Review FROZEN LAND “Icemelter”

Frozen Land is a Finnish band releasing an album called “Icemelter” in November, which fits perfectly into the season. The music, though, isn’t ice cold as the band plays blistering heavy metal. After premiering in 2018 with “Frozen Land” and delivering a second album entitled “Out of the Dark,” the latest studio effort marks the next cornerstone in the band’s young career.

The five-piece band is into power metal, and the eight songs on the album are fueled by a passion for heavy riffs, shredding guitars, and melodic vocal lines. The opener, “The Carrier,” is a good example of what to expect from the Finns. Fast-paced and equipped with neo-classical elements, it’s a fierce way to kick off the album. With an anthem chorus reminiscent of bands like Helloween, the song embodies many of Frozen Land’s signature elements.

Almost as catchy, and coming at an even faster pace, is “Chosen, Corrupt, and Cancerous.” This song showcases the band’s lyrical approach, which reflects the turbulent times we are living in and the most obvious example of this approach is found in the song “Dead End.”

The melodic riffs of the title track are surely the right ones to melt the ice and the song has more calm moments than most of the other tracks. With a moderate pace, it is the anthemic chorus that gives “Icemelter” its heart. “Haunted” is next, bringing back shredding moments combined with a pulsating rhythm that leads to a thunderous chorus. The album ends with “Black Domina,” which is less blackened than the title suggests. Frozen Land maintains a high tempo and establishes their signature sound for the finale of “Icemelter.”

“Icemelter” is a traditional power metal album with plenty of headbanging opportunities from start to finish. The five-piece band from Finland created an engaging and thunderous heavy metal album. They may not be entering uncharted territory with their latest effort, but they deliver an album that contains all the elements a great metal album needs. Enjoy some headbanging!