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PALE SISTER OF LIGHT REVIEWS |
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Monday, 02 February 2009 17:32 |
FREE SPIRIT - PALE SISTER OF LIGHT
(Carpel Music 2009) | | Free ! Magazine A young but superb band that is bringing melodic metal scene into a new level in Finland! Written by Antonio Díaz Rating 5 / 5 If in 2008 I was pleasantly shocked by Brother Firetribe, this 2009 could have not started in a better way about Finnish melodic music, because Free Spirit blew me up!With no idea of what I was going to find in the album, I got literally hooked up from the first guitar riff. It sounds basically squared; well produced, with an excellent instrumental work and with the great voice Sami Alho. In many moments of the album, the band reminds me of Blind Guardian but in a more melodic way, although there are some other times when the band gets closer to a darker tone similar to earlier HIM´s tunes. It is difficult to choose a favourite song in the album, because almost all of the 11 that compose it stand up by themselves, but I would highlight the one that gives name to the record Pale Sister of Light and the absolutely fantastic Heroes Don´t Cry. If you are into AOR, you are going to love this one. And if not, it is never too late to explore the melodic side of metal. Superb! Rating 5/5. |
WWW.ROCKEYEZ.COM Rating 4/ 5 http://www.rockeyez.com/reviews/cd/free-spirit/rev-pale-sister-of-light.html
Crisp new music with a volatile sound of melodic ecstasy has to describe FREE SPIRIT. Sure there are plenty of new melodic bands but FREE SPIRIT is above the norm. They write tantalizing tunes with great harmonies and vocals that melt hearts. Sami Alho lead vocalist of FREE SPIRIT has a tasteful tone that will cling to your senses and will chatter brilliance. Starting things off is Shadow of A Man as it pushes the limits of AOR and forces fans to take notice. Yet the title track Pale Sister of Light goes off the scale with slicing guitar licks and power chords as Vesa Yli-Mäenpää and Markku Keski-Mäenpää take hold of the chains and bring a harder-edged sound. I love the diversity in the music of FREE SPIRIT as they give hints of pure 80s rock ala GREAT WHITE, yet hitting chords of top-notch melodic masters. Even check out Heroes Dont Cry as it has a Celtic flare with some soaring guitar work. There is no denying listening to Pale Sister of Light you will hear some amazing tunes that shred many genres going from VAN HALEN to BLIND GUARDIAN. The songs are powerful and the musicianship dominating. They have the arena sound imbedded and bring the full sound to the masses. This is no club band as they look for world domination and by their sound there should be no problem being an entity in the music world. Take a listen to Strangers and the BONFIRE feel to this gem; totally kick ass! You dont hear many guitarists like that beside Mark Knopfler hitting those screaming notes but FREE SPIRIT makes the jump. There is no doubt Sami Alho will be a new hero when you hear Until the Night. This guys is outstanding as he has range, charisma and class. Alho blows me away and sounds like many of those history making vocalists out there that are referred to in many reviews. On the last track, Preacher Man, FREE SPIRIT just rock out with bass lines by Sami Hämäläinen, subtle keyboards by Timo Alho. This release rocks and if you want the best of the best you can pick the CD up on their official site. A KILLER CD!!!
RUSHONROCK.COM rushonrock rated: 10/10 Spirited Debut http://rushonrock.com/2009/03/08/rock-solid-22/ That comes courtesy of Finnish melodic rock kings Free Spirit and their sensational debut Pale Sister Of Light. If you like Europe, The Scorpions, Whitesnake and just about any other soft metal band you’ve ever heard then this is the album for you. Free Spirit - Pale Sister Of Light ( Carpel Music ) Every so often a band you’ve never heard of, or never even dreamt existed, delivers the kind of adrenaline kick rock music badly needs. It happened with US sleaze rockers White Trash around 20 years ago and again with The Darkness at the turn of the decade. Most recently The Answer have delivered the goods. Now you can add Finnish melody makers Free Spirit to that list of hard rocking luminaries and you won’t hear a better record all year. Opener Shadow Of A Man doesn’t pull up too many trees but don’t be discouraged because the best is yet to come and four songs in sees Heroes Don’t Cry take Free Spirit to the next level. Singer Sami Alho has a hint of Klaus Meine, David Coverdale and Mike Tramp in his fantastic voice - in fact White Lion would be as good a place as any to start when comparing the band to what’s gone before. But it’s more about what might happen in the future as far as Free Spirit is concerned. This is a band which could rule the world just as long as the world gives them a chance. GLORY DAZE MUSIC 9,5 /10 http://www.glorydazemusic.com/articles.php?article_id=3466 FREE SPIRIT - PALE SISTER OF LIGHT (2009, CARPEL MUSIC/EDEL RECORDS)
Sami Alho - vocals
Markku Keski-Maenpaa - guitars
Marko Haapamäki - guitars
Timo Alho - keyboards
Sami Hämäläinen - bass
Pasi Koivumäki - drums
Background
2009 got off to a slow start in terms of classy new albums being released in the melodic rock/AOR sub genres. Finally, we are cranking through the gears in next to no time, given a fuel boost by new Finnish melodic rock wonders Free Spirit. The PR for this band started circulating toward the end of last year, with comparisons being made to fellow Finns Leverage and Brother Firetribe. The mere mention of those two great bands got my attention real quick! And now having heard this album, I can declare big things for Free Spirit. 'Pale Sister Of Light' is both majestic and beautiful, and soars into the clouds with grace and ease. The theme for the album is futuristic and fantasy based, which suits their music well. Vocalist Sami Alho sings up a storm with these songs, and given the attention to the vocals overall, the choruses are to die for! Admittedly, he does have a Ville Valo (HIM) inflection in his voice, but the delivery is perfect. Free Spirit have been in operation since 2006, with Ahlo and Pasi Koivumäki the two founders. Guitarist Markku Keski-Maenpaa was previously with Prayer (a band reviewed here with their 'Wrong Address' album from 2005).
