The Crest also features an innovation: for the first time, Axel Rudi Pell has taken care of the production himself. Between November 2009 and January 2010, he, bassist Volker Krawczak, keyboardist Ferdy Doernberg and drummer Mike Terrana recorded the nine tracks (plus intro) at the W.A.T. Studios in Bochum. Pell worked on the vocals in great detail with frontman Gioeli via Skype, and Gioeli recorded his parts in the US. The album was mixed, as usual, by Charlie Bauerfeind at the Mi Sueno Studios in Tenerife and at the Twilight Hall Studios in Grefrath, Germany, the hallowed halls of their colleagues, Blind Guardian.

In view of the album’s compositional density, it wouldn’t seem fair to highlight individual tracks. At the same time, it must be mentioned that Axel Rudi Pell has come up with a continuation of his classic, ´Oceans Of Time`, in the eight-minute ´Dark Waves Of The Sea` (including unmistakable quotes from the original), and that the album features an impressive instrumental in ´Noblesse Oblige (Opus # 5 Adagio Contabile)`. And of course, there’s another great Pell ballad on the album, entitled ´Glory Night`.

So as usual, the band have done their homework brilliantly, and soon after the release of The Crest, the Axel Rudi Pell Band will introduce their latest release as part of their 2010 tour: the first leg will kick off in May, followed by a number of big festivals during the summer, before the second leg is set to start in autumn. Following the enthusiastic reactions to their shows with Heaven And Hell in summer 2009, Pell is open to suggestions regarding another co-headed tour with a renowned act. “We had a lot of fun with Heaven And Hell, so I’d definitely consider a similar concept.”

HISTORY
Axel Rudi Pell’s career began in 1980 with the band, Steeler, who sold over 30,000 copies of their commercially most successful release, Strike Back, and brought out their fourth and final album, Undercover Animal, in 1988. In November of that year, Pell formed his own group together with Jörg Deisinger (ex-Bonfire), drummer Jörg Michael, bassist Thomas Smuszynski (ex-U.D.O.) and the American vocalist, Charlie Huhn (Ted Nugent, Gary Moore, Victory). Their debut album, Wild Obsessions, arrived at the stores one year later, followed by Nasty Reputation, for whom Pell enlisted the American frontman, Rob Rock (M.A.R.S, Impellitteri), who was replaced during the subsequent German tour by former Malmsteen vocalist, Jeff Scott Soto. With Soto as a new member, the third album, Eternal Prisoner (1992), was undeniable proof that the band had found their own, unmistakable style. One year later, Pell brought out The Ballads, an album featuring his most accomplished rock ballads. With Between The Walls (1994) and the live recording, Made In Germany, the guitarist from Bochum held on to his typical style even in the post-grunge era. The subsequent Black Moon Pyramid (1996) was the second Pell album in succession to make the German album charts. 1997 saw the arrival of Pell’s eighth offering, Magic, featuring a thematically consistent concept based on supernatural stories. Magic also entered the charts, followed by Oceans Of Time, the commercially most successful album at that time by the Axel Rudi Pell band, and the continuation of Pell’s ballad concept (The Ballads II, 1999). Following the departure of Jeff Scott Soto, Pell enlisted American vocalist Johnny Gioeli (ex-Hardline) for the production of Oceans Of Time, The Ballads III and his 2000 release, Masquerade Ball. His characteristic voice also enhanced the subsequent releases, Shadow Zone (2002) and Kings & Queens (2004), as well as the highly accomplished Mystica (2006) and the covers album, Diamonds Unlocked. Tales Of The Crown (2008), the most recent studio recording by the ARP Band, surprised with a number of innovations and made no. 41 of the German album charts. The Crest is set to repeat this triumphal march.

