Long Distance Calling – Live At Lichtburg: Album Review

Long Distance Calling provide a musical experience on a par with the likes of Hawkwind and leave you in awe of the music they accomplish.

Release Date: 5th December 2025

Label: EARmusic

Format: CD+Blu-ray / LP+Blu-ray



EXHILARATION

Anyone uninitiated into the exhilarating music of Long Distance Calling have the opportunity, through this album, to discover their wholesome rock power. An introduction to them live is arguably the best way in.

Enter – Death Box from their much acclaimed Eraser album (reviewed here) opens the concert. It’s a short way in but leaves you in no doubt to what they are all about. Melodic and serene one moment then erupting with breathtaking power unleashing a beat that is infectious with Blades, sharply bringing forward gut wrenching riffs. On stage they may be fairly static, physically, but musically, like in Kamillah, they are supersonic. They have the knack of delivering power and volume without being ear piercingly excruciating.

Once again visiting Eraser we witness the fluctuations from lightness to deep stomping rock on Giant’s Leaving. In fact of the bakers dozen of tunes here, over half are from Eraser. This shows the strength of that release. It’s not until Hazard do we hear a voice which warns us of AI usage but like most of their soundscape instrumentals the music speaks for itself.

A brief sojourn from Eraser gives us Immunity which continues to give us their experiential music which envelops the arena, the guitar sounds are fuzzier and the beat relentless. 500 Years complete first half of the concert but heralds the second half of the album in which each piece is longer, putting greater demands on the listener but not decreasing the enjoyment. Eraser, which follows, is a wild menacing thrash for almost 10 minutes of guitar mayhem…but nevertheless thrilling!


COMPLETELY GRIPPING

Apparitions offers some respite but gathers pace gradually before another melodic lull but the music is gripping as another change in dynamic builds. Long Distance Calling certainly enjoy a sense of calm before erupting into frenzy and Black Paper Planes proves the point. The rapid staccato drumming is given some prominence and enhances the anthemic guitar work.

A deep bass line dominates the beginning of Out There before the rest of the band crash in with some searing guitar work and ringing keyboards and some heavy driving percussion. The beauty of this track is they don’t linger on one riff, tempo or dynamic for too long. It’s ever changing maintain interest and wonder of what’s coming next. Chiming guitar heralds the final crescendo at the culmination of which the audience go nuts!

Metulsky Curse Revisited has a ponderous opening and as a finale to the concert it encompasses all that we have heard bringing the concert to a majestic conclusion.

It feels like an age since we last saw the band at RADAR Festival in 2023; It would be great to be able to see Long Distance Calling back on UK shores. Their skill, craft and musicianship is top class – this live album gives a snapshot of a band in scintillating form.



Long Distance Calling: Website

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