The Songs
Leading off with 'Shadow Of A Man', this one has a lot in common with Leverage, a deeper sound and bottom end. The chorus captures one of the strengths of this band, one in which they repeat throughout the album.
Initially, the riffs are laid down bare and heavy for 'Moonlight Ride', the verses are restrained but gradually things build toward a monster chorus.
The title track 'Pale Sister Of Light' is an enjoyable 80's sounding romp. Big riffs, melodies everywhere and a slight comparison to Brother Firetribe due to the anthemic style employed here.
For me one of the songs on the album is the awesome 'Heroes Don't Cry'. It starts out with acoustics and glorious floating vocals from Alho, navigating through a gentle introduction to a carefully built up arrangement of supreme melodic rock.
Some pumping bass lines get us going for 'Radiant Light', by the time we make it to the middle of the song, the guitars are well oiled, Ahlo is singing with conviction 'into the fire' indeed!
'Cry Of An Eagle' is another of those 80's sounding efforts that takes us back to the era where Scandanavia ruled the roost!
Listening to 'Easy Days', it's very easy (haha!) to make comparisons to Dare, a near Celtic style with acoustics shining through, but it's not a complete wimp-out. Oh no, the electrics still kick up a merry dance. Very nice song, and from here on, the album gets better and better..
The lovely guitar melodies that pre-empt 'Strangers' would have us speculating this is Whitesnake '1987' revisited, but it isn't thank goodness. The song is quite soulful and balladic in structure, but the class of Free Spirit puts a different spin on it altogether. The solo is a good case in point.
'Until The Night' is the other album highlight. An absolute belter of a track. The guitar riffs are way upfront, keyboards swirl all around the mix, the back end holds up like a steel backbone, allowing Ahlo to work his vocal magic.
'Far Away From Heaven' follows similarly to its predecessor, everything here sticks together like glue, not much to say about this that hasn't already been said before..
Finishing up the album is the straight ahead rocker 'Preacher Man'. It has a slightly bluesy edge played over a warm synth layer, but the chorus is hardened up with edgy guitars, the solo is also quite fast and frantic.
In Summary
Damn, I need to go back and listen to this again. The press/media have been very kind to this band and no wonder. Free Spirit really do have a superb CD on their hands. It's good also that the band have their own identifiable sound, which will have them standing out in an already crowded pack. Whatever you do in 2009, one thing you need to have on your 'must-do' list is to buy a copy of this album. It's already locked down a place in my top 10 for the year. Guaranteed!
URL: www.freespiritrock.com
Track Listing:
01 Shadow Of A Man
02 Moonlight Ride
03 Pale Sister Of Light
04 Heroes Don't Cry
05 Radiant Light
06 Cry Of An Eagle
07 Easy Days
08 Strangers
09 Until The Night
10 Far Away From Heaven
11 Preacher Man Hardrock Haven Rating: 9/10 Reviewed by Justin Gaines, staff writer Hardrock Haven
Pale Sister of Light is the debut album from Finnish melodic hard rockers Free Spirit, and is already one of the strongest melodic rock offerings of 2009. The band has a unique sound that combines traditional melodic rock with harder, more metallic elements and a lyrical approach that focuses on nature and the spirit rather than the typical AOR love song standards. That’s all in addition to some completely mesmerizing melodies. If you can imagine a happy medium between Fair Warning and Paradise Lost (or Brother Firetribe and mid-period Amorphis, to use a Finnish comparison), that’s probably as close a point of comparison as you’re likely to get to Free Spirit’s sound. There are also similarities to Australia’s Voyager (who, like Free Spirit, deserve a much larger audience). Everyone has experienced an album that, as soon as you hear it, lodges in your head and your heart. You’re singing along with each song almost immediately, and after each song you think “Oh my God, what’s coming next?” It doesn’t happen very often, but Pale Sister of Light is one of those albums. It has the kind of lightning guitar hooks that anyone who has ever heard a Dokken album is going to salivate over, melodies to die for, powerful (but never over the top) vocals, and compelling lyrical content. It’s also a completely filler-free album. Every song on Pale Sister of Light is first rate, but listening to the title track, “Heroes Don’t Cry” and “Radiant Light” back to back gives you the best example of the band and album’s abundant strengths. Pale Sister of Light is one of those albums that, were it released by a larger label like Frontiers or Nuclear Blast, would likely be appearing on a lot of year-end top 10 lists. It’s an album that should appeal to virtually everyone who loves melodic rock and metal. Hopefully it will bring Free Spirit the attention they deserve, because if their debut is this impressive, there’s no telling what future releases will bring. Label: Carpel Music Lineup:
Sami Alho: Vocals
Vesa Yli-Maenpaa: Guitar
Pasi Koivumaki: Drums
Marko Haapamaki: Guitar
Sami Hamalainen: Bass
Timo Alho: Keyboards Track Listing:
1. Shadows of a Man
2. Moonlight Ride
3. Pale Sister of Light
4. Heroes Don’t Cry
5. Radiant Light
6. Cry of an Eagle
7. Easy Days
8. Strangers
9. Until the Night
10. Far Away from Heaven
11. Preacher Man Online: Official Site Hardrock Haven Rating: 9/10 DANGERDOG REVIEWS 4,75 / 5
Free Spirit: Pale Sister Of LightMelodic Hard RockDangerdog reviews Carpel Music Oy Ltd
