What exactly is freedom rock, maaaannnnnnn. Well, outside (and inside) of a quaint compilation of rock and R&B hits from the ‘70s that Warner Bros rifled down the throats of most anyone who watched television throughout the ‘80s, freedom rock is, or perhaps aspires to be, a guitar-centric form of music that ought summon sentiments of carefree escape. An extended roadtrip, for example—something that, for me, conjures several of the excursions I embarked on in the late ‘90s that terminated in the Four Corners area of the U.S., or one particularly epic adventure around the same time that involved the Canadian Rockies and Banff and Jasper National Parks, plus an extended stay in Canmore, Alberta. Trips that required a fair bit of windshield time, fundamentally, and trips appropriately escorted by a liberating soundtrack as diverse as the landscape. Carefree escape, baby.
Intentional or not, this is the realm occupied by the goodly lads behind Brampton, Ontario’s Freeways: spirited hard rock that urges whichever lobe is responsible for demanding that you drop everything right this very second to plan a much needed and extended excursion to Lake Smellyalater, nestled somewhere amidst the imperial pines of Mount Fuckoffmore.
“HARD ROCK, you say?” ~ Curious hairfarming bystander
Yeah, we clearly live and die for all that’s heavy, so… is a record like Dark Sky Sanctuary even heavy metal? Eh, not really? But it’s connected in a similar way that a NWOBHM band like Quartz is related to Iron Maiden: a little more straightforward, and extra fealty payed to rockers such as Triumph, Budgie, Gary Moore and Robin Trower. So, yeah, you probably won’t catch Freeways opening for Anal Stabwound any time soon, but buddying up with the likes of Brocas Helm, The Lord Weird Slough Feg or virtually anything else being released through Dying Victims Productions in the year of our Lord 2024 is absolutely fair game. Here, pound “Can’t Deny Destiny” into your earballs and plant the seed for not giving a bonk about work for the rest of the day.
That is a pretty and starry little opening, no? Then a big riff kicks open the door to allow Freeways’ knack for writing a ridiculously catchy hook to strrrrrut on into the room. I’m guessing no one would accuse “Can’t Deny Destiny” of being a pop song, but it wouldn’t have been such a stretch to hear a song like this getting airplay during the 5 o’clock commute home on 100.7 The Buzzard circa 1979. Would Freeways vocalist Jacob Montgomery take offense to being referred to as “Kenny Loggins if he rode into the Danger Zone in a 1977 Dodge Tradesman with a pack of Reds rolled up in his sleeve?” I sure-as-shit hope not. Check out that hot lead right around the 2-minute mark—it definitely wants you to roll down the windows to catch a big conifer hit. And if the return to that celestial riff right around 2:30 doesn’t get you to howl at the moon, you might be in need of a defibrillator.
While a song like “Can’t Deny Destiny” serves as a good indicator of the overall vibe of Dark Sky Sanctuary, the band does a really fine job of embellishing the corners to allow all manner of moods and cadences time under the spotlight. You’ve got full octane burners like the opening “Forever Protected” and ensuing “Give ‘em the Gears,” the latter of which comes across a bit like a 2nd cousin to Motörhead’s “Iron Fist.” There’s the bluesy stride of “Travelling Heart,” which tromps out a fiery lead in its back half that stands as the most authentic ode to Trower’s soloing throughout Bridge of Sighs a person could ever hope to encounter. And then there’s whatever the heck is going on with “Fortune’s Favorite,” which combines the sunny flounce of a band like Valkyrie with something that’s jusssst shy of… funk? Trust me, they make it work. (relevant aside: I LOVE how present the bass is on this record.) And yeah, of course there are moments where the atmosphere is even breezier with a strong Thin Lizzy association, like the casual amble of the album’s catchy title track.
In essence, there’s a fair bit to chew on up and down these 33 minutes, despite the fact that the overall blueprint comes across fairly straightforward amidst initial spins. I wouldn’t necessarily say Freeways is sneaky with their complexity, they just do a hell of a good job of integrating a myriad of influences into their unique brand of… freedom rock. And thankfully, the production behind Dark Sky Sanctuary is just as vibrant and bouncy as the band’s play, which makes it very easy and enjoyable to focus on any given player at any given time. The only question that remains: Is it a bonafide requirement for the listener to be the sort of human who demands extended playdates with nature in order to enjoy the record? Absofuckinglutely. Wait, I mean, no! No, not necessarily. However, if you do happen to be one of those unfortunate souls whose only desire for escape involves a 15 minute walk from your apartment and a 100% commitment to modern technology, just be aware that one itsy-bitsy listen to Dark Sky Sanctuary could very well suddenly awaken the neeeeeeeed to be freeeeeeed.
