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.”

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.


TRACKLIST CD/ DIGI:

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

 LTD. DIGI BONUS:
12) Warriors (acoustic) 4:17 (bonus track)
13) Emerald Skies (acoustic) 4:10 (bonus track)


New Line-Up:

Chris Bay            Vocals & Guitars
Lars Rettkowitz        Guitars, Backing Vocals
Francessco Ferraro        Bass
Timi Breideband        Drums