/www.freespiritrock.com
www.myspace.com/freespiritrock
Reviewed by: Craig Hartraft
Where has Free Spirit been hiding? This excellent melodic hard rock band comes to us from Finland. It must be the best kept secret in Scandinavia. This sextet delivers massive melodic rock bigger than the arenas they should fill. Their debut 'Pale Sister of Light' is treasure chest full of infectious melodies, choruses and guitar licks. I first listened to 'Pale Sister of Light' on headphones and within moments I was captured and enthralled by Free Spirit. Though there is much for which to compliment Free Spirit, the lead vocals of Sami Alho and the accompanying vocal arrangements are masterful and epic, nearly defining the album and sending chills down my spine as on the beautiful 'Heroes Don't Cry' (my personal favorite) and passionate 'Easy Days.' But there's more to 'Pale Sister Of Light.' The rhythm section is brilliant and carefully well defined as on 'Radiant Light,' 'Moonlight Ride,' or 'Far Away From Heaven.' Finally, the fret work is brilliantly expressive and captivating on every song with highlights found on 'Radiant Light,' 'Heroes Don't Cry,' or 'Pale Sister Of Light.' All this good stuff is wrapped up in big melodies with bigger hooks. Outstanding! Free Spirit and their first work 'Pale Sister Of Light' is a nearly immaculate debut. The huge melodies, massive guitar riffs and licks, and epic vocal arrangements are dangerously addictive and equally as compelling. It doesn't get much better than this, melodic rock fans! Strongly recommended! ROCK HEAVY LOUD.COM 9/10 Reviewed by: Margo Trigo rockheavyloud.com
Free Spiriti - Pale Sister Of Light Having discovered this Finish band by sheer luck, something in their samples had me write them to obtain a promo that arrived in just a few days. By getting in touch with this band formed in 2002 by Sami Alho and Pasi Koivumäki, I was expecting a reasonable album, but not quite a memorable one. Yet, “Pale Sister Of Light” is all but “reasonable”: it’s very professionally executed, with very well composed songs, creating a tight and almost flawless album that back in the 80’s would be a tough contender against the likes of Foreigner and younger Bon Jovi, and that these days will be a serious threat to Leverage or Brother Firetribe. An impressive production leaves the band’s performance at the highest level, especially the restrained and intelligent guitar work of Markku Keski-Mäenpää and Vesa Yli-Mäenpää, who get hold of several influences, down to a rather Dire Straits atmosphere in the calmer parts of “Preacher Man”, proof (if you needed one) that this album doesn’t get stale as the minutes advance. Closing up the ensemble of very talented musicians we have the vocals by Sami Alho who delivers the irreprehensible performance of a consecrated lead singer. You can’t find bad songs here, but some are just simply phenomenal, beginning with the title-track, infectious, memorable, proceeding with the AOR brilliance of “Shadow Of A Man”, the hypnotic melody of “Heroes Don’t Cry” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyEujv7xGeA), “Until The Night” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bd2DcKIS7Y) that serves as a great example of how a song can be constructed to become truly special, or the Celtic and American Indian melodies in “Easy Days”, plus the aforementioned “Preacher Man” that follows the superb guitar melodies in “Far Away From Heaven”. Thanks to irreprehensible performances, smart and diverse compositions, “Pale Sister Of Light” is an album of masterfully and carefully weaved atmospheres and incredible melodic hooks that becomes memorable and essential to every Melodic Hard-Rock/AOR fan out there and is up to this moment, my greatest 2009 surprise. If you’re looking for the album that will make better the worse of days or shorten the longest journey, you won’t find anything to top “Pale Sister Of Light”, and Free Spirit surely have a brilliant future ahead. Now, if Place Vendome puts out something this good, 2009 is going to be one great year… GRTR! 4/5
Reviewed by Nick Gunns http://www.hotdigits.co.uk/cgi-bin/diary2/journal?user=jason Free Spirit “Pale Sister of Light” (Carpel Music/Edel Records)
Free Spirit are a melodic hard rock band from Finland and are about to release debut album “Pale Sister of Light”. The album features 11 tracks packed full of hooks, melodies and massive choruses- other bands that come to mind whilst listening to the CD include Brother Firetribe and Blind Guardian. Vocalist Sami Alho’s vocals sit nicely over the joint guitar work of Vesa Yli-Maepaa and Marko Haapamaki.
As with most Scandinavian rock bands at the moment, these boys have really hit the ground running and this record is strong from the off, well produced and with some superbly written songs. Highlights include “Radiant Light”, “Strangers” the slower “Heroes Don’t Cry” and “Far Away From Heaven”. “Until The Night” is the clear winner for me though and the band have seen the video for this track viewed more than 82,000 times online.
Fans of hard melodic rock will not be disappointed by “Pale Sister of Light”.
Nikk Gunns
4 out of 5 Johnny Forslund - Melodic Editor - Promoter - Sweden
www.myspace.com/johnnystainlessteel
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Free Spirit blew me away! These are the only words i can think about while listening to these phenomenal guys from Finland. Speaking of Finland. This must be the best place to be on the entire earth right now - if you are a fanatic of the melodic hard rock and metal family. No doubt!
