Call of the North
Review Score: 8.5
Reviewed by Blake Mossey
Frozen Crown is a power metal band hailing from Italy. This is the bands 4th album in just 6 years. When covid hit it caused 3 members to decide to quit the band. But this is the 2nd album with the current line up. Power metal meets classic metal with some symphonic moments.
For me this is the first time I have listened to Frozen Crown and I am not one to listen to much power metal these days but I was totally taken aback when I first put this on. Faster and heavier then I was expecting. With the powerful female vocals of Giada “Jade” Etro it really reminds me of Canadian Power Metal outfit Unleash The Archers. The guitar work of Federico Mondelli (founder) and Fabiola “Sheena” Bellomo are full of speedy riffs and leads and solos that match anything else I have heard in the power metal genre. Bassist Francesco Zof and drummer Niso Tomasini along with Fabiola are the 3 newest members joining in 2021.
The album comes in just under a hour. Opening title track CALL OF THE NORTH is a great opener and is a great introduction to the band if your new like me. The song slows down to crawl before ripping into the solo section. FIRE IN THE SKY shows the melodic but still speedy side with some Maidenish Oh Oh’s thrown in. BLACK HEART if the heaviest track and my personal favourite with Giada’s powerful soaring vocals and the catchy melodic chorus. VICTORIOUS gives me the feeling of some neo classical leads reminding me a little of Yngwie. 5th track IN A MOMENT features the most male vocals on the album from Federico who I would say has a great voice for slower parts. On my first few listens the next 2 tracks LEGION and UNTIL THE END didn’t stand out to me and I could of did without them. BUT after a few more listens doing a more deep dive into the songs they are growing on me. Especially LEGION as now its one of my favourites. Another favourite track is NOW OR NEVER just another showcase of the their melodic but still very speed power metal side. ONE FOR ALL is definitely the song designed for sing alongs in concert. Starts out slow and you think your going to get your first full on ballad but they kick it into a crunchy power metal anthem with a little Maidenesque gallop and I can see the crowd singing along to the “All for one, One for all, we stand fiery in the dark” Closing out the album with the longest track FAR AWAY at 7 minutes and another one of my favourite tracks and a great closer.
For fans of as previously mentioned Unleash The Archers, Maiden, Helloween. The best power metal band I have come across in a long time.
They are currently on tour in Europe playing with Nanowar of Steel.