Freedom Call
Encyclopedia
Freedom Call is a German
power metal
band formed in 1998.
. They eventually completed a six-song demo
with the well-known producer Charlie Bauerfeind
, who offered the tape to several record companies.
At the same time, the Freedom Call line up was completed by Ilker Ersin on the Bass guitar and Sascha Gerstner on Guitar. Chris and Dan saw Sascha in the beginning of 1998, playing in a cover band
. Ilker and Chris had played together in a band called Moon Doc for some years.
The debut album, Stairway to Fairyland
was released in early 1999, and on the 25th of May Freedom Call made their official live debut during a France tour as support band of Angra
and Edguy
. At the end of August Freedom Call started recording the 5-track Mini LP called "Taragon
", with new songs, a cover version of Ultravox
' "Dancing with tears in my eyes", a new-sung version of the "Stairway to Fairyland" a Japanese bonus track called "Kingdom Come" and a new version of "Tears of Taragon" with Biff Byford
, singer of Saxon
narrating the "Tale of Taragon" on it.
By the end of 1999, Freedom Call had entered the studio again to record the second album called "Crystal Empire
", which was released in late 2000.
In March 2001 Sascha Gerstner left Freedom Call (he would later join Helloween
). He was eventually replaced by Cédric "Cede" Dupont
, the Swiss
guitarist of Symphorce
.
In the middle of January 2002 the new formation of the band began recording their new album called "Eternity." Dan and Chris produced the album on their own this time as Charlie Bauerfeind was not available at the time. He was, however, responsible for the drum recordings and the final mix.
Later that year, they were invited on tour with Blind Guardian
. During this tour they recorded the live album, "Live Invasion
" together with Charlie Bauerfeind in Düsseldorf, Stuttgart and Munich.
The keyboard player used on this tour, Nils Neumann, was soon invited to become the fifth member of the band. After an extended break, the next album The Circle of Life
was recorded at Hansen Studio, Hamburg and FC Studios, Nuremberg from August to October 2004, and released in March, 2005.
Shortly after the release, both Cédric "Cede" Dupont
and Ilker Ersin decided to leave Freedom Call (independently of each other). Replacements were eventually announced in the respective form of the unknown Lars Rettkowitz and Armin Donderer, formerly of Paradox.
A new album with the title "Dimensions" was released on April 23, 2007 and, according to Dan Zimmermann, sounds closer to the Eternity album than its more experimental successor. http://www.freedom-call.net/lang_english/index.html The songs "The Wanderer" and "Dimensions" were also used in the online rhythm game "Flash Flash Revolution"
In March 2009, the band announced that they were putting the finishing touches to a new album, "Legend of the Shadowking
", and that they had parted ways with bassist Armin Donderer, who would be replaced by Samy Saemann.
Also Dan Zimmerman announced that he would be replaced by Klaus Sperling for the 2010 touring cycle as he would be on the road with Gamma Ray during this period. It has later been confirmed on the bands homepage that Zimmermann officially has left the band. He is currently listed as a former member.
Chris Bay has announced that the band is working on another album to be released sometime in February 2012. It was announced in September 2011, that the Title of the upcoming album is "Land of the Crimson Dawn."
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
band formed in 1998.
Biography
Freedom Call was formed in 1998 by old friends Chris Bay and Daniel Zimmermann during an off-period for the latter's main band, Gamma RayGamma Ray (band)
Gamma Ray is a power metal band from Hamburg, northern Germany, founded and fronted by Kai Hansen after his departure from the German power metal Helloween. Hansen is the current lead vocalist, guitarist as well as the chief songwriter of Gamma Ray. The band is known as one of the most prominent...
. They eventually completed a six-song demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
with the well-known producer Charlie Bauerfeind
Charlie Bauerfeind
Charlie Bauerfeind is a German sound engineer and producer who has worked mostly with power metal bands such as Angra, Blind Guardian, Helloween, Primal Fear, Rage, HammerFall and Saxon....
, who offered the tape to several record companies.
At the same time, the Freedom Call line up was completed by Ilker Ersin on the Bass guitar and Sascha Gerstner on Guitar. Chris and Dan saw Sascha in the beginning of 1998, playing in a cover band
Cover band
A cover band , is a band that plays mostly or exclusively cover songs. New or unknown bands often find the cover band format marketable for smaller gigs, and these bands may be known as a wedding band, party band and function band. A band whose covers consist mainly of songs that were chart hits is...