TRACKS
Prelude Of Doom (Intro) * Too Late * Devil Zone * Prisoner Of Love * Dreaming Dead * Glory Night * Dark Waves Of The Sea (Oceans Of Time Pt. II: The Dark Side) * Burning Rain * Noblesse Oblige (Opus #5 Adagio Contabile) * The End Of Our Time

DISCOGRAPHY
WILD OBSESSION (1989)
NASTY REPUTATION (1991)
ETERNAL PRISONER (1992)
BETWEEN THE WALLS (1994)
MADE IN GERMANY (1995)
BLACK MOON PYRAMID (1996)
MAGIC (1997)
OCEANS OF TIME (1998)
THE MASQUERADE BALL (2000)
SHADOW ZONE (2002)
KINGS AND QUEENS (2004)
MYSTICA (2006)
DIAMONDS UNLOCKED (2007)
TALES OF THE CROWN (2008)
new: THE CREST (2010)

Whether it was at the Wacken Open Air in Germany, in Spain with Blind Guardian, in Moscow with Edguy or at the Sweden Rock Festival, Freedom Call could always proof themselves with outstanding stage performances.
After now 10 years and several tours, having released 5 studio albums; one Live album and one EP (Taragon).
The melodic metal manics with song writer team Chris Bay (vocals, guitars) and Dan Zimmermann (drums) are on stage all over Europe and you can consider the band as one of the greatest German Metal Acts.

Even though their schedule is always filled with a lot of shows, the year 2008 was primarily dedicated to song writing and the production of the new album.

“Legend of the Shadowking” - the new master piece from the metal musicians from South Germany!

Stylisticly, the album is a clear extension of their previous albums like Eternity, Circle of Life & Dimensions with unique melodic compositions with which the band has meanwhile earned their unconstrained individual musical character.

Best is, you ask a diehard Freedom Call fan for the typical characteristics of their favorite band. Part of it are high speed melodic hymns, powerful mid speed songs, but also sentimental and melancholic elements. This mixture guaranties a listener of Freedom Call albums a diversified and emotional connection, which carries one on a glamorous journey through the facets of  melodic heavy metal.

“Legend of the Shadowking” transfers the listener into a musical world  lead by bombastic choirs, orchestral arrangements combined with sophisticated guitar riffs - which demonstrates the uniqueness of the music by Freedom Call.

The new album covers musically and lyric wise a concept about Ludwig II, King of Bavaria. He had a close connection to the composer Richard Wagner. Freedom Call was moved and inspired by King Ludwig's extravagance and his passion to musical theatricality.


Line Up:

Chris Bay – Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards
Dan Zimmermann – Drums
Lars Rettkowitz – Guitars
Samy Saemann – Bass

„Legend of the Shadowking“

"Ludwig II., King of Bavaria, his life, his passion and his tragical end" is the main topic of this album and is seen in most of the lyrics. When he slowly gets disempowered, after the formation of the First German Empire on January 1st, 1871, he once said "as a king without power I'm only a shadowking!".

Although he hated politics and the real world with all it's responsibilities and duties throughout his life,
his people loved him for his romantic nature, his blooming fantasy, his affection and support over art and music
and his youthful but impressive appearance.
He escaped more and more into a dream world  which he created for himself
through Richard Wagner's compositions and preferred solitude. He neglected his state affair duties and eventually drove the state into financial ruin with his outrageous building projects.

His fondness towards Wagner and especially his compositions was not returned. Wagner took advantage of his naivety and childish admiration and distanced himself when Ludwig came to close. This separation was only one of many disappointments during King Ludwig's life! He found himself in a devils circle, couldn't see a way out anymore. At one point he got pulled down more and more.
At the end he became a victim of a  conspiracy and died in the dark waters of the Starnberger See lake
on June 13th, 1886 - as stated in an official version.


The album was produced with a lot of complexity and compassion for arrangements and melody.
The extent of musical diversity has also been supported by compositions of the guitar player
Lars Rettkowitz.

Drums were recorded with the help and expertise of Tommy Newton (Helloween, Kamelot, Gamma Ray) at the Area 51 Studios in Celle.
Then the band continued in their own recording FC studio in Nuremberg.
There, the band recorded bass, guitars, keyboards and vocals through an extensive process.

As the classical aspects correlate to the elements, the band didn't even spare any efforts to include original instruments. A violist and a soprano were hired for the production to give “Legend of the Shadowking” its distinct authenticity.

The cover art work, which shows the last steps of the lost soul of a broken shadowking,
was created by a young artist from Bavaria.

The album was mixed and mastered at the end of  2009 by Tommy Newton/ Area 51 Studios in
Celle.

Immediately following the release of the new album, Freedom Call will go on an extensive European tour again to proof their proficiency live on stage as special guests of the band Gamma Ray from Hamburg.