I have a huge, loud mouth, and occasionally, I say/write things that I shouldn’t or haven’t complete thought out. I’ve said before I’m the Queen of Absolutes, and two weeks ago when I said, “Music is music, no matter the genre… instruments… or message”, I should have guessed that statement of musical faith would be tested. My latest foot-in-mouth challenge came from a blogging friend of mine who asked if I would consider swapping one of our favorite albums with each other to review. At the time, I didn’t see a flaw in this brilliant idea.

Ready to take on this new blogging adventure, I advised him that it would take me a few listens to feel comfortable in properly reviewing his recommendation. So last week, he gifted me with Freedom Call’s Eternity. Just by looking at the cd design with its long-haired foreigners gracing a video game-like backdrop, I knew that this was gonna be out of my usual musical vein. From the moment I pushed the disc into my car stereo, I felt as if I had been transported out of Flagstaff to some medieval battle with sorcerers and dragons. Please, don’t get me wrong… I’m not poking fun whatsoever of this cd. It was just thought out of the norm.

Categorized as positive metal or power metal Freedom’s Call might take a few listens to appreciate. Each song (when you can understand the lyrics… thank you very much, google!) doesn’t contain a ‘kill everyone or yourself’ messagel, but truly is dare I say… uplifting. As I listened to his pick I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to rock out to some of these songs on Guitar Hero or use them as the soundtrack to late-night WOW raiding.

Looped drums, synthesized brass, and guitar rifts that could lead to instant carpal tunnel form the backbone of this band’s sound, and at times they remind me of Queen. I kept waiting to hear Dracula say, “I vant to suck your blood” or there to be a women screaming in the backgroud. It was that dramatic. Kind of like, boy opera. All the angst, passion, and emotion of real opera… just a few more guitars, guttural yells, and Freddy Mercury-esque choir intros. Yet, even for a Josh Groban-lovin, Mmmmbop-singing girl like myself, I could and did learn to dig it. Will it become one of my staple albums? Probably not… Will it wind up on my iPod? There’s a good chance. Have I walked around humming it the past few days? Yessiree.

Freedom Call – Warriors