FREEDOM CALL – “M.E.T.A.L.” album to be released via Steamhammer / SPV on August 23, 2019 #freedomcall
FREEDOM CALL
***Anthemnic New Studio Album ‘M.E.T.A.L.’ released August 23rd on Steamhammer / SPV***
Leading German Melodic Rockers Freedom Call, who celebrate their 20th anniversary this summer, are set to release their utterly uplifting tenth studio album, ‘M.E.T.A.L.’, on Steamhammer / SPV on August 23rd.
‘ME.T.A.L.’ will be available as a Digipak CD with 2 bonus tracks, ‘Unicorn’ card and embossed cover (limited to 3,000), Jewel Case CD, double (blue with black swirls) 180 gram vinyl LP (with printed inner sleeves + CD in a cardboard case), download and stream. The video for the first single from the album, ‘111’ has just been unveiled and can be viewed at https://youtu.be/CiBBpL4jioc
Since their inception two decades ago, Freedom Call have become synonymous with soaring choruses, harmonic melody laden guitar licks, hard driving grooves, atmospheric messages and exuberantly irrepressible optimistic lyrics. Never is this more evident than on ‘ME.T.A.L.’, a masterpiece melodic power metal triumph.
“Everybody who’s heard the album has told us that some of the tracks could easily have featured on our first recordings,” front man Chris Bay explains with some pride, adding: “To me such statements are a big compliment because they imply that there’s a typical musical fingerprint, characteristic Freedom Call DNA that we’ve remained faithful to.”
Addressing the album’s unusual title, Bay states (with a chuckle) that it is “tongue in cheek. After all, everybody knows that we don’t exactly play extremely raw death metal. We’re happy for our music to polarise the audience, which is precisely what’s been happening since we’ve announced it on Facebook.”
Characteristically fast-paced, boundlessly enthusiastic songs such as ‘Fly With Us’, ‘Days Of Glory’ and ‘Ronin’ all exude Freedom Call DNA, while the album’s title track itself is a standout melodic anthem. Bay reflects that “On the one hand these kinds of pounding groove numbers are pretty unusual for us, on the other hand ‘M.E.T.A.L.’ is an absolute novelty.” In other places the new album risks a degree of poignancy on ‘One Step Into Wonderland’ or oozes atmospheric seafaring flair on ‘Sail Away’. Explaining the title of first single ‘111’, Bay states that “111 is the number of angels in Western esotericism, and it also plays an important role in my life. I come across it constantly, be it the number of my hotel room, a receipt at the supermarket or even my birth date.”
While ‘M.E.T.A.L.’ was recorded with live drummer Kevin Kott (Masterplan), from summer 2019 Freedom Call will tour with a new line up consisting – along with Bay and lead guitarist Lars Rettkowitz – of Italian bassist Francesco Ferraro and drummer Timmi Breideband. Freedom Call met Ferraro during their tour with Rhapsody Of Fire, Francesco opening the show with his band Vexillum. Breideband previously played with At Vance and Bonfire. “Francesco and Timmi have brought lots of new ideas and a younger attitude to the band,” enthuses Bay about his new colleagues.
*STEAMHAMMER / SPV- NEW CD RELEASE* FREEDOM CALL
Release Date: Format:
“M.E.T.A.L.”
August 23rd, 2019
– CD Digipak incl. 2 bonus tracks, “Unicorn” card and embossed cover (limited to 3.000 units)
– CD Jewel Case
– 2LP, Gatefold, 180 g, printed inner sleeves, CD in paper sleeve, blue with black swirls vinyl
Tracklisting:
1) 111 3:56
2) Spirit Of Daedalus 3:45
3) M.E.T.A.L. 4:20
4) Ace Of The Unicorn 3:21
5) Sail Away 3:57
6) Fly With Us 4:17
7) One Step Into Wonderland 3:26
8) Days Of Glory 3:28
9) Wheel Of Time 4:30
10) Ronin 3:47
11) Sole Survivor 4:22
12) Emerald Skies (acoustic) 4:10 (bonus track) 13) Warriors (acoustic) 4:17 (bonus track)
Info:
Two excellent reasons to party for the Freedom Call camp: first, the band surrounding vocalist/guitarist Chris Bay are set to celebrate their 20th anniversary this summer; then, on 23 August 2019 they’re also scheduled to release their tenth studio album, featuring the promising title M.E.T.A.L. Since their 1999 debut Stairway To Fairyland, the act from southern Germany has been synonymous with anthemnic melodic metal, driving grooves and atmospheric messages as well as optimistic lyrics. M.E.T.A.L., a unanimously impressive offering with an unusual title, is marked by these familiar characteristics but also by lots of other features. According to Bay, the unconventional title is “tongue in cheek. After all, everybody knows that we don’t exactly play extremely raw death metal. We’re happy for our music to polarise the audience, which is precisely what’s been happening since we’ve announced it on Facebook.”
