Freedom Call - Eternity


Year of Release: 2002
Label: SPV
Catalog Number: n/a
Format: CD
Total Time: 47:57:00

Freedom Call have constructed a fairly rigid power metal album that is heavily influenced by some of the classic power/speed metal bands of our time. For a band that has only been around for four years (1998), Freedom Call have established themselves as a popular addition to a somewhat overcrowded market and Eternity marks their third full-length album following Stairway To Fairyland and Crystal Empire.

So, how does Freedom Call set themselves apart from the crowd? Well, they don't really. But they do have elements that make them better than many of the bands and the first one that comes to mind is their vocalist, ex-Moon'Doc singer Chris Bay. His style, whilst ultimately familiar, is enlightening and well contained to the point that his melodies manage to put that smile on your face. Chris's vocals are high without going overboard and his unchallengeable anthemic singing provides just one of the centre-points for the band.

Freedom Call's happy and generic music is filled to the brim with symphonic melodies contained around a fantasy based storyline that continues the "Taragon" storyline. It's classical in every power metal sense with lots of programmed keys to boost up the orchestral foundations. One thing that Freedom Call excel at is the group harmony choruses that actually sound bigger than what they actually are, similar to what Blind Guardian does but without the low-end vocals. For the first time the band have employed some acoustic guitars and in general the album throws some interesting twists that keep your interest high - growly, Cookie Monster type vocals, singing without music, huge choruses and strangely enough at times its got a very Swedish power metal feel like recent contributors Dream Evil or Supreme Majesty and famed old-timers Europe. Just on the growly vocals - please stop teasing us and use more of this. Sure, it didn't work for Sacred Steel, but they're not very good anyway. On the track "Ages Of Power" they work a treat and I'd like to see power metal bands utilise this more.

Added to the Freedom Call line-up for this release is Symphorce guitarist Cedric Dupont (who replaces the departed Sascha Gerstner). He continues the power metal style eloquently without any major deviation from their original sound. In fact, I find Eternity to be more user friendly than their previous album Crystal Empire. Also included is Dan Zimmerman (d - Gamma Ray) and Ilker Ersin (b).

Eternity doesn't seem as heavy as their past discs and the band have definitely streamlined the melody and, thankfully, I don't have any major gripe against the album either. Overall a solid yet conventional release from a band that knows their sound and know how to deliver.

Similar To: Helloween, Edguy, Hammerfall

[This review originally appeared November 2003 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]
Tracklisting:
Metal Invasion / Flying High / Ages Of Power / The Spell / Bleeding Heart / Warriors / The Eyes Of The World / Flame In The Night / Land Of Light / Island Of Dreams / Turn Back Time

Musicians:
Chris Bay - vocals
Cedric Dupont - guitars
Ilker Ersin - bass
Dan Zimmermann - drums

Discography:
Stairway To Fairyland (1999)
Taragon (JP only ep) (1999)
Crystal Empire (2001)
Eternity (2002)
Live Invasion (2004)
The Circle Of Life (2005)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin DE

Added: December 18th 2004
Reviewer: Gary Carson
Score:
Artist website: www.freedom-call.net/
Hits: 2593
Language: english

  

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