Since i got the album "Pale Sister Of Light", i hardly haven..t had any time to sleep. As soon as i wake up i hit the play button and fire of a bunch of Free Spirit songs. Yes! It is that good. I get a turbo boost that lasts for the rest of the day. If you have bands like Leverage and Brother Firetribe in your collection, but feel that there is something missing, well then you have the missing link right here - in Free Spirit. Quality never goes out of style and Free Spirit is a serious living proof of just that. Everything from the enormous vocals by Sami Alho to the drums, bass, guitars and keyboards are all delivered with that extra special melodic touch that makes you wanna sing along. Eight of the eleven songs on the disc can easily be turned into hit singles. Sensitive and bombastic hard rock at the same time, with a production that belongs in the absolute top league. "Pale Sister Of Light" grows, blows and melt you down in pieces. This is like cotton for your ears, but still aggressive enough to carry a rough day on its shoulders. I told you before. 2009 will be a very special year and Free Spirit have paved the way for others to follow. As you all know i don..t review that many albums, but the once i do, i highly recommend for you to purchase. So thumbs up for Free Spirit and for a classy CD package. WEBSITE: www.myspace.com/freespiritrock
Johnny Forslund - Melodic Editor - Promoter - Sweden
www.myspace.com/johnnystainlessteel
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Destiny Records reviewed by D. Cockett
Every once in a while, something comes flying in from left field and blows literally everybody out of the water. It happened in recent years with the likes of Agnes and Brother Firetribe, and last year of course belong to Swedish melodic rock sensations H.E.A.T ... well, at the risk of sticking my neck on the line, I believe that Free Spirit are about to get the media frothing at the gills all over again. Hailing from Finland (where else!), Free Spirit are a young sextet whose only real claim to fame thus far is that guitarist Markku Keski-Maenpaa used to be a member of Prayer (the band who recorded a great album for Escape a few years back). With the release of 'Pale Sister Of Light' however, that is all about to change. Put simply, there's an indefinable something, an aura about certain bands or releases where you instinctively know there's something special going down; and believe me, Free Spirit seem to exude that aura from every single pore. Musically speaking, their main staple is perhaps best described as a cross between Leverage and Brother Firetribe, embellished here and there with a mixture of H.E.A.T, Carmen Gray and something perhaps a touch more ethereal akin to HIM. Throw in a load of reference points back to 'bigger' names from yesteryear, and what you get is one mind blowing aural cocktail of constantly shifting light and shade. Produced by the band themselves, the sound quality of 'Pale Sister Of Light' is nothing short of awesome, the execution and delivery as precision engineered as anything you'll hear anywhere this year from anyone. At this point I should also mention that whilst the musicians themselves are excellent, the real standout (at least for the first few spins) is vocalist Sami Alho, his breathy vocals adding a wonderfully understated sense of melodrama throughout. Ultimately though, any album stands or falls on the quality of its songs alone, and 'Pale Sister Of Light' is crammed full of classy, sophisticated (and most important, hypnotically addictive) music from beginning to end. From the gloriously eclectic title track to the simmering 'Until The Night', via the Celtic infused 'Heroes Don't Cry' or the pulsating 'Shadow of A Man', the quality level never dips for a second. Brim full of hooks to die for, 'Pale Sister Of Light' is a perfect bridge between the old and new, and perhaps more than that, a genuine blue print for things to come. Brilliant! Destiny Records MELODIC.NET 4,5 / 5 Reviewed by: Juha Harjula http://melodic.net/reviewsOne.asp?revnr=7449 Free Spirit is a new melodic sensation from Finland. This is a band that I found on Myspace and gave me the same feeling I got from H.E.A.T. Yes, these Finns knows how to bring hook laden songs with massive choruses with fantastic melodies. One of the members, Markku Keski-Maenpaa was in the band Prayer that released a great AOR album through Escape Music in 2005. The singer Sami Alho has a fantastic voice with a Ville Valo (HIM) touch in it but more AORish and God what a feeling this man has. He gives these songs extra ingredients and they also bring out some classy harmony vocals. The production is nothing but brilliant. The twin guitars and keyboards gives them a awesome sound that takes the best parts from Brother Firetribe, Leverage, Human Temple and Carmen Gray. They deliver 11 tracks and you wont have many boring moments on Pale Sister Of Light and if you ask me I would say that only 2 songs feels out of place otherwise this is an album filled with winners. The album opens up with Shadow Of A Man that sets up the quality right away. This is a freaking awesome melodic AOR-rocker with big hooks and a stunning chorus that will hit you like a train. Moonlight Ride continues the fantastic journey with great riffs and a powerful chorus with great background vocals. Heroes Dont Cry is a semi-ballad that has a Celtic feel over it and reminds of Dare at their best days. Listen to the amazing melodies and the chorus is nothing but magic. Strangers is a tremendous AOR-smasher with outstanding arrangements that made me think of Def Leppard at their peak and the chorus is sensational.Until The Night is the song I got hooked on when I heard for the first time (Check out the video on their Myspace site). Back to the song because this is nothing but f..king brilliant with everything. This has fantastic guitars mixed with great keyboards in the background and with a huge catchy chorus that blew me away and I'm sure it will do for many others, this is music heaven. Far Away From Heaven is another winner with stunning melodies with a sing-a-long chorus. Just listen to the awesome part at the end with dut-dut keyboards and this is what I love with bands that surprises with little things. They end the album with Preacher Man and its a damn good song with a big chorus. What start of this year so far with some excellent releases and here we have another one that will end on my top-list of 2009. So if you're into quality melodic music, Free Spirit is something you cant miss and dont say that theres not enough good music because Free Spirit shows the opposite. This is an album I recommend highly and it warms my heart to hear great music. Thanks guys for making day and many days to come. This album will be played many times. METAL INTEGRAL, France 19 / 20
Reviewied by: Remi http://www.metal-integral.com/metalintegral/site/chronique.do?chronique_ID=869
If you are faithful to our site, or even simple way (s) you've already seen my (our) enthusiasm for this young Finnish group.
