Freedom Call - The Circle Of Life

Year of Release: 2005
Label: SPV/Steamhammer
Catalog Number: SPV 085-99292
Format: CD
Total Time: 51:03:00

I was quite surprised to read in the bio of Freedom Call that this band released its debut album some 6 years ago! As a matter of fact, The Circle Of Life is the fourth studio album by this melodic metal band. So they have been around for quite some time and that is found in the quality of the production. Freedom Call fits very nicely in the line of bands such as Avantasia, Edguy, Dionysus, Gammaray and Helloween.

Their music is uptempo, driving, full of melody and at times very powerful . A description I once heard is fitting here: sing-a-long metal. This is because the choruses of the songs almost invite you to join in. This especially comes back in songs like "Carry On" and "Hero Nation," to name a few. Great music for marching armies! Vocalist Chris Bay has a powerful voice and has no problems with even the higher regions, as heard in opening track "Mother Earth." But very often, harmony vocals are used, especially in the choruses.

The band has a solid backbone in the persons of Ilker Ersin (bass) and Dan Zimmerman (drums). But on the other hand, keyboardist Nils Neumann plays a lesser role and is more there to fill up some parts. In "The Rhythm Of Life" you can hear him a bit more. This is a pounding, heavy rhythmic song, absolutely one of my favourite tracks. But it is the guitars that dominate mostly.

In the genre of melodic metal, it is very hard to come with original material. Personally I like the album, but it is more of the same. So it may be hard to choose on what album you will spend your hard earned money, as there are several bands sounding alike. Still, The Circle Of Life is a solid album.

The compositions are, on one hand, very recognizable, but on the other hand, the band add some elements of their own and in the end the album is by no means boring. If you would glue "The Gathering (midtro)" and "Kings & Queens" together, you would get a nice epic song. Oh yes, "Starchild" is not a Star One cover, but a pretty fast song, with speedy drumming and ditto guitars. And the best is, as often happens, saved for last: title track "The Circle Of Life," with a nice piano arrangement and the marks of a ballad. Sometimes soft and almost acoustic, then with heavy guitars.

The Circle Of Life is a nice album, but it did not impress me, for that it was too similar to various other bands. But it is not a bad album: good musicians, good production and nice songs. So if you like the aforementioned bands and are looking for more music in this direction, your hit the spot with Freedom Call.

Tracklisting:
Mother Earth / Carry On / The Rhythm Of Life / Hunting High And Low / Starlight / The Gathering (Midtro) / Kings & Queens / Hero Nation / High Enough / Starchild / The Eternal Flame / The Circle Of Life

Musicians:
Chris Bay - vocals, guitar
Dan Zimmerman - drums
Ilker Ersin - bass
Cede Dupont - guitar
Nils Neumann - keyboards

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

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin DR

Added: March 29th 2005
Reviewer: Marcel Haster
Score:
Artist website: www.freedom-call.net
Hits: 2770
Language: english