• New Music Reviews
• |
• Archives
• |
• News
• |
• Submissions
• |
• About
• |
• 
• |
• 

December 2024

• After Lapse: Pathways
• Illusion Force: Halfana
• Powell-Payne: Voilá

November 2024

• Sunstorm: Restless Fight
• Storace: Crossfire
• Voodoo Circle: Hail To The King
• Lionville: Supernatural
• Starchaser: Into The Great Unkown
• Empires Of Eden: Guardians Of Time
• Lonerider: Down In The Dust
• Seventh Crystal: Entity
• Neal Morse & The Resonance: No Hill For A Climber
• Beardfish: Songs For Beating Hearts
• Impellitteri: War Machine
• Brothers Of Metal: Fimbulvinter

October 2024

• Casandra's Crossing: Garden Of Earthly Delights
• DGM: Endless
• Daytona: Garder la Flamme
• Fate: Reconnect 'N Ignite
• Frost*: Life In The Wires
• Aries Descendant: From The Ashes Of Deceit
• Fans Of The Dark: Video
• Radioactive: Reset
• House Of Lords: Full Tilt Overdrive
• Cleanbreak: We Are The Fire

September 2024

• Sinner's Blood: Dark Horizons
• Serious Black: Rise Of Akhenaton
• Eclipse: Megalomanium II
• SteelCity: Reverence
• Hydra: ReHydrated
• Heartwind: III
• Gabrielle De Val and the Dragonlords: Tiger
• Find Me: Nightbound
• The Nail: The Nail
• Timeless Fairytale: A Story To Tell
• Stryper: When We Were Kings
• Phil Mogg: Moggs Motel
• Pure Reason Revolution: Coming Up To Consciousness
• Jordan Rudess: Permission To Fly

August 2024

• Siege Perilous: Creation's Call EP
• Paralydium: Universe Calls
• Mike Tramp: Songs Of White Lion Vol. II
• Bite The Bullet: Looking For Paradise
• All For Metal: Gods Of Metal (Year Of The Dragon)
• Hammerfall: Avenge The Fallen
• Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 2

[ More Music Reviews ]

Freedom Call: Land of the Crimson Dawn

Melodic/Power Metal

3.5/5.0

Website Facebook YouTube
SPV/Steamhammer
by Craig Hartranft,  02.06.2012

With Freedom Call's seventh full-length album, Land of the Crimson Dawn, long time fans might either scratch their heads in confusion or whine in disappointment. Really, that's not as bad as it sounds. Here's thing: this work is not the strict melodic power metal we expect from this band, at least not throughout.

Above, Freedom Call: vocalist Chris Bay helps hold up the wall, or he's really, really tired of this photo shoot.

Okay, yes, there's power metal here: epic, speedy, and bombastic as Freedom Call knows how to deliver. Crimson Dawn, 66 Warriors, Back in to the Land of Light, and Terra Liberty are some the best. Age of the Phoenix and Space Legend, not so much. There are some odes to all things rock and metal with Rockin' Radio and Power & Glory, including a smack down on rap, hip-hop, and techno on the former. Both offer all the bully and bravado, excess and exaggeration, we can expect from a self homage to the genre.

Overall, all these songs lean towards melodic power metal, but there's also a greater groove and an audible attempt at more accessibility. Then, of course, there's the huge harmonious vocal arrangements, that set Freedom Call above their many peers.

But then Freedom Call throws a few curve balls. Sun in the Dark, Hero on Video, and Killer Gear provide more of that accessibility and strong rock groove, all in and 'outside-the-power-metal-box' formula. This not the Freedom Call that gave us Legend of the Shadowking. It's different and, frankly, a rather refreshing slant from the band.

With Land of the Crimson Dawn, Freedom Call still reminds us that they are power metal kings. But they have a few new, and quite entertaining, tricks up their sleeves. Recommended.

More Ways to Share This Review

With Land of the Crimson Dawn, Freedom Call still reminds us that they are power metal kings. But they have a few new, and quite entertaining, tricks up their sleeves.

Alphabetical Index

The Powell Payne project, created in 2022 is the collaboration of Mark "Penfold Powell (ex-drummer of Psycho Kiss) and Adam Payne (former vocalist of Airrace). With guitarist Adam Davies and keyboard player ... [ Read More ]