Well, there it is, the album is in stores and I will not hide my joy.
greet a new group, with such a beautiful name in the family of ultra-Rock Hard melodic Hard-Fm trend, this is a feast that does not happen every day.
While BROTHER FIRE TRIBE had our appetites whetted last year and the beginning of the year 2009 starts under good auspices with the formidable BAD HABIT and PLACE VENDOME .
Then the familiar (s) (like me) the myspace group already brulôt 6 of the album and discover 5 new, all too hot!
musicians FREE SPIRIT can write good titles, catchy, with refrains imparables and delicious melodies.
FREE SPIRIT And as EUROPE or BON JOVI has its own writing in which excellence makes all recognizable.
compositions have this energy, the joy that is good and shudder.
The group manages to adjust its quiet time between compositions and rhythmic leaving more room for all instruments. Special
"big up" on the guitar, incisors and magnify titles. The sumptuous
choirs take us in this ocean melody ...
short, a slight lack of dynamism in production quickly offset by the quality of the connection!
And say it is a first album!
Buy this record, please, do not download illegally because FREE SPIRIT began his career and will need your support to continue. Without our
purchases BON JOVI or EUROPE would have connected the albums?
I would FREE SPIRIT we sign many others of that ilk here!
This is the free spirit that I invite you to join the melodic universe of these talented Finns!
Open The Door ...
Remi, Metal Integral
IMPERIUMI, Finland 9/ 10
Reviewed by: Ismo Karo http://www.imperiumi.net/alb_2.php?id=8621 Free Spirit on kuuden miehen melodiapartio. Kotisivullaan se ilmoittaa yrittävänsä tuoda melodiat, harmoniat ja henkeäsalpaavat biisit takaisin rockiin. Pale Sister Of Light osoittaa, että aie ei jää yritykseksi. Tämä bändi rokkaa!
Joka ikinen biisi on ladattu tosiaankin henkeäsalpaavan tarttuvalla kertosäkeellä. Melodiat jäisivät muuten päähän soimaan, mutta niitä on niin paljon! Kitarat koukuttavat kokonaisuuden vastustamattomaksi. Koskettimia soisin kuulevani enemmän, mutta kahden kitaran kokoonpanossa ne usein jäävät liiaksi taustalle, niin tälläkin kertaa.
Lähin vertailukohta FS:lle voisi olla vaikkapa valitettavan hiljaa viime aikoina pysytellyt Prayer, eli tarttuvat melodiat ja hyvällä tavalla persoonallinen solisti. Prayer ei ole kaukaa haettu esimerkki siinäkään mielessä, että Free Spiritissä soittaa sen entinen kitaristi. Biiseistä on vaikea nostaa kohokohtia esille niiden korkean tason ja tasaisen laadun vuoksi. No, nimibiisi nyt ainakin haastaa onnistuneesti Bon Jovin sen omilla aseilla. Radiosoittoon luulisi kelpaavan Heroes Don’t Cryn, jonka intro tuo mieleen Styxin Boat On the Riverin, mutta joka kaikeksi onneksi kääntyy hieman eri suuntaan jatkossa. Mitenkään nyt Styx-klassikkoa mollaamatta. Tuplakitarat näyttävät kyntensä Cry of an Eaglessa, joka tästä syystä nousee sittenkin kattauksen kovimmaksi biisiksi, jos nyt yksi pitäisi valita.
Kuten biisilistastakin voi päätellä, laulujen aiheet liikkuvat hyvinkin genren viitoittamilla poluilla. Hyvä niin, saarnat voikin jättää marisijoille! Free Spirit esittää perinteistä melodista hardrockiaan suurella sydämellä ja taidokkaasti. Se ei esitä sinänsä mitään uutta, mutta mitäpä siitä, pyörä on jo keksitty.
Ismo Karo, 06.02.2009 DESIBELI.NET 4/5 Ville Kuitunen Desibeli.net
Nykyään on muodissa olla kiinni 80-luvussa, mutta useimmille artisteille historiaan kurkottaminen rajoittuu joko ulkonäöksellisyyteen tai tiettyjen sointukulkujen kierrättämiseen. Free Spirit vie kuulijan todelliselle aikamatkalle tuomalla esiin vain 80-luvun artistien parhaat puolet. Surkeat soundit ja tylsät biisit on jätetty kauas kahdenkymmenen vuoden taa, ja mukaan on kelpuutettu vain kermaa. Valtteja Free Spiritillä riittää. Vahvat melodiat ovat tärkeässä roolissa, eikä muuta vaihtoehtoa tällaisessa musiikissa voi ollakaan. Vahvasti kitara- ja lauluvetoisella toteutuksella mennään, kuitenkin siten, etteivät massiiviset kertosäkeet tai tarkkaan pohdittu dynamiikka jää liiaksi taka-alalle.
