Freedom Call, Germanys premier Melodic Metal band, are set to release their glorious, utterly uplifting, consummate eighth studio album, Beyond, on February 21st on Steamhammer / SPV. Beyond is bursting at the seams with the uncompromisingly positive attitude to life which has inexorably infused Freedom Calls fresh, catchy compositions for over 15 years. Vocalist and guitarist Chris Bray explains that The most important thing about everything you do is that you enjoy doing it. We always concentrate on the positive first, which reflects our character. Optimism is one of our most important philosophies, and thats exactly what Beyond is about.
Beyond contains 14 incredibly infectious, exuberant, brand new songs, which blend the bands greatest strengths and sparkle with class, finesse and enthusiasm. Bay notes; Stylistically, we have remained faithful to ourselves, in fact weve even returned to a slightly more traditional direction. I think thats probably the result of recent tours, where we had lots of fun with the classic Freedom Call numbers, which not only a lot of our faithful fans from the bands early days will appreciate.
The albums focal point is the eight minute title track, written and recorded with a great love of detail. Finding the right arrangement was an exciting challenge for us. Now that the song has been recorded, were really proud of it. To us, Beyond is a kind of successor to The Quest from our second album, Crystal Empire (Bay). Soon-to-be-classic Freedom Call numbers abound, including strident album opener (and first radio single) Union Of The Strong – for which a video is currently being shot – Knights Of Taragon, Colours Of Freedom and the soaring Coming Home. Chris Bay promises a perceptible musical development with occasionally surprising elements; Dance Off The Devil the off is consciously spelled with a double f with its African rhythms and mystic grooves may sound slightly unusual, but it perfectly suits the album title, which is meant in a spiritual sense.
Beyond was recorded by the current line-up featuring Chris Bay, Lars Rettkowitz (guitar), Ilker Ersin (bass) and Ramy Ali (drums). The fact that Ilker is back on bass marks not only the return of one of the bands founder members, but also that of a good friend. We are happy that hes come back on a permanent basis, and our fans have also reacted with great enthusiasm. Ramy has replaced Klaus Sperling, who unfortunately wasnt available due to previous engagements. Ive known Ramy for many years and know that hes not only an awesome drummer but also a great person who fits perfectly into the band and shares our philosophy. I dare say these two new additions have probably made the current line-up the strongest of all time. And were set to prove that Freedom Call are The happiest Metal band of the world.
Beyond, which was produced by Chris Bay and Stephan Ernst at the Separate Sound Studios in Nuremberg and at Freedom Calls own studio, will be available as a digipak, on vinyl LP plus CD and in a special fan edition as a boxset, including a poster, 40 page book, digipak and bonus live CD containing 13 previously unreleased live tracks.
Youd be hard put to find negative emotions or a depressive disposition in the Freedom Call camp. Among the greatest fortes of this German melodic metal act is their uncompromisingly positive attitude to life, which the musicians have incorporated in their fresh and catchy songs for more than 15 years. This positive frame of mind is the central theme of their latest studio album, Beyond, scheduled for release on 24 February 2014 (Germany: 21 February 2014; USA: 4 March 2014). Vocalist and guitarist Chris Bay explains the basic idea behind the current album: The most important thing about everything you do is that you enjoy doing it. We always concentrate on the positive first, which reflects our character. Optimism is one of our most important philosophies, and thats exactly what Beyond is about.
Compositions which blend the bands greatest strengths and sparkle with a lot of class, finesse and enthusiasm. Bay: Stylistically, we have remained faithful to ourselves, in fact weve even returned to a slightly more traditional direction. I think thats probably the result of recent tours, where we had lots of fun with the classic Freedom Call numbers, which not only a lot of our faithful fans from the bands early days will appreciate.
