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Call it "happy metal", call it "feel good metal" (some retards will call it "gay" - those probably have some issues). Freedom Call are back after 1999's Stairway to Fairyland. While I am not excited about this album as I was with their first effort a little over a year ago, I consider Crystal Empire to be even better than Stairway to Fairyland (note: I kind of changed my rating criteria since 1999). Their is a definitive improvement in the sound and the songwriting. The very characteristic vocals are still there. One could argue that the singer's voice sometimes cruises along the border of feminine vocals, which could be a turn off for some people. Personally I think he's doing a very good job, and the choirs are as good as one the first album. This is in no way depressing music, quite the opposite, so those who like their metal "evil" will want to stay away from this. The keyboards are still there of course, but not as overwhelming as they were onthe first album. A strong release by one of the best "feel good" power metal bands to have appeared in the last couple of years.