Bändi pyytää saatekirjeessään kiinnittämään erityishuomiota levyn nimikappaleeseen, sekä pariin loppupuolen ralliin. Toiveeseen on helppo yhtyä. Strangers on kuin Def Leppardia, mutta jykevämmällä asenteella ja ilman ärsyttävää sliipattua yleisilmettä. Mahtavan melodinen kappale huipentuu veret seisauttavaan kitarasooloon, ja nyt puhutaan tyylistä, eikä mistään sieluttomasta nopeusennätysten rikkomisesta. Haluaisin silti kehua myös levyn avaavaa Shadow Of A Man -kappaletta, joka kertsinsä myötä nousee minusta levyn parhaaksi biisiksi. Free Spirit satsaa isolla panoksella voimakkaisiin kertosäkeisiin, ja tämä peli kannattaa. Myös Far Away From Heaven sopii samaan kastiin, ärjyvä kitara ja Sami Alhon hieno laulusuoritus – tämä on teemana oikeastaan läpi koko julkaisun.
Rumpusoundeihin on pakko kiinnittää oikein erikseen huomiota. Bassorummun jytinä vie ihokarvat äkkiä takaisin vuoteen 1988. Maukkaat, äärimmäisen tyylikkäät kitarasoolot ovat silti tämän pullan rusinat. Pakko tästä on pitää, ei voi mitään. Voi olla, että omat ajatukset ovat nyt liiaksi nostalgian värittämät, mutta mitä siitä! Musiikki oli viimeksi tarkistaessani vielä fiiliskysymys, ja Free Spirit saa allekirjoittaneen hyvälle tuulelle. Eikä ehkä ihan kynsin hampain kannata pitää kiinni kasariajatuksestakaan – Pale Sister Of Lightilla on moderni ote kuitenkin, mikä riittää erottamaan Free Spiritin massasta komeasti. Oi veljet ja sisaret, minkähänlaista tämä on livenä? Toivottavasti stemmalaulut toimivat yhtä hyvin kuin levyllä, mahtava soundi! Kaiken kaikkiaan erinomaisen piristävä yllätys, varsinkin kun ottaa huomioon sen, että Pale Sister Of Light on todellakin vasta Free Spiritin ensimmäinen levy. Kavereilla täytyy olla vahva musiikkitausta, muuten näin kypsään jälkeen olisi vaikea uskoa. Free Spirit Pale Sister of Light Overall Score 90% / 100 % For fans of: hard rock... and a dreamy folk feel you can't quite put your finger onFree Spirit hail from Finland. Formed by vocalist Sami Alho and drummer Pasi Koivumäki, the current line-up of Vesa Yli-Mäenpää and Marko Haapamäki on guitars, bass player Sami Hämäläinen and keyboard maestro Timo Alho was formed in 2006. Pale Sister Of Light is an album of symphonic and harmonic beauty. The guitars rock and the rhythms pound, but the overall sensation is of depth and accessible complexity. There are many moments on the album with the feel of Iced Earth, but there's an overwhelming glow of folk music woven into the mix. It's like listening to the world's best campfire story teller, with special effects by Universal Studios. Opening track 'Shadow Of A Man' is beyond stunning. The verses may be great, but the chorus is spellbinding. It makes you want to don a cape and ride a Clydesdale to a mystical castle. There's such a fantastical vibe to the track it makes real life sound utterly boring. 'Moonlight Ride' follows a similar path. Dream-inspired multi-layered harmonies dominate the sound - fans of Blind Guardian will lap this up like cats in a sea of cream. The title track is a much more straight ahead hard rock track. Not to say it isn't good, because it is. In fact the contrast to the previous two tracks works brilliantly. 'Radiant light' has a different feel again. With a thumping bass line and speedy guitar sound, the track races along like a semtex powered avalanche. 'Easy Days' is a medieval minstrel masterpiece. I'm sure there's a lute and a pipe in the background. Whatever, the resulting sound is wonderful. 'Strangers', however, is way beyond wonderful. Up there with the first track, the chorus is so good you could marry it and live happily ever after. Pale Sister Of Light is a truly brilliant album. The harmonies and multi-layering work sublimely and, though Free Spirit reference the sound of a few other bands, the end result is still unique. Debut albums don't get much better than this. I'm already moist with anticipation for the next release! Check out... The harmonies all the way through the album. They really are exceptional. Rockway.gr Greece
Not prevent the good bands from the Scandinavian countries.
Last small diamond Finns are excellent FREE SPIRIT with their maiden album "Pale Sister of Light".
Wonderful hard rock melodies, amazing vocals with chorus apogeiotika.
Songs like the wonderful "Far Away from Heaven" and "Strangers", the fictional "Shadow of a Man" and "Cry of an Eagle", a homonym, the excellent "Moonlight Ride" driver the band in high appreciation.
Tremendous melodies, intelligent orchestrations, combined all these wonderful harmonies perfect.
The FREE SPIRIT managed to impress us and steal our hearts with their wonderful creations.
Hardrock.com.pl Poland
Free from the Spirit of Finland were known to the handful of fans hardrock issued at the end of the 90s. They aroused the interest of some big-time, to issue a CD, however, will not occur. In the meantime, guitarist Markku Keski-Maenpaa has been a member of Prayer, to which it gave in 2005 a very well received album Wrong Address.