It’s obvious from the very first note that M.E.T.A.L. has turned into a release that’s bound to please Freedom Call fans in every respect. “Everybody who’s heard the album has told us that some of the tracks could easily have featured on our first recordings,” Chris Bay explains with some pride, adding: “To me such statements are a big compliment because they imply that there’s a typical musical fingerprint, characteristic Freedom Call DNA that we’ve remained faithful to.”
Bay is referring to numbers such as ‘Fly With Us’, ‘Days Of Glory’ and ‘Ronin’ with their impressive speed and almost boundless enthusiasm which are certain to stimulate their fans’ neck and leg muscles. In other places the new album risks a degree of poignancy (‘One Step Into Wonderland’) or oozes atmospheric seafaring flair on ‘Sail Away’. The title track is relevant in a number of respects. Comments Bay: “On the one hand these kinds of pounding groove numbers are pretty unusual for us, on the other hand ‘M.E.T.A.L.’ is an absolute novelty. None less than Freedom Call founder member and former drummer Daniel Zimmermann has left his unmistakable signature on the album, recording the drum parts simultaneously alongside Kevin Kott, side by side, shoulder to shoulder. You can hear one of them on the left and the other on the right channel.” By the way: fans who are loving that unique double drum sound will soon be able to see it in a breath-taking video clip. While M.E.T.A.L. was recorded with live drummer Kevin Kott (Masterplan), from summer 2019 Freedom Call will tour with a new line up consisting – along with Bay and lead guitarist Lars Rettkowitz – of Italian bassist Francesco Ferraro and drummer Timmi Breideband. Freedom Call met Ferraro during their tour with Rhapsody Of Fire, Francesco opening the show with his band Vexillum. Breideband previously played with At Vance and Bonfire. “Francesco and Timmi have brought lots of new ideas and a younger attitude to the band,” enthuses Bay about his new colleagues. M.E.T.A.L. will be available at the physical and digital stores on DigiPak CD, vinyl double album and for digital download The title of the first single release ‘111’ (with the “perceived” subtitle ‘The Number Of The Angels’) is also programmatic. “’111 is the number of angels in Western esotericism”, Bay explains, “and it also plays an important role in my life. I come across it constantly, be it the number of my hotel room, a receipt at the supermarket or even my birth date. I’m obviously a ‘one’ person which also means that I’m a ‘light person’.”
Talking of which: there’s plenty of light and joy on M.E.T.A.L. in lots of different respects. Their tenth studio album sees Freedom Call ooze pure, unadulterated enthusiasm, a positive attitude and great compositional skill. And who knows: perhaps all those who listen to this lively album may turn into “light persons” themselves.
New Line-Up:
Chris Bay
Lars Rettkowitz Francessco Ferraro Timi Breideband
Tourdates 2019:
Vocals & Guitars Guitars, Backing Vocals Bass
Drums
29.06. DE-Forchheim – J.B.O. Ein Fest 06.07. DE-Ballenstedt – Rock Harz Festival 13.07. IT-Cremona – Luppolo in Rock 02.08. SK-Rudno – Rockfest Nitrianske 03.08. CZ-Ostrava – Ostrava V Plamenech 17.08. DE-Hünfeld – Rhön Rock Open Air 27.09. DE-Nürnberg – Hirsch
28.09. NL-Landgraaf – De Oefenbunker 08.10. DE-Hamburg – Knust
09.10. DE-Berlin – Musik & Frieden
10.10. DE-Aschaffenburg – Colos-Saal 11.10. CZ-Prague – MeetFactory
12.10. CZ-Zlin – Masters Of Rock Cafe 13.10. HU-Budapest – Dürer Kert
15.10. DE-Munich – Backstage
16.10. DE-Cologne – Club Volta
17.10. DE-Stuttgart – Club Cann
18.10. DE-Erfurt – HsD
19.10. CH-Pratteln – Z7
20.10. DE-Bochum – Matrix
25.10. FR-Colmar – Le Grillen
26.10. FR-Vouziers – Festival de Vouziers 01.11. SE-Finspang – Hugo
02.11. SE-Lulea – Kuturens Hus
03.11. SE-Stockholm – Nalen Klubb
Leave a Reply
Your email is safe with us.