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│ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │
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│ │
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│ P R E S E N T S │
│ │
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│ + Freedom Call - Land Of The Crimson Dawn + │
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│ │
│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Information ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Release Date.Feb-27-2012 Encoder......L3.97 -V2 --vbr-new ║ │
│║ Genre........Heavy Metal Graber.......EAC ║ │
│║ Year.........2012 Khz/Bitrate..44,1/ Br ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Ripper.......anthem Songs........cd1: 14 cd2: 6 ║ │
│║ Covers.......Yes Url... www.freedom-call.net ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Notes ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Artist : Freedom Call Rating : You Decide! ║ │
│║ Album : Land Of The Crimson Dawn Label : SPV ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Description : ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Freedom Call has been something of an obsession ║ │
│║ of mine for over 10 years. Call it fanaticism or ║ │
│║ by some other pejorative term, something about ║ │
│║ the light to the point of happy-go-lucky sound ║ │
│║ that bridges the gap between Helloween and Saxon ║ │
│║ just clicks with me every time. TheyÆve always ║ │
│║ tended to accent the rock elements of the latter ║ │
│║ while somewhat avoiding the grittier speed metal ║ │
│║ qualities of the earliest parts of the former ║ │
│║ (which can be seen in greater concentration with ║ │
│║ the likes of Iron Savior, Primal Fear, and Grave ║ │
│║ Digger). To put it as plainly possible, this ║ │
│║ band plays late 80s power metal for people not ║ │
│║ of that generation, and surprisingly they donÆt ║ │
│║ quite garner the same popularity amongst core ║ │
│║ Helloween fans from the ôKeepersö era, despite ║ │
│║ the fairly strong similarities. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ In the time since their inception, a lot has ║ │
│║ changed for this Nuremburg outfit. All the ║ │
│║ original co-founders minus front man and ║ │
│║ songwriter Chris Bay have exited, including long ║ │
│║ time drummer and Gamma Ray kit destroyer Dan ║ │
│║ Zimmerman, whose function in the bandÆs overall ║ │
│║ sound is about as consequential as Thomen ║ │
│║ StauchÆs was to Blind GuardianÆs. But in spite ║ │
│║ of this, there has been no consequential shift ║ │
│║ in overall sound, though the quality of the ║ │
│║ entire package has ebbed a bit since the closing ║ │
│║ of the bandÆs early days. Something, call it a ║ │
│║ mystique, that was carried in the bandÆs ║ │
│║ powerful ôTaragonö series was lost since they ║ │
│║ closed out the story and moved away from ║ │
│║ conceptual albums (save ôDimensionsö, which was ║ │
│║ completely unrelated yet came off as an attempt ║ │
│║ to rekindle that old magic with a new line up), ║ │
│║ and in its place is a still impressive, yet ║ │
│║ obvious shell of the late 90s when Italy, ║ │
│║ Finland and Germany brought power metal back to ║ │
│║ prominence on their side of the Atlantic. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Perhaps this mystique that has been lacking can ║ │
│║ be underscored by a disconnect between the often ║ │
│║ epic sounding album titles in the mold of ║ │
│║ ôLegend Of The Shadow Kingö and the character of ║ │
│║ the lyrics contained in songs that tend to be ║ │
│║ unrelated to such lofty topics. And this has ║ │
│║ largely been a pervasive issue with chunks of ║ │
