Freedom Call - Live Invasion (2004)

Another of the NWOEPM, German band Freedom Call formed in 1998, with Chris Bay on vocals and David Zimmerman (from Gamma Ray) on drums and a couple of other members, including Sascha Gerstner who later left to join Helloween. It seems quite probable they are named after an Angra album song.

 I purchased this live version because a, I found it in a store and b, it seemed like a good way to get a lot of Freedom Call's songs in one handy package. It also contains a bonus with the unreleased "Taragon" ep and three cover songs (including one from Ultravox). Sadly, most of the banter between tracks is in German and I cannot understand it - not that they're in for idle chatter anyhow.

Packaging - pretty enough, but not overly stimulating. It is a live CD after all. The band, in sillouette,  facing their audience whilst lighting crackles up with the stage lighting. Inside are various pictures of the band, posting in various places, and also their names. They look like a fun bunch of fellows.

The album beings with a chanting welcome - as befits any live concert. Then the keyboards begin, and "The Spell" is unleashed.  You can imagine the spotlights strafing across the stage, the band appearing from the haze of dry ice as the symphonic sound arises around them. Then they fall into "We Are One" as the  melodies take hold. Bay's voice is mid-high and pure, soaring into a slightly nasal higher pitch, as he rises up the octave, sounding like he's smiling all the while. Repetitive lines, guaranteed to make the audience chant along.

Into a ballad now, get out your lighters! But not for long, because soon the stirring guitars and flaying hair will overwhelm you (and cause a fire risk). Bay's voice swoops and soars competently enough into "Freedom Call". Meanwhile the drums charge headlong and the guitars do their thing. Some nice lower vocals later on.

"Tears of Taragon" starts with the crowd rising their hands, clapping them together. The keyboards and low hymnal notes lure us in to this epic style piece. Nice soaring chorus:

"Fallen Angels, flying high in the sky
Fallen Angels, rescue me again"

 It is now time to undertake "The Quest", starting slow and then charging into the harder and heavier. Dramatic guitar, pace picking up. I guess the Quest is underway. Slowing again. Vocals slow, a little desperate, anxious.

"Heart of the Rainbow" offers nothing new, but Bay does sound very happy. Nice smooth chorus. Menacing middle bit. Keyboard solo! Then guitars. Bit pompous.

Fat-bellied keyboards intermingle with guitars as we charge into "Eyes of the World". It is very nice for Bay to introduce all the songs. Similar structures and vocals to all of the above.

Some nice, deep vocals lead us into a "Metal Invasion". The structure of this one is different, almost making me imagine a line up of armoured metal knights, chanting and stomping in unison.  It quickly switches back to the tried-and-true FC formula, alas.


The following tracks - "Land of Light", "Warriors", "Shine on" and "Rise up" offer pretty much the same. Solid structures, pompous keyboards, the occasional racing guitars and vocals that rise and fall up and down the same pitch. Nothing remarkable.

"Hymn to the Brave" is a hymn, an anthem, and is guaranteed for the audience to join in. The vocal style is lower, slower and far more powerful. The lyrics are repetitive but spirited:

"Brothers forever, brave at heart together we fight
Holy in heaven, will we march through space and time
Brothers forever, brave at heart together we fight
Holy in heaven, we will ever hear their cry..."

Tears of Taragon EP (with 4 bonus covers):

"Warriors of Light" begins with a good old-fashioned tribal rhythm, then a chat and falls into the recognised patterns of before. Solid, but nothing remarkable. Otherwise very similar to "Warriors" above.

"Dancing with Tears in your Eyes" is a cover of 80s electronic pop band, Ultravox. They have even captured the synth feel typical of that era, before soaring off into power metal. It's a pretty good cover.

More chanting marks the start of "Heart of the Brave". Lyrics leave a little to be desired:

"Born in a nation
A young generation
Is praying for salvation
Out of damnation"

We have piano to start "Kingdom Come". It's actually kinda haunting. Vocals are sweet and soft, almost feminine. I suppose this is the closest they get to an actual ballad, until of course they fall into the ominous chorus. This is probably one of their more original songs. It's pretty nifty.

"Tears of Taragon" again now, solid power metal song, good melodies - pretty much what you expect. With the added bonus of narration by Biff Byford of Saxon. He has a lightly accented and somewhat ominous voice. We get to learn more about Taragon now - seems to have suffered much the same way as Aina. Pretty much pure cheese, but still rather delicious.

One of my favourites is their cover of "Hiroshima", originally performed by Wishful Thinking in 1968. It translates well into power metal. Starting with traditional twangy instruments, the guitars crunch in whilst the keyboards struggle beneath them. Bay's voice casts the emotional edge well, with the rest of the music dying back as mere enhancement of his vocals.

Finally, another cover, this time one from Helloween. It is "Dr Stein". It's a decent cover of a fun song. I'm sure they love playing it. Bay ain't no Kiske, however.

Freedom Call are competent musicians, that have embraced the Power Metal genre heart and soul. Whilst they do have a certain energy and passion, they do not offer anything particularly new and original to the scene. This performance, containing songs from across three albums, I would consider all I need from this band. It gives me a nice cross section and although they do a decent job, they are not a necessary addition to any metal collection. Also, Bay's voice gets a little tedious after a time. Ultimately, it was the bonus cover songs that saved this collection for me - the cover of "Hiroshima" is beautiful.

Rating = 7/10