That ring the trumpets!
Album name: Legend Of The Shadowking
Label: SPV
Release Date: February 1, 2010
Genre: Power Metal 
Introduction:
"I like Freedom Call? "" Who, of those trumpets? "Now the few people who have heard a few tracks recognized in this way, the German power metal band. A band is the brainchild of drummer Gamma Ray (Daniel Zimmermann) and friend Chris Bay, which by far then succeeded in 1999 churning out albums very valid, though strongly based and inspired by a canonical power metal-style epic, very "joyful". Features that have made them earn a place of honor in the movement of happy European metal. Now, because the phantom "trumpets"? Needless to deny that their action to the sound of the trumpet has often provoked laughter by the most ardent defenders, perhaps to a large and imposing their use, especially in the first three albums. But this sounds, sometimes on the edge of the bizarre, which gives a heavy hint of pompous epic quality to many pieces of the band, has become an absolute trademark license plate fire masterpieces like the first 3 albums ("Stairway To Fairyland", "Crystal Empire" and "Eternity", true masterpieces of the 'happy-trumpet-power metal "). Bizarre or not, the band has grown enormously fans and acclaim, but never shines for live performance too busy or precise, but certainly relaxing and engaging. The secret of the band is very apt to always find solutions, real battle hymns of the "throw" fucking flawless and power, aided by bombastic and triumphant choruses, without recourse to rambling prog solos of the century, or whatever . A group pure undoubtedly born for fun and to entertain, with anchors record to listen and listen again, in days of sorrow, to find the will to live. After the delicious Circle Of Life (shifting to mid-tempos granite) and the low Dimensions (where there is no trace of the usual trumpets), back in 2010 with The Legend Of Shadowking, which has, unfortunately, as another small misstep, though, ultimately, less false of its direct predecessor. The idea is based on a lyrical concept (the fifth of the band) that revolves around the historical figure of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, but the fundamental problem is that music does not breathe any air or historical epic, and I think this is a key element in creating a historical concept like this. Inspiration In recent years, therefore, appears to have failed, compared with the time of the trumpets. So that the latter gave them the inspiration? If so, we should not hesitate in streams back into their sound: bulky and collegiate Freedom Call ... but damn!
Track By Track:
Album + power historical concept: what better than this combination may lend itself to a beautiful symphony introduction superbly arranged? But here's an intro you have never seen even the shadow: the direct connection is opened by an incisive chorus on Out Of The Ruins ", a typically up-tempo power metal. Fast, the track stands out on rhythmic melodies and combative, all in all, convincing, leading to epic refrain from singing (as usual) out loud. Although devoid of keyboards and horns (but full of songs), is an excellent opener, quite convincingly, where the spirit of the band seems to be reborn. The next "Thunder God" immediately change log: this is a slower song setting almost hard rock, which has very little power, but the refrain, chorus and quite convincing. The song itself is quite simple in structure, and leaves no distinguishing marks but flows easily due to its short duration. The attached video clip is on the other hand, something really horrible, period. Things are not better with the ride following "Tears Of Babylon," where they appear the only trumpets (rieccole!) album. This is also why is the song that most recalls the past, but it does wearily, with a general chorus and a gait that, frankly, most of it could not be discounted. Luckily we think "Merlin - Legend Of The Past" to raise attention. Dark explodes with a chorus, continues in an up-tempo music from the answers to guess, to flow into a refrain, and epic evocative. Thus, a great song (the best album, in my opinion) that, incidentally, is isolated from the history of the concept (although, paradoxically, a concentration of atmosphere is not indifferent). A choir in my ears the next dry launches "Resurrection Day" , more up-tempo, alternating stanzas of a tight, thin and rather predictable to an irresistible chorus tones happy and very successful, distinguished by the usual qualities of drummer Dan always fast, technical and precise. Note the inspired and fast guitar solo central. The triptych is represented by following a certain mood dark and leaden, quite unusual for the band, representing a fair trial (already begun on the previous Dimensions with The Blackened Sun): it starts with the introduction of acoustic "Under The Spell Of The Moon" , mid-tempo music from the plant on the edge of the gothic, with a Chris Bay who, in good refrain choruses and melodies accompanied by a dramatic dark, engages in a