│║ Freedom CallÆs albums going back to the confused ║ │
│║ Stratovarius-like ôThe Circle Of Lifeö. A ║ │
│║ handful of largely unrelated electronic and ║ │
│║ lighter, almost alternative rock sounding ║ │
│║ influences start popping up out of an otherwise ║ │
│║ consistent mesh of blinding speed and soaring ║ │
│║ choruses. ItÆs more of a slight Persian flaw ║ │
│║ than an outright deal breaker, but it is ║ │
│║ noticeable. The equally lofty sounding title ║ │
│║ ôLand Of The Crimson Dawnö sports a similar ║ │
│║ story to its 2010 predecessor in many respects, ║ │
│║ though the drum production is a bit less ║ │
│║ raucous, and a bit more of the semi-inspired ║ │
│║ ideas appear to battle the otherwise fully ║ │
│║ inspired ones. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Make no mistake; this latest incarnation is ║ │
│║ recognizably a Freedom Call album, despite the ║ │
│║ lack of any of the original compatriots that ║ │
│║ molded this bandÆs formative sound. Familiar ║ │
│║ feelings of triumph and fist-raising glory ║ │
│║ permeate the majority of its contents, ║ │
│║ particularly when things stay on the fast side. ║ │
│║ Be it the overtly catchy and fairly short ôAge ║ │
│║ Of The Phoenixö, the equally catchy yet longer ║ │
│║ and more drawn out ôRockstarsö and the blast ║ │
│║ from power metalÆs late 90s past ôValley Of ║ │
│║ Kingdomö, the mood is upbeat and celebratory, ║ │
│║ walking a thin line between the seriousness of ║ │
│║ ôEagle Fly Freeö and the comedy of ôRise And ║ │
│║ Fallö (ôKeepers Part 2ö has always been the most ║ │
│║ influential album on the character of this ║ │
│║ bandÆs sound, with some of their latter stuff ║ │
│║ with Andi Deris having a lesser influence on a ║ │
│║ couple of select exceptions). These songs do ║ │
│║ somewhat want for the denser guitar and keyboard ║ │
│║ dimensions heard during the days when Sascha ║ │
│║ Gershner was still handling guitars alongside ║ │
│║ Chris, but Lars Rettkowitz is definitely not the ║ │
│║ weak link in this fold and proves to be equally ║ │
│║ (if not more) capable of cutting loose in a ║ │
│║ tasteful fashion when his solos take the reins. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ The small handful of problems that plague this ║ │
│║ album are actually quite familiar to anyone who ║ │
│║ has followed this band since ôCrystal Empireö, ║ │
│║ and it largely deals with an inconsistent ║ │
│║ balance of humor and seriousness that is ║ │
│║ similarly found with some of HelloweenÆs and ║ │
│║ Gamma RayÆs works. When dealing with out and out ║ │
│║ rock oriented anthems like ôHero On Videoö and ║ │
│║ ôRockinÆ Radioö, an analogy to a number of ║ │
│║ bluesy, arena oriented pictures comparable to ║ │
│║ SaxonÆs less metallic work come into view, ║ │
│║ definitely enjoyable but quite different from ║ │
│║ the bandÆs signature power metal sound. Others ║ │
│║ like ôSun In The Darkö with its heavy groove ║ │
│║ metal meets Symphorce tendencies and ôPower And ║ │
│║ Gloryö with the quirky bagpipe accompaniment ║ │
│║ come off as confused and fairly skip worthy. The ║ │
│║ only experiment on here that really pans out ║ │
│║ well is the longer title song ôCrimson Dawnö, ║ │
│║ which employs elements of this bandÆs previous ║ │
│║ works, most specifically ôThe Questö in terms of ║ │
│║ its scope of ideas, but also ôHymn Of The Braveö ║ │
│║ in terms of its generally upbeat, anthem-like ║ │
│║ quality. All in all, among the better songs on ║ │
│║ here, and a nice blast from the bandÆs past that ║ │
│║ was lacking on the past 3 albums. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Ultimately this falls into the same category as ║ │
