FREEDOM CALL – Land Of The Crimson Dawn

Classic operatic melodic power metal at its absolute best. Don’t believe me, go check it out. Freedom Call’s seventh studio album is as strong as ever, melodic and captivating.

From the outset, it’s less gothic than the previous Shadow King opus, and less thrashy than 2007’s Dimensions, but it does contain strong elements of both. The production has gotten the best of the band, a superb sound.

The title track nods back to The Quest from Crystal Empire, while Warriors has a more tribal sound.

They keyboards add an extra dimension but the emphasis is on the twin guitars, which do have blistering moments, and of course the band’s trademark huge vocal harmonies.

Then there are tracks like Sun In The Dark, which opens in a very heavy crunchy fashion, and has some almost Sabbath like moments mixed with the vocal harmonies – a great feel.

“Hero On The Video” has a mid 80s melody, while Valley Of The Kingdom harks back to the Crystal Empire.

This album explores many things, but is all down with the band’s own style, so it is as varied as it is classic Freedom Call.

Fans will not be disappointed, and if you haven’t heard this band yet this is a great opportunity to figure out why they are so highly acclaimed.

Joe Geesin

Jason Ritchie adds:

Freedom Call are back with another storming album chock full of power metal anthems. The band has undergone a major line-up change since their last album with drummer and co-founding member Dan Zimmermann. In his place comes Primal Fear/Sinner drummer Klaus Sperling.

Those ever so catchy anthems are in evidence – ‘Rockstars’, ’66 warriors’ (playedon last year’s UK dates) and ‘Power & Glory’. The band adds some 80’s metal flavour with the superb ‘Hero On Video’ – this gives Brother Firetribe a run for their money! Nice to see some keys creep into the band’s sound on this song. There is hardly a duff song in sight (‘Space Legends’ is one to skip though) and Freedom Call again prove to be one of the most consistent and enjoyable power/melodic metal bands around today.

The limited CD version includes six Freedom Call covers by new bands including Neonfly and Secret Sphere.

9 out of 10

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

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David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

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Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)