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The second album was the last one with guitar player Sascha Gerstner who replaced Roland Grapow from Helloween later on. Big choirs, songs in a major key and Chris Bays exulting vocals made of this album a milestone of Teutonic Happy Metal.
by Heiner Salomon
(12/00)
It's still refreshing to hear some of those stupid ignorants discussing about the German Metal scene and calling them too monotonous. Meanwhile, everything seems to be bad as long as it takes place in front of only 20 people. Even funnier it is to counter that with albums like "Crystal empire". Of course you can say 'sounds like Hammerfall, has a fantasy cover, etc ....'. But if you listen to the maturity of this album, you will soon find out that it not only offers a brilliant production (by Charlie Bauerfeind, by the way!), but also a great story. Added were classical arrangements which gives the album its bombastic elements. I hope I reached your curiosity. But if I now tell you to please listen to "The quest", for me the absolute highlight, you will probably understand why I hope that this band on the upcoming tour with Hammerfall and Virgin Steele will get more than a mere 20 minutes of playing time. Freedom Call for me has the potential of a headliner! (Heiner Salomon - 12/00)
