Freedom Call recently released The M.E.T.A.L. Fest, their third live offering and their first in twelve years. This album captures Freedom Call at their best and is a strong reflection of the band as they stand at the moment. MetalTalk’s Adrian Stonley reached out to bassist Francesco Ferraro, who was happy to answer a few questions.
It has been a while since Freedom Call last visited the UK. “Our last time in the UK was at The Underworld in London in November 2022,” Francesco says. “The last few years have been a difficult time, and of course, Brexit added some more steps in the organization layers for a European band to be able to play in the UK.
“But the Freedom Call plans for the UK have not been changed by it or by anything else. When the times are right, Freedom Call will be ready to bring their Happy Metal Party to the UK. There’s no reason not to do it.”
It’s four years now since their last studio album, METAL, was released. “Quite a long time,” Francesco says. “Like the magicians, we musicians will not reveal our secrets,” he smiles.
But he did reveal that there are plans to get back to the studio, “to bring new material and to be back on the road,” he says. “That is our life. Rest assured, we are not changing that. The new material will be new. We feel it’s something that grows, that evolves, that is still not in its final form.
“That will be, in its way, different from the previous work because Freedom Call is, obviously, different than before, thanks to all our new friends, experiences, fans and so on.”
The M.E.T.A.L. Fest was a spontaneous idea. “To record the live DVD, there were fewer preparations and less planning,” Francesco says, “so of course, it has been the truest and the most real Freedom Call experience that it could have ever been.
“That is what the M.E.T.A.L. Tour shows were like. Also, having different drummers helping and recording on the different stages really reflects what Freedom Call has been in the last years, with a solid trident in front and friends helping behind the drums. Choosing the songs was no problem either. We went with the setlist and the show we brought to the whole world for The M.E.T.A.L. Tour that people really seemed to enjoy.”
Next year will be the 25th anniversary of the first Freedom Call album, Stairway To Fairyland. We wondered if there were any plans to do anything special to commemorate this anniversary of the album and band.
Francesco is back in magician mode. “Time flies, doesn’t it,” he smiles. “Hey, come on, if we spoil something, it won’t be a surprise anymore. Sure, there will be a nice reminder of the 25th anniversary of Freedom Call, but I won’t say any more.”
Over 25 years, many Freedom Call songs have been anthemic in their approach, with themes often around fantasy, myths and legends.
“The topics, as you called them, may be a kind of general source for this kind of music especially,” Francesco says, “but I challenge you to find a topic that isn’t really an inspiration for many bands. Is it hard, or is it impossible? Mainly, Freedom Call’s music differs from many other bands, not especially in topics or material, but in the spirit and in the feelings that we bring inside the songs.
“We want to bring happiness, to give positive vibes and to help have a clear, fun, joyful and playful time while you listen to either the CDs or when you are at the concert.
When your music is true to your essence, you can only say that that music is Freedom Call’s music.”
The M.E.T.A.L. Fest was released on 14 July 2023 through SPV/Steamhammer as CD+Blu-ray digipak version, download and stream.
