What do Helloween, Stratovarius, Gamma Ray, Metallium, Angra, and Blind Guardian have in common?

I have named six power metal bands that play great music, create brilliant compositions, and well… kick ass! 

I enjoyed “The Circle of Life” as a reminder to these great bands, but I can’t see this as an album released by Freedom Call. The band just mimicked musical styles of not just the bands mentioned above, but also others. Everything is here and the overbearing chorus is abused in every song; Chris Bay sounds like Kai Hansen, Andi Deris and well, it’s up for grabs . You pick your favorite vocalist and here is the kicker – “Hunting High and Low” happens to sound like “Hunting High and Low” by Stratovarius! And I challenge that it is not a coincidence – the same overbearing chorus lines with similar music tones?

*ahem*

Why the 7 rating, you ask, after what looks like a royal beating of another power metal clone? The album is excellent as a 7 rating as defined in RockEyez.com. I’ll tell all the Freedom Call fans out there that they’ll like this album if they haven’t picked it up yet, and tell anyone who is a fan of the bands mentioned above to definitely check this album out. Chris Bay can sing and the rest have their game going on this album. The worst this CD will do is make you want to listen to another album because one song reminds you of a certain band.       

But, really, if you can forget what Freedom Call sounds like, songs like “Hero Nation” truly ****in’ own. Rock On!

Editor's Note: We have changed to a 'star' based ratings system since this review was written. Sorry for any confusion.