Freedom Call – “The Circle of Life”
Things are coming along nicely for Freedom Call. On this, their fourth (studio) full-length, the band has done a really good job of creating a strong, catchy, fun metal/rock. This new, more midpaced, more rock-oriented style shows the group coming into their own sound. Of course, the Helloween/Gamma Ray comparisons will continue for a long time, but I think those comparisons sound hollow now. Dan Zimmermann (drummer in Gamma Ray) is still here, but he plays differently here, more groove-oriented, not speed-based. Singer Chris Bay has a semi-nasal voice, which the cynics will compare to Helloween’s Andi Deris. Plus, the fact that Helloween now has in its ranks a former Freedom Call guitarist makes the band a target for the pessimists. However, the band has the last laugh here because this is accomplished and very memorable. Actually, I criticized their previous “Eternity” (2002) for being too derivative of Helloween. Well, I’m glad to report that the band has outdone itself this time. Now the band has slowed things down to a midtempo rocking groove, the songs have this full, stadium rock sound. The choruses are infectious and have a positive, look-on-the-bright-side-of-life type of attitude with a peace and tolerance message. It’s feel- good music with big rock riffs, catchy lines, traditional guitar solos, good singing and lots of melody. Finally, the first few listens are a bit strange because there’s not a lot of speedy, double-bass, galloping riffing–not that this is slow and ballady–but by the fourth or so listen, once you get the band’s new orientation, the music begins to come together very well. Just don’t expect an album with eleven songs of speed power metal.