Eternity arrived the following year, and marked the debut of new six-string specialist Cédric “Cede” Dupont (Symphorce). 2001's Steamhammer-issued Crystal Empire would be the last Freedom Call outing to feature Gerstner, who would later join Helloween. Their second offering, 2009's Crystal Empire and 2014's Beyond, are regarded by many as their high-water marks, though early reviews of 2016's Master of Light placed it in that company as well.įormed in 1998 around the talents of vocalist/guitarist Chris Bay, drummer Dan Zimmermann, guitarist Sascha Gerstner, and bassist Ilker Ersin, the group debuted in 1999 with Stairway to Fairyland. Freedom Call's dramatic songs are populated with images and creatures from epic tales and myth. Their intensely melodic melange of twinned guitar leads and chugging vamps, majestic, sweeping keyboards, double-timed drumming, and orchestral arrangements have ushered in hooky, theatrical songs delivered by Chris Bay's high-pitched lead vocals and group-chanted choruses.
A melodic, prog-tinged German power metal unit based out of Nuremberg, Freedom Call continue in the classic vein of regional decibel-pushers like Gamma Ray.