The album starts with great. Shadow Of A Man is great, very 80sowy riff. A whole reminds me on the most imminent hardrockowi cuts Helloween (the Master Of The Rings). The Moonlight Ride hear patents similar to those known from Dokken, which is abundant in the beginning, we have great riffs balladowe exemption, followed by a choral, chorus combative. Folk-acoustic recital in Heroes Do not Cry some may associate with late Dare or young kapelk Carmen Gray. Folk, we have a similar theme to the Easy Days. It must be said that these additions are tastefully wplecione here and doubt whether anyone will interfere. Fantastic is a perfect Stranger brzmieniowo (the average pace in the beginning is lethal), recorded as Def Leppard ever recorded. The same is Far Away From Heaven, that are more similarities with the Shakry with its best period, that is, the first three discs. Preacher Man to the next, having to record a spectacular riff. Line can be paired up with Simple Minds, but the speeds refrenie group and we know that we are dealing with another major Finnish export commodity. For the rest we have to do with standing at a very high level in general, a mixture of Brother Firetribe, Leverage, or less known in our Human Temple.
In my view it is better than a team of highly overestimated Brother Firetribe and equals in quality the first leverage. Hard and kept trying to tell time, but it seems that this will be one of the best CDs this year. Classic rock Suomi web magazine Reviewed by: Jari Kaikkonen Classic Rock Suomi
Free Spirit: Pale Sister of Light (2009) Free Spirit -yhtyeeseen törmäsin joskus vuosi sitten. En muista mikä kappale oli kyseessä, mutta video ko. kappaleesta MySpacessa oli jo
katseltavissa ja se olikin varsin hyvä. Kuukaudet vaihtuivat ja lisää materiaalia saatiin kuultavaksi. Free Spirit oli tehokkaalla
taustatyöllään saanut mielenkiinnon heräämään kuulijoissa. Levyn teko oli taustalla käynnissä ja olin eräs niistä onnekkaista, jotka pääsivät seuraamaan levyn valmistumista. Miksaukset vaihtuivat, samoin
biisijärjestykset. Loppua kohti mentiin ja viimein päästiin masteroimaan, jossa myös oli omat kuvionsa. Chartmakers Henkka Niemistö
johdolla toteutti lopullisen ja nyt kuultavan onnistuneen lopputuloksen. Free Spirit lähtee valloittamaan maailmaa puhtaasti musiikillisten ansioidensa kautta. He ovat tehneet ensin musiikkia, sen jälkeen
antaneet siitä näytteitä kuultavaksi netissä onnistuneiden videoiden kanssa, mutta eivät ole sortuneet ulkomusiikillisten "ansioiden"
keräämiseen. Until The Night voitti Voice TV:n Garage Countdown -kilpailun - eikä turhaan. Musiikkityyli, josta Free Spirit ammentaa laariinsa tähteyttä on nykyisin välimaastossa rajumman metallin ja menneisyyden Bon Jovien etc. kanssa.
Tie ei tule olemaan helppo, mutta jos yhtye pitää saman tinkimättömän linjan musiikkiinsa suhteen, sekä onnistuvat saamaan musiikkimaailmasta
jonkun nimekkään tukijan onnistuminen on mahdollista. Free Spirit viittaa nimenä vapaaseen ajatteluun tms., mutta jonkinlaista vapautta kappaleiden sovituksiin olisin kuitenkin toivonut lisää. Nyt
kappaleet ovat kuitenkin kohtuullisen ennalta-arvattavissa, eikä mitään ahaa-elämyksiä tule. Levy on hyvin tehty ja aivan varmasti sen teossa
on mietitty kaikki loppuu asti, mutta onko kuitenkin se "hulluus" jätetty huomioimatta. Se, joka erottaa levyt toisistaan ja asettaa
levyn historian aikajanalle siihen kohtaan, josta aiemmin Neverminds tai Slippery When Wet löytyvät. Olen kuunnellut levyn nyt ehkä sataan kertaan ja kuitenkin uskoisin sen soivan soittimessani myöhemminkin. Suomessa tällaisen musiikin
suvereenisti hallintaan ottavia yhtyeitä ei juurikaan ole, joten katsotaan mihin Free Spirit kykenee. Soitto kulkee komeasti, samoin laulu - joten keikkaa odotellaan.
Jari Kaikkonen/CRS MUSIK AN SICH, GERMANY www.musikansich.de http://www.musikansich.de/review.php?id=6541 Reviewed by Rainer Janaschke 16/20 Solch einen versierten Hard Rock / AOR hätte ich von einer Band aus Finnland nicht unbedingt erwartet, kommen doch aus dem skandinavischen Land eher Bands aus der hartmetallischen Schiene.
Was Free Spirit auf ihrem Album Pale Sister Of Light abliefern, erinnert ganz schwer an amerikanischen Hard Rock der 80er Jahre. Und die elf Songs kommen so frisch rüber, das man jeglichen Staub den das AOR Genre in den letzten Jahren angesetzt hat, mal eben schnell wegbläst.
Song wie “Shadow Of Man“, “Heroes Don’t Cry“ oder auch der Titeltrack “Pale Sister Of Light“ strotzen nur so mit eingängigen Riffs, tollen Melodien. Ohrwurmpotential haben alle Songs und Live dürften die Lieder für ordentlich Stimmung sorgen.
Wer Alben von Foreigner, Great White, Thunder und Whitesnake in seiner Sammlung haben sollte, kann bei Free Spirit bedenkenlos zugreifen und das aktuelle Album Pale Sister Of Light beruhigt dazustellen.