The albums focal point is the eight-minute title track, which Bay & Co. wrote and recorded with a great love of detail: Finding the right arrangement was an exciting challenge for us. Now that the song has been recorded, were really proud of it. To us, Beyond is a kind of successor to The Quest from our second album, Crystal Empire. Along with Beyond, there are another 13 strong tracks, among them classic Freedom Call numbers such as Union Of The Strong (the release of which will be supported by a video clip), Knights Of Taragon and Colours Of Freedom. Chris Bay promises a perceptible musical development with lots of interesting accents and a number of surprises: Dance Off The Devil the off is consciously spelled with a double f with its African rhythms and mystic grooves may sound slightly unusual, but it perfectly suits the album title, which is meant in a spiritual sense.
Beyond was recorded by the current line-up featuring Chris Bay, Lars Rettkowitz (guitar), Ilker Ersin (bass) and Ramy Ali (drums). The fact that Ilker is back on bass marks not only the return of one of the bands founder members, but also that of a good friend. We are happy that hes come back on a permanent basis, and our fans have also reacted with great enthusiasm. Ramy has replaced Klaus Sperling, who unfortunately wasnt available due to previous engagements. Ive known Ramy for many years and know that hes not only an awesome drummer but also a great person who fits perfectly into the band and shares our philosophy. I dare say these two new additions have probably made the current line-up the strongest of all time. And were set to prove that Freedom Call are The happiest Metal band of the world. The album was produced by Chris Bay and Stephan Ernst at the Separate Sound Studios in Nuremberg and at Freedom Calls own studio.
The impressive cover artwork courtesy of Jens Reinhold (Running Wild, Virgin Steele, among others) suits the haunting theme to a T. Beyond will be available in three different formats: as a Digipak, on vinyl LP plus CD and in a special fan edition as a box including book, poster, Digipak and bonus CD. Bay: The 40-page book presents the story of the album in words and pictures, everything is kept very personal. The bonus CD which is included in the fan edition consists of 13 previously unreleased live tracks: six of them were recorded at the Live In The Black Forest concert in June 2013, and seven more at the unique Unplugged & Masqueraded live event at Nurembergs Rockfabrik in September 2013.
Freedom Call fans should not only mark the release date of Beyond in January 2014 in their diaries, but also the dates of Light Over The Beyond tour, which will start in March and take the band through Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy and Finland, among others. Chris Bay is already promising an experience which will be spiritual in every respect!
Line-Up:
Chris Bay – Vocals & Guitars
Lars Rettkowitz – Guitars, Backing Vocals
Ilker Ersin – Bass, Backing Vocals
Ramy Ali – Drums, Backing Vocals
Discography (all on SPV/Steamhammer):
1999 Stairway To Fairyland
2001 Crystal Empire
2002 Eternity
2004 Live Invasion (live)
2005 The Circle Of Life
2007 Dimensions
2010 Legend Of The Shadowking
2011 Live In Hellvetia (live)
2012 Land Of The Crimson Dawn
2013 Ages Of Light (best of)
2014 Beyond
Tourdates 2014:
04.01. CH-Wasen – Ice Rock Festival
01.03. CH-Pratteln – Z7
06.03. D-Hamburg – Markthalle
07.03. NL-Weert – De Bosuil
08.03. D-Siegburg – Kubana
09.03. NL-Rotterdam – Baroeg
13.03. D-Nürnberg – Rockfabrik
14.03. D-Mannheim – Alte Seilerei
15.03. D-Aschaffenburg – Colos-Saal
27.03. D-Berlin – K17
28.03. D-Essen – Turock
29.03. D-Gera – Sächsischer Bahnhof
02.04. E-Gijon – Sala Acapulco
03.04. P-Porto – Hard Club
04.04. E-Madrid – Sala We Rock
05.04. E-Burgos – Sala Museo
06.04. E-Barcelona – Sala Boveda
16.04. F-Lyon – Marche Gare
17.04. F-Paris – Boule Noir
18.04. F-Colmar – Grillen
19.04. F-Toul – Chez Paulette
23.05. D-Munich – Backstage
29.05. D-Geiselwind – Out & Loud Festival
10.07. CZ-Vizovice – Masters Of Rock Festival
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