We have a lot of ground to cover so I'm gonna’ get right to the point. If you like the sound of that old group Europe, only a lot better! Get the twelfth release from Freedom Call entitled "BEYOND". This album is full of patriotism, drive and inspiration. This progressive metal band makes me proud to be an American who likes a good Guinness.
The musicianship is a well oiled machine and everyone is locked in like chain mail. Take "Union of the Strong" for instance. Powerfully expressive; an anthem that's as big as Texas and the guitars fire off some killer riiffage. "Knights of Taragon" and Heart of a Warrior" bring it to you with a battering ram like the one in Lord of the rings. When I was a kid in high school 1985, us metal heads had a mantra: "Bang your head or die!" The next song "Come on Home" emphasizes that line. It's a sing-along to sing a metal song. Back then a lot of us were bullied, but we always took in the rejected. We're a family, so come on home.
To slow things down a few beats, "Beyond" and "Among the Shadows" show us that a song doesn't have to be fast to be heavy... sometimes it's presentation. Then like April fool's Day, "Edge of the Ocean" starts off melodically and dreamy. Yeah, that's nice, but 27 seconds later they all drop an anvil on your head. The breakdown in the bridge section will hit you right in the bread basket. "Journey into Wonderland" sounds a bit like the first song, but it drives like a supped up Camero down the Autobahn.
I like the next tune,” Rhythm of Light". It's catchy like the others but this one stands out more. Maybe it's the rhythms (there, I said it). Oh, more mystic rhythms on "Dance off the Devil" and some cool African beats and groovy rhythms - kinda like what TOTO used to do. The solo even has Steve Lukather written all over it."Paladin" starts off breathy like a ballad but they don't let it stay that way for long. It's big, it's fast and it's another anthem.
How much bigger can this record get? I feel 5 feet taller and the album isn’t over yet! "Fallow your Heart" is a great little pick-me-up, so don't bring me down, man. "Colours of Freedom" is a more mid-tempo trip that still has a lot of guts. Not over-the-top big but more enveloping than a rocket to the moon.
To bring the record to an end, "Beyond Eternity" is like an anthem - wait, did I say "anthem"? Well the sound is really "big"(I said that a lot too, huh?). The cool thing is that it has an Irish feel to it and I think I even hear bag pipes! Is this a German group or a Dublin outfit? (You decide).
After listening to this record twice, I have to say that the solos are superb. Dual leads, trades and heavy tones. These guys don't noodle around. Every note is well thought out and well executed. I did get a little bored with the big anthematic themes. I like the mellower tunes like "Rhythm of Light" and "Among the Shadows", but dig the fierceness of "Heart of a Warrior" and "Paladin".
Overall the band is really together. Sadly the bass is low in the mix, but coherent. The breakdowns in a couple of songs break the monotony of all the big tones. "Come on Home" is the deal clincher for me. This one took me back and I can totally relate to it. After all I am a victim of the 80's. I give Freedom Call "Beyond" a BIG anthematic 7. I give Come on Home a bigger 10!
Tim Duran, HMS
Older reviews