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Winterbane
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Winterbane |
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| Frozen Crown are a power metal band from Italy founded in 2017 by singer and multi instrumentalist Federico Mondelli. The band were quick to launch their career, with their debut album 'The Fallen King' released less than a year after forming. The bands sophomore album 'Crowned In Frost' was released just a year later in 2019. Over the next two years, the band toured Europe with bands such as Elvenking and DragonForce, and made appearances at Metalfest (in the Czech Republic) and Sabaton Open Air (in Sweden). In January of 2021, the band underwent a major line-up change, with three members leaving! Remaining members Mondelli, and lead singer Giada "Jade" Etro, worked fast to recruit replacements, and released their third album 'Winterbane', in April 2021. | ||||||
| The meteoric rise of Italian power metallers Frozen Crown, led by the wizardry of guitarist (and founding member) Federico Mondelli. continues its steep upward trajectory. The band are back with their third album in just four years! Continuing the much heavier trend the band exhibited on their second album 'Crowned In Frost', the band shift into heavy/power metal territory, yet still manage to set land speed records with some blisteringly fast paced songs. The new album breezes into life with the scorching 'Embrace The Night' - power, pace, fire and brimstone driving the opening salvo forward. The power house vocals of singer Etro are perfectly on point, with Mondelli's guitar work as magical as ever. | ||||||
| Superb buzzing riffage ala the classic NWOBHM sound, signals the arrival of 'Towards The Sun' - a much more melodic, and traditional metal song. Everyone knows the iconic guitar sound the NWOBHM evolution gave heavy metal, a sound that can still be heard in many bands today - even after four decades! And 'Towards The Sun' has it abundance, making it an immediate like for every traditional metal fan everywhere - Frozen Crown effortlessly blending power metal with heavy metal. Lightning speed lights up the album with the ferocious 'Far Beyond', speeding by like the Japanese bullet train trying to catch a war bound jet fighter... The heaviest song heard so far, the head bangers of the world are gonna love this one. 'The Lone Stranger' takes on the mantle of a heavy foot stomp, majestically marching on with pride and passion. A more soaring vocal performance than heard so far, 'The Lone Stranger' knocks hard on the symphonic metal genre's door. | ||||||
| At nearly seven minutes in length, 'Crown Eternal' is the longest song on offer - so far, and continues the previous songs heavy foot stomping. That is until a change of pace sees 'Crown Eternal' enter the realms of power metal once more. And for the first time on this album, the harsh male vocals make their appearance felt. For the bands previous two albums, these harsh male vocals made selective appearances, not going for overkill, but just enough to alter the aura of the bands sound, making a unique twist on the traditional metal sound. Fair play Frozen Crown, for carving out your own niche. 'The Water Dancer' returns a symphonic metal feel to the album, moving forth at a mid tempo pace. The sky high infectious level that 'Winterbane' began with, has only gotten higher the longer the album runs. With a superb sound and vivacious vocals, 'Winterbane' is strengthening the bands position as a major force in the worldwide power metal scene. Featuring guest singer Federica Lanna (Volturian), 'Angels In Disguise' is a melodic gallop of "lighter" power metal - the heavy rock equivalent of heavy metal. And with no let up in the albums stratospherically high infectious level, 'Angels In Disguise' is less intense than everything that has gone before, but is no less catchy, or addictive. | ||||||
| And now for a surprise, Frozen Crown include a cover of 'Night Crawler', by British heavy metal legends Judas Priest, taken from their 1990 album 'Painkiller'. And while the band match the songs mean and moody atmosphere, pace, and general vibe, Etro just cannot match Rob Halford's menacing snarl. That's not meant as a bad thing, 'cause hardly anyone can match the legendary 'Priest vocalist. Frozen Crown actually do a very good job with 'Night Crawler' - and for those that didn't realise it's a cover, they'd assume it's a Frozen Crown original. The two minute keyboard led instrumental 'Tales Of The Forest', acts as the intro for the albums final song, the nine minutes plus, epic and climactic 'Blood On The Snow'. Featuring everything the band have in their arsenal, 'Blood On The Snow' once again blends the harsh male vocals with the bands signature female vocals - the male vocals actually taking a more prominent role. Mid tempo, mid paced, and full of thunder, 'Blood On The Snow' is an epic in every sense of the word. | ||||||
| Overall, a scorching blend of power and traditional heavy metal, 'Winterbane' is an infectious and highly addictive album. | ||||||
| Review by Iron Mathew Collins | ||||||
| Reviewed for Metal Gods TV | ||||||
| Other Reviews | ||||||
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| The Fallen King | ||||||
| "a superb and exhilarating display of power metal, featuring galloping rhythms and varied vocal styles, this album is an exciting and magical listen" Read Review | ||||||
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| Crowned In Frost | ||||||
| "a fast and furious offering from a rising band, making an emphatic mark in the power metal genre with their brand of aggressive, fast paced heavy metal" Read Review | ||||||
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| Call Of The North | ||||||
| "a technically superb album with fantastic arrangements, perfect guitar work and incredible vocals - 'Call Of The North' is excellent" Read Review | ||||||
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