FREEDOM CALL — Beyond (review)

FREEDOM CALL — Beyond album cover Album · 2014 · Power Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
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Beyond (2014) is the eighth full-length album by German power metal act Freedom Call. Since the release of Land of the Crimson Dawn (2012) the group’s rhythm section has completely changed, with bassist Ilker Ersin returning to the band having previously departed in 2005 and the addition of new drummer Ramy Ali (Iron Mask, Evidence One et al). Beyond is also available as a special edition that comes with a bonus disc of live and unplugged material.

Freedom Call have been around a while now, but despite that Beyond is actually my first time hearing their music. The album represents a decent enough first impression for the band, although it does come across as something of a dime a dozen power metal release, featuring all the typical elements that the genre can sway into, particularly symphonic elements but also the odd more traditional metal orientated riff. In other words completely inoffensive work that is perfectly listenable if you enjoy the genre, but only occasionally showing that there’s something more to be had within the album. Such is the case with the album's title track, the best and most epic of the fourteen offerings that Freedom Call have presented.

The rest of the album provides much catchy material and while Beyond is obviously pretty high up on the power metal cheese scale it's a very fun release that is sure to please fans of this kind of music. It's biggest issue is perhaps the way certain aspects of it simply scream out missed chance to me. The on/off use of symphonic elements is quite nice to vary things up a little but some of those symphonic melodies have a bit of a folksy vibe to them, as in the songs Come on Home and Journey Into Wonderland and I can't help feeling when I hear these songs how awesome it would be if Freedom Call had included some actual folk instrumentation in them, especially for Come on Home.

Beyond is an enjoyable enough power metal release from Freedom Call. It certainly doesn't wow me very often and that's a real shame, because there are certainly several moments where it shows much more promise. A rating within the 3.5 stars bracket seems fair.

73/100

(Originally written for Heavy Metal Haven: http://metaltube.freeforums.org/freedom-call-beyond-t3355.html)
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