Freeman [Import, Limited Edition]

Labyrinth | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 18, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import, Limited Edition
• Label: King Japan
• ASIN: B0007N35IE
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,376,854 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. L.Y.A.F.H.

2. Deserter

3. Dive In Open Waters

4. Freeman

5. M3

6. Face And Pay

7. Malcolm Grey

8. Nothing New

9. Infidels

10. Meanings

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A more mature Labyrinth, December 9, 2006

By 

Justin Gaines (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Freeman (Audio CD)

So what if the latest Labyrinth album doesn't sound like the band's earlier efforts? So what if it isn't the same kind of Italian power metal you're used to? If you want Italian power metal that's never going to change, go listen to the latest swords & sorcery epic from Rhapsody (sorry, Rhapsody of Fire). Labyrinth is, like it or not, a progressive metal band. This means they should be PROGRESSING as a band and continually developing their style, which is exactly what they've done with their 2005 album Freeman.

Freeman is a more mature, more progressive Labyrinth album, and to my ears it is the band's most accomplished work since Return to Heaven Denied. It is still unmistakably a metal album, but one that leans more towards Pain of Salvation and later Fates Warning as influences. This is an intelligent and emotional album (thanks in large part to vocalist Roberto Tiranti's heartfelt delivery), and one that is progressive without trying to overwhelm the listener with over the top technicality. I'm sure this is what the band was trying to achieve with their 2003 transitional self-titled album, but Freeman grabbed me right from the start in a way that the previous album failed to do.

Old school Labyrinth fans and power metal purists may moan about this one, but progressive metal fans should be quite pleased with the more mature metal Labyrinth delivers on Freeman.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars , September 4, 2005

By 

Douglas Hernandez "varathron1" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Freeman (Audio CD)

Basically, if Fates Warning truly wanted to play progressive melodic metal like they used to do ages ago, but with a modern touch, this is how they would sound like. Freeman shows Labyrinth playing stripped-down power metal that can be dramatic, extremely happy, and passionate. Every track has something unique to offer; yet none of them stand out as mind blowing. But the ideas flowing work well, like the initial spoken word-like exhortation accompanied by a piano segment on "Malcolm Grey", the electronic `sounds' on the title track, or the jazzy interludes on "Face and Pay". Nevertheless, the album maintains a decent balance throughout and never allows outside aspects to take over the metal. It's solidly executed with enough memorable harmonies and interesting moments worth remembering, and that's probably as far as it can go. Worth checking out if , though.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I have an interesting relationship with this album, December 6, 2005

By 

John W. Petersen "seventhson1" (Ft Collins, CO United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Freeman (Audio CD)

I have come to realize that I have an interesting relationship with this album. I really like it, but it isn't one of my favorites in my entire collection. It is not an awesome album, and I probably would not recommend it to people as their first taste of Labyrinth. I actually hesitate playing it at times, almost like I don't really want to. And yet, when I do, I LOVE listening to it. And so . . . I realized I NEEDED to write this review as a recommendation for a pretty solid album, and to get these crazy, contradictory thoughts off my chest.

While none of the songs would be in my top 5 favorite Labyrinth songs (though a couple are close), every one on this album is quite solid. There is not a bad one in the bunch. Lyrically, they cover a diverse selection of topics, which has pretty much been a staple for this band.

In interviews, the band has expressed that this was the album they wanted to do after Olaf Thorsen left, after The Sons of Thunder tour. However, the fans never would have been ready for it, as it is quite a departure from what they had done earlier. And so, they came out with their self-titled album. That album provided a nice transition from the "old" Labyrinth sound to the "new" Labyrinth sound, combining strong elements of both. In retrospect, I think that was a very wise decision - that album happens to be my favorite of theirs.

This album takes that "new" sound even further, seeing the band venture a little farther down Experimental Lane by trying new ideas. And it works for these Italians. It works very well, as a matter of fact - which is why I am so impressed with them as a band. It is a testament to their talent and attitude. (When other bands, like Dokken, KISS, or Queensryche have tried a "new, modern" sound, it has just plain sucked and has smacked of pandering to the demands of the American Music Industry to "stay relevant"). Freeman has just enough of a subtle "modern" metal, or nu-metal, or even <gasp!> alternative metal sound (something I typically avoid like the plague, just out of principle alone), to keep it unique and interesting . . . and I don't get the sense that they are doing that for any other reason than to have fun with the music they love. In other words, it sounds very genuine - unlike the other bands I mentioned. They are moving slightly away from, and successfully avoiding, all the typical power metal cliches that Thorsen had brought to the band, while still maintaining the important hallmarks of progressive, power metal - and it works well for them. And please understand: this is coming from someone who likes all those power metal cliches - for crying out loud, I'm a big fan of their Italian brethren, Rhapsody.

Which is exactly why I have this interesting relationship with this album. By all accounts, I probably shouldn't like it as much as I do. Yet there you have it: I do like it. Not enough to give it 5 stars, but 4 covers it pretty well.

My suggestion is to wait for its US domestic release, so as not to pay the import price (unless, of course, you are the biggest Labyrinth fan in the world . . . in which case, knock yourself out), but it would certainly be well worth 14 or 15 dollars for any Labyrinth fan to buy it once it is released here.