Description

Double album on blue vinyls with gatefold cover and one bonus track

Having a European address is by no means mandatory if one wants to be part of a power metal revival band, but it certainly doesn’t hurt. And being from Germany — a country boasting a considerable amount of metal and hard rock history, ranging from Helloween and Warlock to Kreator, Destruction and Sodom to the Scorpions and Accept — has not been a bad thing for Freedom Call, who maintain their epic, prog-influenced approach to power metal on ‘Legend of The Shadowking’. Freedom Call have experienced some personnel changes along the way; on this 2008-2009 recording, the line-up consists of original members Chris Bay (lead vocals, guitar) and Dan Simmermann (drums) along with 2005 arrival Lars Rettkowicz (guitar) and 2009 arrival Samy Saemann (bass). But line-up changes haven’t changed the band’s sound; Freedom Call still like their power metal big — big melodies, big choruses, big themes, and big hooks. There are hooks galore on this album, and those hooks have a way of pulling the listener in right away — at least if he/she has a taste for a stubbornly old-school power metal aesthetic. ‘Legend Of The Shadowking’ preaches to the power metal choir and does so without apology; the end result is a likable disc that satisfies and pleases even though it takes very few chances.

Track listing:
1. Out Of The Ruins
2. Thunder God
3. Tears Of Babylon
4. Merlin – Legend Of The Past
5. Resurrection Day
6. Under the Spell Of The Moon
7. Dark Obsession
8. The Darkness
9. Remember!
10. Ludwig II – Prologue
11. The Shadowking
12. Merlin – Requiem
13. Kingdom Of Madness
14. A Perfect Day
15. Zauber Der Nacht