. Ilker and Chris had played together in a band called Moon Doc for some years.
The debut album, Stairway to Fairyland
Stairway to Fairyland
Stairway to Fairyland is the first full-length album by the German power metal band Freedom Call. It was released on May 7, 1999, by NTS Records.-Track listing:# "Over the Rainbow" – 5:51# "Tears Falling" – 5:37# "Fairyland" – 5:28# "Shine On" – 5:42...
was released in early 1999, and on the 25th of May Freedom Call made their official live debut during a France tour as support band of Angra
Angra (band)
Angra is a Brazilian metal band from São Paulo, Brazil known for its symphonic interludes, highly technical instrumental playing and Brazilian regional elements.- Biography :...
and Edguy
Edguy
-Demos, AFM years :Edguy was founded in 1992 by 14-year-old students Tobias Sammet, Jens Ludwig, Dominik Storch and Dirk Sauer. The name "Edguy" was an affectionate epithet for Mr. Edgar Siedschlag, their math teacher at the time. In 1994, the band released two demos, Evil Minded and Children of...
. At the end of August Freedom Call started recording the 5-track Mini LP called "Taragon
Taragon
Taragon is an EP by the German power metal band Freedom Call. It was released on November 20, 1999, by NTS Records. Originally available only in France and Japan, the EP was re-released worldwide in 2004, as part of the Live Invasion album....
", with new songs, a cover version of Ultravox
Ultravox
Ultravox is a British New Wave rock band. They were one of the primary exponents of the British electronic pop music movement of the late 1970s/early 1980s. The band was particularly associated with the New Romantic and New Wave movements....
' "Dancing with tears in my eyes", a new-sung version of the "Stairway to Fairyland" a Japanese bonus track called "Kingdom Come" and a new version of "Tears of Taragon" with Biff Byford
Biff Byford
Peter Rodney "Biff" Byford is an English rock singer, best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Saxon. Byford formed Son of a Bitch with guitarists Graham Oliver and Paul Quinn, bassist Steve Dawson and drummer Pete Gill in 1976...
, singer of Saxon
Saxon (band)
Saxon are an English heavy metal band, formed in 1976 in Barnsley, Yorkshire. As front-runners of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, they had 8 UK Top 40 albums in the 1980s including 4 UK Top 10 albums. Saxon also had numerous singles in the Top 20 singles chart...
narrating the "Tale of Taragon" on it.
By the end of 1999, Freedom Call had entered the studio again to record the second album called "Crystal Empire
Crystal Empire
Crystal Empire is the second full-length album by the German power metal band Freedom Call. It was released on January 22, 2001, by Steamhammer...
", which was released in late 2000.
In March 2001 Sascha Gerstner left Freedom Call (he would later join Helloween
Helloween
Helloween is a German power metal band founded in the mid 1980s by members of Iron Fist and Powerfool. The band was a pioneering force in the European Power Metal movement and their second and third studio albums, Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt...
). He was eventually replaced by Cédric "Cede" Dupont
Cédric "Cede" Dupont
Cédric "Cede" Dupont is a Swiss musician, currently playing guitar in German metal/rock band Downspirit and Symphorce.-Biography:...
, the Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
guitarist of Symphorce
Symphorce
Symphorce was a German progressive power metal band, originally assembled in 1998.- Biography :The band was formed in October 1998 by singer Andy B. Franck. He created the name Symphorce as a play of words, a portmanteau of symphony and force. It was a few months later, in 1999 that they released...
.
In the middle of January 2002 the new formation of the band began recording their new album called "Eternity." Dan and Chris produced the album on their own this time as Charlie Bauerfeind was not available at the time. He was, however, responsible for the drum recordings and the final mix.
Later that year, they were invited on tour with Blind Guardian
Blind Guardian
Blind Guardian is a German power metal band formed in the mid-1980s in Krefeld, West Germany. They are often credited as one of the seminal and most influential bands in the power metal and speed metal subgenres...
. During this tour they recorded the live album, "Live Invasion
Live Invasion
Live Invasion is the first live album by the German power metal band Freedom Call. It was released on May 10, 2004, by SPV. The album was recorded in Düsseldorf, Munich and Stuttgart during the band's "Eternal World Tour 2002".-Disc one:...
" together with Charlie Bauerfeind in Düsseldorf, Stuttgart and Munich.
