Freedom Call - Dimensions

Details :

• Year of release : 2007 (April 23rd)
• Label : SPV 80001103
• Review format : CD

To begin with I must admit to only ever really being aware of Freedom Call through their association with Sascha Gerstner, a former guitarist with the band and now of course firmly established in fellow German metallers Helloween. So being given the opportunity to review their forthcoming album ‘Dimension’ also provides the chance to discover a band I’ve possibly overlooked previously.

Lead by Chris Bay on vocals and guitar this is the fifth studio release from the band who’s PR indicates significant chart previous chart success in their home territory. Conceptual in nature the twelve tracks raise the questions on where climatic disaster will lead, what fate the human race has and whether that future lies on a faraway planet. Heady stuff but you can’t say it’s not topical!

Due for release via SPV (label of the likes of Magnum, Saxon and Motorhead) next week it begins in true progressive metal style with the opening track being an instrumental build up entitled Demons Dance. A suitably stirring intro it sets the story to the year 3051 via a spoken word piece before the explosion into Innocent World, a typical example of traditional power metal with a surprisingly melodic chorus. Immediately comparisons are drawn to Helloween and also Stratovarius although the children singing the chorus toward the end appears a little twee, suiting the storyline probably but detracting from an otherwise powerful track. United Alliance redresses the balance quickly however being as it is a fine,fist-punching anthem that appears to be more of a celebration of what the band stand for and believe in than a step along the journey to alien worlds. A superb track whatever the motivation it hits the spot and raises hopes for a fine album ahead. Mr. Evil doesn’t work as well however, spoilt for me by the highly pop oriented ‘whoa-a-oh’ calls and distorted ‘Hey Mr. Evil’ chant atop an otherwise decent rocker. Once again they quickly pull another corker out of the bag though as next track Queen Of My Dreams employs a near-Kashmir grind that works well and a soaring chorus once again worthy of Helloween comparison whilst Light Up The Sky recalls the more epic nature of Italian speedsters Rhapsody including as it does more evident keyboard support and some impressive vocal harmonies.

Words Of Endeavour attempts something a little different at the albums half way point with its epic ballad delivery of gently picked guitar passages, heartfelt vocals and ultimate build up to a bombastic chorus. Its nothing particularly original of course but it is executed rather well. I personally found Blackened Sun to be a bit of a dilemma as it sounds extremely good at times whilst feeling a little overdressed with hugely commercial keyboard washes detracting at others. I can’t help thinking that done a little heavier it may have sounded even better although I will admit that with repeated listens this arrangement is growing on me! Title track Dimensions is an excellent slice of commercial hard rock beckoning comparisons to Infinity era Stratovarius before My Dying Paradise, another agreeable slab of euro-metal, helps reinforce my view that rock music doesn’t always have to have attitude problems and angry angst ridden lyrics. Their is still clearly a place for stirring, invigorating anthems even if the subject matter is a dying earth and journey to a new, unknown world.

The bombastic opening to Magic Moments promises better than the subsequent song that develops. Unfortunately another poppier feature this manages to sound a little too much like The Cure’s Love Cats (!) in places and no, didn’t get better through repeated listens. Album closer Far Away also falls a way short of the earlier standard although in its favour does have a certain something with its metallic jigs and latter-day Slade style chorus raising the odd smile or two!

Summary : I have to confess that I’m a bit of a sucker for a slice of power metal and listening to this album found myself wondering on more than one occasion how I’d overlooked Freedom Call and their infectious melodic sound previously. I didn’t find that everything on the album worked for me but there is enough high quality traditional metal to recommend its purchase. Sure there’s little to stretch the power metal envelope and the album won’t redefine the genre but fans of the likes of Helloween, Stratovarius and Rhapsody should be satisfied and other than a couple of the tracks I enjoyed this a great deal.

If You Listen To One Track Listen To : United Alliance

(nb. I rate ‘Words Of Endeavour’ and ‘My Dying Paradise’ highly as well)

Summary : 3/5