strangely baritone scores (unusual for its tone and its extension generally high) and remember to smear the HIM singer Ville Valo. Ultimately it is a nice song, but it certainly is nothing surprising in the general level of songwriting. A bit 'better the following "Dark Obsession," enriched by an introduction symphonic and choral melodies and eerie piano. Although in good chorus slows the pace of the song is much more appetizing than the granite and the previous track. Following "The Darkness", a title fairly trivial for a good song. After a slow start and obscure, the song ends in a mid-tempo verses where we find the aggressive and well-made, embellished by excellent voice inserts, bridge and chorus taking almost gothic tone, and some electronic inserts near the end . All in all then there are three different songs than the classic style of the band, and the experiment is successful more than worthy. You step on the accelerator again with the following "Remember!" , a title that says it all: as if the Freedom Call us wanted to "remember" what is their genre, they attack with a chorus that leads to an up-tempo-style classical power . However, the song fails to shine, and loses its strength mainly due to a minimum without trivial stanzas and a refrain of innovation insignificant and not very engaging. The next interlude "Ludwig II" not add anything significant to the economy of the disc, it is a short pseudo-symphonic piece performed in the mother tongue as a prelude to the next "The Shadowking" track cut rather "cheeky" and rhythmic, flowing away without too many impediments through evocative verses and a good chorus. The following piano ballad "Merlin - Requiem and resumed, as indicated by the title, the refrain of the previous" Merlin - Legend Of The Past "in key slow and symphonic music. Its short duration makes it impossible to appreciate too much content and a song would have been more successful had it been developed further. But beyond this, it is nevertheless a pleasant interlude. "Kingdom Of Madness" seems to be one of those songs just made for live shows, as evidenced by a gait to die very hard rock-Stradaioli, a good chorus fits perfectly concert, and an (almost embarrassing) interval, where the instruments are continuing on a steady basis and the chorus is repeated several times, as often happens in live concerts, an audience dominated by the sovereign. Closes the album a little remarkable "A Perfect Day" , which, after a good introduction flavored folk rock, rock-is lost in stanzas and a chorus cheerful and overly saccharine. Thus ends, in a rather inconclusive, the legend of the king of shadows, swinging along with this album that shows us the Freedom Call fair in form, often lacking in the side of songwriting. This time then, dear Dan Zimmermann & Associates, no fanfare.
Techniques and Concluding remarks:
The German band has never been too high by the standards imposed by this kind, purely technical. Indeed, if we must be honest, from this point of view, never strong, because its strengths are definitely others. But despite this, we can cite the frontman Chris Bay, from the tone of voice rather soft and cool, not at all aggressive, but with excellent vocal technique and considerable extension (as shown in this album), as well as of a chameleon in the ability to interpret tracks of different atmospheres. A singer certainly suitable for the proposal of the quartet. Needless to say the skill of the drummer Dan Zimmermann (although very recently left the band), that most known for his work in much more important Gamma Ray. We must say that, in Freedom Call, the drummer that has never been able to better express its full potential. For the rest, guitar and bass play a specific job, even if fairly standard, without being able to stand out. In addition to the questionable goodness of songwriting, in addition, I would point out that the production does not shine, we often tend to overshadow the guitars (already perceived as characterized by a thin sound) in favor of heading to Bay, making him lose impact and power to the tracks. As for the cover, it is a beautiful image that portrays a kind of statue of King Ludwig II, with a sea kissed by the moon in the background. The colors are cool and evocative, perfectly fitting with the story told. So here we are, with these 14 songs, all too short and often poorly developed, but very direct, they can not let us breathe the right atmosphere epic that a concept like this deserves. Too bad. Meanwhile let us enjoy the few remarkable tracks within this album, and we look forward to that even the FC have nostalgia of their own past and come back to amaze us with so much love-hate trumpets.
Tracklist:
01. Out Of The Ruins
02. Thunder God
03. Tears Of Babylon
04. Merlin – Legend Of The Past
05. Resurrection Day
06. Under The Spell Of The Moon
07. Dark Obsession
08. The Darkness
09. Remember!
10. Ludwig II - Prologue
11. The Shadowking
12. Merlin - Requiem
13. Kingdom Of Madness
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