Freedom Call
M.E.T.A.L.

Calling for freedom is what Chris Bay and his band has been doing for twenty years now, back in 1999 the debuted with Stairway to Fairyland and on this twentieth year they teach metallers to spell the word metal – M.E.T.A.L. in case you were wondering. Tongue in cheek is probably the truth about the title, a bit of irony and the usual bit of distance and not taking the genre too seriously – there are too many who do that anyway. True Metaller’s don’t thank anybody, with an ironic smiley is what they gave us in the booklet of The Circle of Life, I have always enjoy how this band pokes fun at metallers, especially those first epic albums that kind of ridiculed the likes of Rhapsody and Manowar. I recall how Dan Zimmerman told me they used Manowar lyrics as inspirations for their music, and if you look at it Manowar lyrics are quite silly.

An album that plays on what Freedom Call usually does, it is familiar to me despite the fact that I haven’t really followed them since 2007 as I haven’t received any promos of the last couple of albums. Catchy and poppy power metal with choruses that sticks and really strong melodies as well as a good dose of irony that is often missing from the power metal genre, the metal production is also quite excellent providing the album with strong sound and memorable hooks. Chris Bay sings brilliantly as he always does, his vocals along with the band’s trademark happy sound makes Freedom Call’s music stand out despite the fact that it isn’t really bringing anything new to the table. It is the way they do things that makes their music different while not really diverging from established parameters. This album also shows a strong variation from epic tunes to songs with radio hit potential.

Legendary stuff from a band that should be metal legends, the most metallic band of all bands past and present. Their new album should certainly makes their fans go wild as hell but also appeal to anyone who isn’t a complete moron. It is really impressive with excellent tracks with excellent melodies and catchiness that is to die for, and the best track is the insanely catchy one called One Step Into Wonderland – something that is almost descriptive of what this album is; a step into the musical wonderland of Freedom Call. If there is anything I miss, it is the ironic epic stuff that was so great on their first few albums like Crystal Empire and Eternity but it is just the critic looking for things that aren’t perfect.

Life gets a little easier and a little bit happier when listening to albums like this – Chris Bay’s voice along with the happy sound can cure most unhappiness. I think this album is well worth checking out for anyone who enjoys great music, the fact that they don’t take themselves and the genre too seriously is a great bonus that gives this album longevity and propels it into the top spot of the power metal albums that I have heard this year. It is certainly one of the highlights of the albums released in 2019.

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