German Power Metallers Freedom Call formed by Singer Chris and Drummer Dan Zimmermann (Gamma Ray) are no strangers to the metal scene. Having released a whopping 6 Albums since ‘99’ and now on their live DVD release ‘Live in Helluetia’. (For some reason I only got the live Audio to review.. boo hoo)
The thunderous roar and crown chanting ‘Freedom Call’ adds to the epicness of the CD with the first track ‘We Are One’. Galloping drums and cheesy vocals makes it a perfect mix for a power metal belter. To be fair to the band, the live version sounds fantastic.
Due to the length of the 2 cd’s I’m only going to pick the best ones, so another cracker is ‘Thunder God’ due to the guitar intro (very 80s) and the fist thumping lyrics. ‘Tears of Babylon’ is maybe a little too cheesy but still quite a catchy track, whereas ‘Blackened Sun’ is a more mellow and quite depressive enough to change your mood. (Quickly skipping to the next track). ‘Queen of my World’ starts off with some knees-up style beats then slows to a dirty and steady riff, vocals changing with the pace. The chorus, the catchiest I’ve heard from them yet which also got the crown going too.
‘Hunting High and Low’ is a track worthy of a good air guitar moment with the intro guitar and the grindy riffs throughout. Unfortunately, the drum solo after this one failed to impress me and I skipped it.
‘Metal Invasion’ is everything you could ask for in a battle power metal track, group vocals and atmospheric keyboards, along with the crowd chanting along, making me think of Sabaton, and no wonder, noticing on the ‘thanks’ page is Sabaton.
Moving on to CD 2...
The intro ‘Merlin - Requirem is quite superb, a piano intro and the vocals of Chris Bay singing about fantasies of dragons and fallen angels. Beautiful! ‘Merlin – Legend of the Past’ carries on from the first track, and the chorus, another fine and catchy piece!
‘The Quest’ starts off with some fine piano work, claps from the audience (Isn’t it annoying when there’s always one bozo clapping out of time) and then Chris again with his impressive high squealing. The guitar work on this one is quite exceptional, dark and dirty.
Bagpipes and a lot of foreign gibberish starts off the track ‘Far Away’ an uplifting track making me want to get up and jig about. The audience merrily singing along “Far, far, far away, party time all night and day”. A sure drinking track.
Closing the CD is ‘Hymn to the Brave’ with the crowd chanting lots of “whoaaaa” and “ooooooooh” personally to me it sounds like an Irish lullaby of sorts, but catchy again nevertheless.
In all honesty the live 2 cd album sounded fun, and something I’d definitely pay to see. Sounding almost as they do on their studio music.
http://www.freedom-call.net
Charlie Rance
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