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. 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. Freedom Call's dramatic songs are populated with images and creatures from epic tales and myth. 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. Formed 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. 2001's Steamhammer-issued Crystal Empire would be the last Freedom Call outing to feature Gerstner, who would later join Helloween. Eternity arrived the following year, and marked the debut of new six-string specialist Cédric “Cede” Dupont (Symphorce). 2005's Circle of Life saw touring keyboard member Nils Neumann officially join the fold, and the lineup changes continued on 2007's conceptual Dimensions with the departures of Dupont and Ersin, who were replaced by Lars Rettkowitz and Armin Donderer from the band Paradox. Legend of the Shadowking and Land of the Crimson Dawn arrived in 2010 and 2012, respectively, and in 2014 the band issued their eighth studio long-player, the chart-topping Beyond. Master of Light, which featured a lineup consisting of Chris Bay, Lars Rettkowitz, Ilker Ersin, and Ramy Ali, was released in 2016. The following year, SPV issued 5 Original Albums in 1 Box consisting of Legend of the Shadowking, the double-length Live in Hellvetia, Land of the Crimson Dawn, and the retrospective Ages of Light. By 2019, the band's lineup shifted again. Ersin and Ali left. Vexillum bassist Francesco Ferraro signed on and studio drummers Kevin Kott (Masterplan) and Dan Zimmerman (Justice) were recruited for Freedom Call's tenth album, M.E.T.A.L., issued in August. ~ James Christopher Monger