Frozen Crown – Call of the North
Release Date: 10th March 2023
Label: Scarlet Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Power Metal, Speed Metal, Old School Heavy Metal.
FFO: Iron Maiden, Blind Guardian, Hammerfall, Dragon Force, Unleash the Archers, Brothers of Metal.
Review By: Mark Waight
Call of the North is the fourth studio album by Italian Power Metal band extraordinaire, Frozen Crown. By combining a speaker busting mix of modern Power Metal, classic Heavy Metal and awesome female vocals, Frozen Crown have created their most mature and accomplished album to date. I should know as I own them all! Call of the North is the soundtrack of an epic journey through forgotten frozen lands, using battle chants and war hymns to warm the very spirit.
Frozen Crown is Giada “Jade” Etro (vocals), Federico Mondelli (guitar and vocals), Fabiola “Sheena” Bellomo (guitar), Francesco “Ikki” Zof (bass) and Niso Tomasini (drums).
Title track and opening gambit Call of the North is a stunning introduction to the passion and craft Frozen Crown put into everything they do. The twin guitars are played with total speed and absolute precision, although there is still time for a beautiful acoustic interlude to lighten the moment. Fire in the Sky does just that, as Frederico Mondelli’s guitar blazes a trail through the cosmos. The male, female vocal combination and harmonies work well to create a super special track.
Black heart is a proper old school offering, with Francesco “Ikki” Zof delivering a super cool heavy bass riff to compliment the magical hard rock sound of the supercharged performance from Fabiola “Sheena” Bellomo’s lead guitar. A lovely acoustic opening to Victorious exposes us to the beautiful crystal clear and emotional vocals of Giada “Jade” Etro before things heat up and the tempo increases to a sharp finish.
In a Moment has a traditional Heavy Metal edge to it whilst maintaining Frozen Crowns unique delivery method. Niso Tomasini hammers out an enthralling performance at an incredible energy sapping pace. Legion is a battle cry anthem and call to arms that is guaranteed to lift your mood and get your blood pumping ready for action.
Just as you think the pressure is letting up slightly with the soft and gentle opening to Until the End, it cranks up again and just flows along, never letting up to the end. Now or never is pure Power Metal that will either have you singing along or looking under the bed for your air guitar, so you can join the band – rocktastic!
Penultimate track One for All drifts away from a super sweet acoustic beginning to a completely wicked guitar fest and a movie soundtrack feel by the ending. Far Away closes the show superbly with more than a nod to the past by way of an epic, tight and balanced band performance showing great diversity and proof that Frozen Crown are progressing along very nicely indeed.
Call of the North is a fabulous album, with every song more than worthy of a place on your playlist.
Frozen Crown continue to grow and flourish as a band and must now be considered serious contenders for being one of the best Power Metal bands in Europe in my humble opinion. These guys know their art form, how to deliver it, and most of all they know what the fans like.
(4 / 5)