│║ ôLegend Of The Shadow Kingö. ItÆs not the ║ │
│║ greatest thing that the band has put out, but it ║ │
│║ is definitely a continual up trend from the ║ │
│║ bandÆs experimental hiccup ôThe Circle Of ║ │
│║ Lightö. The only thing holding this back is an ║ │
│║ avoidance of creating an entire album of really ║ │
│║ gripping songs in the mold of ô66 Warriorsö and ║ │
│║ ôTerra Libertyö and insisting on missing in rock ║ │
│║ radio interludes that would be more suited to a ║ │
│║ Pink Cream 69 album. Nothing is outright lousy, ║ │
│║ but some of the parts in this mostly good puzzle ║ │
│║ donÆt fit well with the rest. Maybe itÆs just my ║ │
│║ continual loyalty to this band, but I still love ║ │
│║ this band, even if only the central personality ║ │
│║ remains from what was one of my absolute ║ │
│║ favorites from the late 90s German power metal ║ │
│║ resurgence. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ The album will be available in three versions: ║ │
│║ as a jewel case featuring 14 songs, as a limited ║ │
│║ double CD digipak including six additional ║ │
│║ Freedom Call covers with the following ║ │
│║ tracklist: ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ CD 2: ║ │
│║ 'Flame In The Night' - performed by POWERWORLD ║ │
│║ 'Hunting High And Low' - performed by DOWNSPIRIT ║ │
│║ 'Fairyland' - performed by SECRET SPHERE ║ │
│║ 'Palace Of Fantasy' - performed by MANIMAL ║ │
│║ 'Land Of The Light' - performed by NEONFLY ║ │
│║ 'Warriors' - performed by Hannes Braun of ║ │
│║ KISSIN' DYNAMITE ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Chris Bay Vocals, Guitars ║ │
│║ Lars Rettkowitz Guitars ║ │
│║ Samy Saemann Bass ║ │
│║ Klaus Sperling Drums ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ DISCOGRAPHY ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Freedom Call Demo 1998 ║ │
│║ Stairway to Fairyland Full-length 1999 ║ │
│║ Taragon EP 1999 ║ │
│║ Crystal Empire Full-length 2001 ║ │
│║ Silent Empire Single 2001 ║ │
│║ Eternity Full-length 2002 ║ │
│║ Live Invasion Live album 2004 ║ │
│║ The Circle of Life Full-length 2005 ║ │
│║ Dimensions Full-length 2007 ║ │
│║ Zauber der Nacht Single 2010 ║ │
│║ Legend of the Shadowking Full-length 2010 ║ │
│║ Live in Hellvetia DVD 2011 ║ │
│║ Land of the Crimson Dawn Full-length 2012 ║ │
│║ Rockin' Radio Single 2012 ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Tracklist ║ │
│╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │
│ │
│ - CD1 [ ] │
│ - [ ] │
│ 01 - Age Of The Phoenix [03:25] │
│ 02 - Rockstars [04:57] │
│ 03 - Crimson Dawn [06:04] │
│ 04 - Warriors [05:18] │
│ 05 - Back Into The Land Of Light [05:11] │
│ 06 - Sun In The Dark [04:43] │
│ 07 - Hero On Video [03:43] │
│ 08 - Valley Of Kingdom [04:11] │
│ 09 - Killer Gear [04:32] │
│ 10 - Rockin┤ Radio [04:04] │
│ 11 - Terra Liberty [03:41] │
│ 12 - Eternity [04:17] │
│ 13 - Space Legends [03:53] │
│ 14 - Power & Glory [03:25] │
│ - [ ] │
│ - CD2 - Bonus Disc [ ] │
│ - [ ] │
│ 01 - Flame In The Night (Powerworld) [05:02] │
│ 02 - Hunting High And Low (Downspirit) [03:21] │
│ 03 - Fairyland (Secret Sphere) [05:14] │
│ 04 - Palace Of Fantasy (Manimal) [04:55] │
│ 05 - Land Of Light (Neonfly) [03:51] │
│ 06 - Warriors (Hannes Braun/Kissing Dynamite) [03:21] │
│ │
│ Total Length : [87:08 minn │
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│ ╔═════════════════════╗ │
│ ║ Greetings To: ║ │
│ ╚═════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ Too all people who contributes to make this │
│ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│■ ■│
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