Freedom Call

Hailing from Nuremberg, the prog-infused German power metal outfit Freedom Call sustains the lineage of area volume merchants in the mold of Gamma Ray. Their densely melodic blend of harmonized guitar leads, driving riffs, grand keyboard sweeps, rapid-fire percussion, and symphonic backdrops fuels theatrical, melody-driven tracks fronted by Chris Bay’s soaring vocals alongside ensemble choruses. Themes in Freedom Call’s epic compositions draw on mythic figures and legendary sagas. Crystal Empire from 2009 and Beyond from 2014 stand among the group’s most acclaimed works alongside Master of Light from 2016. Issued in 2019 as the band’s tenth studio album, M.E.T.A.L. preceded an extensive worldwide tour schedule that ended abruptly when the pandemic halted live activity. Freedom Call marked their 25th anniversary by unveiling Silver Romance in May 2024.

The ensemble coalesced in 1998 with vocalist/guitarist Chris Bay, drummer Dan Zimmermann, guitarist Sascha Gerstner, and bassist Ilker Ersin at its core, issuing the debut Stairway to Fairyland in 1999. Crystal Empire, released via Steamhammer in 2001, proved Gerstner’s final recording with Freedom Call before he joined Helloween. Eternity followed in 2002 and introduced six-string specialist Cédric “Cede” Dupont of Symphorce. Circle of Life in 2005 formalized the addition of touring keyboardist Nils Neumann, while the 2007 conceptual release Dimensions brought further shifts as Dupont and Ersin departed, supplanted by Lars Rettkowitz and Armin Donderer, both formerly of Paradox. Legend of the Shadowking surfaced in 2010 and Land of the Crimson Dawn in 2012; 2014 brought the eighth studio album, Beyond, which topped the charts. Master of Light appeared in 2016 with the configuration of Chris Bay, Lars Rettkowitz, Ilker Ersin, and Ramy Ali. SPV delivered the 2017 box set 5 Original Albums in 1 Box, encompassing Legend of the Shadowking, the double-length Live in Hellvetia, Land of the Crimson Dawn, and Ages of Light. By 2019 further personnel adjustments occurred as Ersin and Ali exited; bassist Francesco Ferraro from Vexillum joined, and drummers Kevin Kott of Masterplan plus Dan Zimmerman of Justice contributed to the tenth album, M.E.T.A.L., which emerged that August.

The live audio/video document M.E.T.A.L. Fest, captured in Pilsen and Regensburg, Germany during 2022, appeared in July 2023. Freedom Call issued the advance single “Silver Romance” in February 2024 and “In Quest of Love” the next month; both tracks featured on the May anniversary album Silver Romance. ~ James Christopher Monger