Search - Freedom Call :: Legend of the Shadowking

Fantastic!!

Valance | Whangarei, New Zealand | 03/11/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Oh boy, I've been waiting for this one!



Freedom Call are my all time favourite metal band and they have conjured up another winner with this beauty, jam packed with the type of catchy melodies that only Freedom Call can do.



It's one of the more diverse Freedom Call albums and it's all the stronger for it. To quote William Cowper, "Variety's the very spice of life. That gives it all its flavour".



LOTSK goes down a real treat. There're happy songs, melancholic songs, fast songs, mid-tempo songs, slower songs, trademark Freedom Call songs, and newer prog-tinged songs... and they sound great!



The band have incorporated some cool new 'darker' elements into their already amazing sound as can be heard on the likes of `Under The Spell of the Moon', `Dark Obsession' and `The Darkness' - different to Freedom Call's trademark style, but they quickly grow on you. They're compelling tracks that really do get under the skin.



The clear, powerful production kicks ass and Chris' voice has never sounded better!



The album simply ROCKS!



Awesome album, guys - just awesome. Well worth the wait.



More of the same please...

"

"Freedom Call" integrate epic and goth elements to their Pow

Nikiforos V. Skoumas | Athens Greece, Cambridge UK | 02/10/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Released in Europe on the same day as "Gamma Ray"- "To the metal", "Legend of the Shadow King" is the 6th studio album of "Freedom call". As most are aware, the band is led by Dan Zimmermann (D) of "Gamma Ray" plus Chris Bay (V), Samy Saemann (B) and Lars Rettkowitz (G).This particular release sees "Freedom call" combine a handful of diverse influences for the first time in their career.



First of all the album, as the title suggests, is based on medieval themes, therefore their traditional power metal sound is integrated at parts with elements of epic metal. However the real surprise comes on the songs "Under the spell of the moon" and "Dark obsession" where the tempo falls considerably, some very smooth backing vocals kick in, while Chris Bay takes a rather bass yet melodic approach to his vocals, in a very gothic metal fashion (!). In addition the German powerhouse also makes direct reference to classic heavy metal with the inclusion of "Kingdom of Madness" and the majestic "Thunder God".



To say I was surprised by these inclusions would be an understatement, not to mention how well they complement the faster material on "...Shadowking".

Of course you also get a good amount of tracks in the traditional Power metal vein, namely "Out of the ruins" and "Remember".



Naturally, all this became possible due to versatility and technical proficiency of C. Bay who at parts reminds one of Andy Deris, as well as Kai Hansen (on the more epic tracks); he switches from high pitched power metal tones, to a bass/melodic gothic approach, to the swagger of traditional heavy metal (a style he used mainly during his "Moon Doc" years).



Whether this is the best "Freedom Call" album to date, it is up to you to decide; though it is undoubtedly their most complete studio release featuring 14 tracks, allowing the band space to explore the novel musical elements mentioned previously.



Personal favourites include all previously mentioned songs plus the dramatic "Merlin". Overall, a very surprising and lengthy release from the renowned power metal act which will probably reward its numerous fans.

"