Tolles Hard Rock / AOR Album, welches leider momentan nur über Importwege zu beziehen ist!
 BABYLON MAGAZINE, ITALY 8/10
reviewed by Stefano Giacometti
http://www.babylonmagazine.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5109&Itemid=0 La scena rock nordica vanta una fucina inesauribile di ottimi gruppi. Anche per i Free Spirit vale il medesimo discorso, finnici di provenienza, pubblicano un album di debutto ("Pale Sister Of Ligh") raffinato, ma rafforzato da un tappeto ritmico roccioso. Il sestetto finlandese suona hard rock melodico, di per sé non sarebbe una novità visto la provenienza, infarcito di cori di chiara scuola progressive. Gli arrangiamenti, alcune armonizzazioni, certi passaggi strumentali trovano origine nel rock progressivo, stesso dicasi per la solennità con cui sono interpretati i brani da Sami Alho. "Pale Sister Of Light" è un piccolo gioiellino, è un album da scoprire ed apprezzare per le sue finezze. E' raro riscontrare un tale gusto musicale, soprattutto nei gruppi più giovani, ma la forza dei Free Spirit è proprio il suono, fresco e arioso ma al contempo graffiante ed affilato. Sfido chiunque a non farsi ammaliare da una canzone come "Shadow Of A Man", densa di pathos, passionale, cantata con trasporto da Sami Alho, altro astro nascente del firmamento, da annoverare tra le migliori realtà del panorama rock melodico. Epici, intensi, poderosi e maledettamente romantici, fate vostro "Pale Sister Of Light" di questa grande band: Free Spirit. Hard As A Rock !!! Free Spirit – Pale sister of light A fine album full of powerful guitar riff driven compositions, expert musicianship, well produced an aural assault of the finest order. - Dave Watts, Overloaded Radio UK Melodic Frontier, Japan Melodic Frontier Label : Carpel Musi | Cat-No. : - | Release Date : 2009.02.04  1. Shadow of A Man 2. Moonlight Ride 3. Pale Sister Of Light 4. Heroes Don't Cry 5. Radiant Light 6. Cry Of Eagle 7. Easy Days 8. Strangers 9. Until The Night 10. Far Away From Heaven 11. Preacher Man
フィンランド産メロディアス・ハードロックバンドの 1st 。トラッド・フォーク色を滲ませた悲哀に満ちたメロディを持つドラマティックなサウンドは似ているわけではないが DARE や初期 BOB CATLEY を彷彿させる。アルバムタイトル曲 Trk3 を始め、強力なフックを持つメロディ作りの才能は感じられる。アルバムを通して聴くとメロディが画一的で飽きが来るのが早かったりと難はあるが、ここ最近 の「フィンランドメロハー＝ゴシック」とは別の流れのバンドが出てきたことは非常に喜ばしい。 Score : 7 / 10 EXTENDED MIX 7 / 10 Reviewed by Roger
Det finska rockundret är inte på långa vägar över. Vi har hört både Leverage och Brother Firetribe och rockat loss till dessa gruppers excellenta melodiösa rock och Finland har för alltid satt sin prägel på den europeiska rockkartan och allt började en gång på allvar med bandet H.I.M., ett band som troligtvis har inspirerat det band som jag nu skall skriva om. Bandet heter FREE SPIRIT och har precis släppt sitt debutalbum, ”Pale sister of light”. Varför jag tar upp H.I.M. beror i första hand inte på musiken utan på sångaren Sami Alho’s röstlikhet med Ville Valo. Det finns annars samma melankoliska inslag som, för övrigt, alla finska band verkar inneha, något som någon tidigare beskrivit med att det ligger i finnarnas natur att vara just melankoliska.
Bandet FREE SPIRIT vaknade upp ur spillrorna av ett annat finskt band, kallat Exit och det består av sex killar som tar sin mission på största allvar, att sprida sin musik över hela världen. Detta är något som de verkligen lyckats med tack vare Internet och dom har faktiskt fans över i stort sett hela jordklotet. Det är heller inget som förvånar mig då FREE SPIRIT är ett band som skriver starka melodiösa låtar och hämtar sin inspiration från de finska skogarna, blandar det med Bon Jovi, Europe och keltisk folkmusik. Just det keltiska yttrar sig främst i spår som den vackra balladen ”Heroes don’t cry” och låten ”Easy days” där jämförelse kan göras med gruppen Dare.
Hade det inte varit för det vedervärdiga titelspåret så hade jag hoppat jämfota av lycka av det här albumet, men jag kan inte låta bli att få Per Gessle-utslag av låten ”Pale sister of light”. Varför vet jag faktiskt inte för Gessle har aldrig skrivit en låt med så mycket gitarrer i men det går att känna igen strukturen i sången både i versen och refrängen i det som gör Gyllene Tider till ett sådant kräkmedel som det är. Det låter helt enkelt billigt och det är lite synd, men ingen katastrof. Jag skippar helt enkelt över det spåret.
Denna debutplatta är absolut något att kolla upp om du är inne på AOR och melodiös rock. Finsk hårdrock är numer en självklarhet och FREE SPIRIT kommer att nå framgång för de har rätt förutsättningar. Kanske att det låter lite för lagom om bandet men de har ett knippe riktigt bra låtar att presentera och bäst är de två första spåren, ”Shadow of a man” och ”Moonlight ride”, tillsammans med ”Cry of an eagle” och ”Strangers”. Mycket kompetent debut!
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