The keyboard player used on this tour, Nils Neumann, was soon invited to become the fifth member of the band. After an extended break, the next album The Circle of Life
The Circle of Life
The Circle of Life is the fourth full-length album by the German power metal band Freedom Call. It was released on March 21, 2005, by SPV.-Track listing:# "Mother Earth" – 4:31# "Carry On" – 3:30# "The Rhythm of Life" – 3:41...
was recorded at Hansen Studio, Hamburg and FC Studios, Nuremberg from August to October 2004, and released in March, 2005.
Shortly after the release, both Cédric "Cede" Dupont
Cédric "Cede" Dupont
Cédric "Cede" Dupont is a Swiss musician, currently playing guitar in German metal/rock band Downspirit and Symphorce.-Biography:...
and Ilker Ersin decided to leave Freedom Call (independently of each other). Replacements were eventually announced in the respective form of the unknown Lars Rettkowitz and Armin Donderer, formerly of Paradox.
A new album with the title "Dimensions" was released on April 23, 2007 and, according to Dan Zimmermann, sounds closer to the Eternity album than its more experimental successor. http://www.freedom-call.net/lang_english/index.html The songs "The Wanderer" and "Dimensions" were also used in the online rhythm game "Flash Flash Revolution"
In March 2009, the band announced that they were putting the finishing touches to a new album, "Legend of the Shadowking
Legend of the Shadowking
-Credits:*Chris Bay – vocals, guitar*Lars Rettkowitz – guitar*Samy Saemann – bass guitar*Dan Zimmermann – drums...
", and that they had parted ways with bassist Armin Donderer, who would be replaced by Samy Saemann.
Also Dan Zimmerman announced that he would be replaced by Klaus Sperling for the 2010 touring cycle as he would be on the road with Gamma Ray during this period. It has later been confirmed on the bands homepage that Zimmermann officially has left the band. He is currently listed as a former member.
Chris Bay has announced that the band is working on another album to be released sometime in February 2012. It was announced in September 2011, that the Title of the upcoming album is "Land of the Crimson Dawn."
Lineup
- Chris Bay - Vocals & Guitar (1998–present)
- Lars Rettkowitz - Guitar (2005–present)
- Samy Saemann - Bass (2009–present)
- Klaus Sperling - Drums (2010–present)
Former Members
- Dan ZimmermannDan ZimmermannDaniel Hans Erwin Zimmermann is a heavy metal drummer currently playing in Gamma Ray. Dan joined Gamma Ray in 1997.-With Gamma Ray:*Valley of the Kings *Somewhere Out In Space...
- Drums (1998–2010) - Sascha GerstnerSascha GerstnerSascha Gerstner is a German musician and photographer, currently playing guitar in German Power Metal act Helloween.-Biography:...
- Guitar (1998–2001) - Cédric "Cede" DupontCédric "Cede" DupontCédric "Cede" Dupont is a Swiss musician, currently playing guitar in German metal/rock band Downspirit and Symphorce.-Biography:...
- Guitar (2001–2005) - Ilker Ersin - Bass (1998–2005)
- Nils Neumann - Keyboards (2003–2006)
- Armin Donderer - Bass (2005–2009)
Albums
- Stairway to FairylandStairway to FairylandStairway to Fairyland is the first full-length album by the German power metal band Freedom Call. It was released on May 7, 1999, by NTS Records.-Track listing:# "Over the Rainbow" – 5:51# "Tears Falling" – 5:37# "Fairyland" – 5:28# "Shine On" – 5:42...
(1999) - Crystal EmpireCrystal EmpireCrystal Empire is the second full-length album by the German power metal band Freedom Call. It was released on January 22, 2001, by Steamhammer...
(2001) - EternityEternity (Freedom Call album)Eternity is the third full-length album by the German power metal band Freedom Call. It was released on June 3, 2002, by Steamhammer.-Track listing:# "Metal Invasion" – 6:48# "Flying High" – 4:09# "Ages Of Power" – 4:41# "The Spell" – 0:54...
(2002) - The Circle of LifeThe Circle of LifeThe Circle of Life is the fourth full-length album by the German power metal band Freedom Call. It was released on March 21, 2005, by SPV.-Track listing:# "Mother Earth" – 4:31# "Carry On" – 3:30# "The Rhythm of Life" – 3:41...
(2005) - Dimensions (2007)
- Legend of the ShadowkingLegend of the Shadowking-Credits:*Chris Bay – vocals, guitar*Lars Rettkowitz – guitar*Samy Saemann – bass guitar*Dan Zimmermann – drums...
(2010) - Land Of The Crimson Dawn (2012)