Freedom Call Album: “Eternity”

Feeling down? Life got you in the dumps? Sad about a recent turn of events in your life? Angry at the world, your job, people around you? Wish you could find some way to cheer up and feel happy and hopeful once again? The answer: ETERNITY! Nothing will put a smile instantly on your face like this album. From start to finish (excepting the rather sad, but still awesome, closer) this is positive, upbeat, energetic metal. In fact, this could be the happiest metal band in the history of the style!

The mix is good; the production is top notch. The music really calls to mind the images on the cover and booklet, although there does not appear to be a theme or concept to the album. The guitarists, while obviously musically adept, eschew mindless scale-shredding in favor of hummable, memorable, melodic lines that add to the music infinitely.

Listening to this, the one impression that comes through loud and clear is that this is feel-good music. It never fails to pull my spirit up into the clouds, no matter how low I may be. Better than most therapy.

2002's Eternity is the third album from German melodic power metal band Freedom Call. The band, formed by former Gamma Ray drummer Dan Zimmermann, takes the basic Helloween power metal formula, doubles down on melody and adds lots of keyboards. Whether this shiny, happy, sing-along style is truly "metal" is debatable, but it's still pretty infectious.

Eternity picks up right where 2001's

left off. I'd almost believe these were leftover songs from the Crystal Empire sessions except that they're too good to be anything other than "a-list" material. The style hasn't changed at all - it's still wall-to-wall galloping leads, sing-along harmonized choruses, prominent keyboards and loads of melody - but the songwriting and musicianship seem to have taken a step forward. I'd say the vocals have too, but Chris Bay's voice has always been this band's main attraction. If I were putting a "best of" Freedom Call album together, I'd include nearly every song on Eternity.

Freedom Call is undoubtedly going to be too upbeat and cheesy for some metal fans, but they should appeal to fans of the German power metal sound as well as bands like Lost Horizon, Hammerfall and even Dragonforce. Stairway to Fairyland is probably the best place to start if you're unfamiliar with the band, but Eternity is probably the better album overall.

Oh, and did I hear a death metal growl or two on "Ages of Power?" How un-Freedom Call.

Freedom Call has quickly become one of my favorite power metal bands! They offer huge vocals, a variety of time changes, positive lyrics, and a total, overall bombastic sound! I have been reading reviews on these guys from a number of power metal listeners, so I bought their Eternity cd on blind faith, and I was not disappointed! Let's just say, I have recently puchased their second effort, Crystal Empire, so it should be arriving any day now! I highly recommend Freedom Call to any fan of Edguy, Rhapsody, Blind Guardian and Savatage believe it or not! Buy it, turn it up, and enjoy!

I picked this up in a random moment because it was in the metal section of the CD store and had a cool cover. It could have been a hundred different styles and luckily it isn't one I hate.

When I first listened to it, it was thinking, "Oh no, not another Christian album." However, after a few tracks, I realized it is not that at all. This is positive metal, an almost unheard of concept lately.

The musicianship is top notch and the production is practically flawless. I really could care less about the production but when I do happen to pay attention, I notice things that many times add charm to the recording. In this case, I noticed nothing a miss and the music had my full attention.

Really good power metal and I highly recommend it.

These guys are great I've been following them since the first album came out, and they have gotten better ever cd, Chis' Voice is like a angel, and there is no way you can be depressed listing to these guys they just make happy music the kind you cant get out of your head cause its simple and Cetchy.

These guys have been helping Blind Guardian on thier tour as a opening act for Blind Guardian, And Blind Guardian Is my favorite band ever but thats not the point, the point is that BG are very picky on who they let tour with them, so by letting them tour with BG its like Blind Guardian also giving you the same advice Im giving you. BUY BUY BUY.