
Dan Zimmermann – drums
Production
Dan Zimmermann and Chris Bay
Tracklist
1. Metal Invasion
2. Eyes Of The World
3. Flying High
4. Land Of Light
5. Warriors
6. Ages Of Power
7. Turn Back Time
8. Island Of Dreams
9. Spell
10. Bleeding Heart
11. Flame In The Night
