For almost a decade now Canadian hard rock band Freeways have been turning their love of the NWOBHM and bargain bin vinyl into some of today’s best music. Their debut album True Bearings (reviewed here) won the bands a worldwide audience, and when that record was picked up by German label Dying Victims Productions and reissued (reviewed here), things went into overdrive. Such was the buzz surrounding their debut that the pressure is on for their sophomore album, and it’s a problem they’ve navigated by veering in a darker direction (whilst retaining their melodic edge) for Dark Sky Sanctuary, an eight track album that will only elevate their standing in the metal community.

Bursting from the speakers like the proverbial raging bull, opening track ‘Forever Protected’ immediately makes its presence felt and succinctly captures that moment in time when the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal was at its peak (say 1981) and hinted at what would become known as thrash metal. At once unfettered and restrained, it fairly races along and that’s exactly the aesthetic surrounding Dark Sky Sanctuary. It would have been easy for the band to have produced a True Bearings Pt 2, yet their new album finds them moving their sound forward in the same way that Witchfynde did with their second long player Stagefright. There’s a real evolution here and that’s precisely the point, this is evolution as opposed to revolution; Freeways aren’t reinventing the wheel or tearing up their roots. However, the band are kind enough to wear their influences upon their sleeves and those NWOBHM roots are very much in evidence on ‘Give ‘Em The Gears’ (Give ‘Em Hell?) yet they are used a springboard to something not quite new, but different.

While it is true you can’t judge an album by its sleeve, that which houses Dark Sky Sanctuary gives a good indication as to what’s inside. Whilst True Bearings came in an ice blue, glacial cover, the jacket which holds their latest release has a dark, burnt orange hue and is indicative of the sound contained within. Subsequently, the two records fit together like the yin and yang, and the latter is the fire to the former’s ice. There’s a clear evolutionary arc going on here that’s linked by the band’s take on classic rock. Dark Sky Sanctuary is a more thoughtful, introspective affair than its predecessor (especially evident on cuts like ‘Travelling Heart’), yet it still affords plenty of opportunities for air guitar action, and the Iron Maiden gallop on ‘Private Myth’ is guaranteed to get the follicles flying. A raucous closer made in the mould of Thin Lizzy, ‘Cracked Shadow’ has a nice sting in the tail as the band throw off the shackles and race towards a cataclysmic conclusion, not unlike a kamikaze motorcycle rider on a wall of death.

Freeways sophomore albums show a clear development and builds on the solid work of their debut album, it will be interesting as to where they’ll take their sound next. But for now, welcome to the Dark Sky Sanctuary.

• Dark Sky Sanctuary is released via Dying Victims Productions on 26th April 2024.
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Track List:

1. Forever Protected
2. Can’t Deny Destiny
3. Give ‘Em The Gears
4. Dark Sky Sanctuary
5. Travelling Heart
6. Fortune’s Favourite
7. Private Myth
8. Cracked Shadow