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Funny that despite my status as a Power Metal fanboy I've never reviewed a Freedom Call album. Well, that's about to be rectified with Master of Light, the German band's ninth studio effort. Once I put the atrocious cover art in the rear-view mirror and settled down with the music, it became painfully obvious early on that I've been missing out. This band does it all; copious double-kick drums, clear, piercing vocals that reach to the sky, amazing choruses and serious neoclassical noodling on the guitar. To top it off, as these elements can be found on hundreds of releases, Freedom Call flash some of the hookiest songwriting this side of ABBA. If you aren't singing along with tracks like "Metal is for Everyone" with its more than subtle nod to classic Helloween or "Master of Light" where Freedom Call pay Thrash homage to Metallica, then you probably hated Power Metal before you started listening. The band even push the envelope with the synth-heavy "Ghost Ballet" and its dance rhythms. That might not sound attractive but when the vocalist hits the high note in the chorus you can just see Tony Kakko and Timo Tolkki turning green with envy. There are simply no bad songs on Master of Light, not one.

Freedom Call may be playing a style that peaked a dozen years ago, but when it is pulled off this well it's hard to care. If albums like Theater of Salvation, Ecliptica, Episode and No World Order are in your permanent playlist, make some room for Master of Light.