It’s taken just three albums for Frozen Crown to lift themselves undeniably into one of Italy’s best and highly regarded Power Metal bands. After a find-your-feet, yet still impressive debut, two more albums of fantastic songs driven by the dual attack of guitarist and musical mastermind Frederico Mondelli alongside vocal powerhouse Giada “Jade” Etro has secured the band a seat at the top table of the genre. Therefore, as with each of their albums it’s with excitement and anticipation that a new masterpiece is imminent. However, this news was accompanied this time by rumours of acoustic ballads, layered orchestration and epic choirs. Are Frozen Crown going the way of so many of their Italian counterparts?
Well…No…err, well, kind of…err…a bit maybe…but not really (It’s my articulate, concise descriptiveness you read my reviews for isn’t it?). Let me explain – This is Frozen Crown, a band that has a unique sound, style and approach to Power Metal. They are inventive, they are creative and they are adaptable. For instance, there’s always been excellent Etro/Mondelli vocal harmonies, and there still are. They are still wonderful and on this album occasionally some of their stunning choruses are now enhanced by choirs, or there’s even a ‘Diary Of A Madman’ type portion as on ‘In A Moment’. But it’s Frozen Crown…and they make it work. The orchestration is no less to fore than any keyboards were on previous albums, they have just used it sparingly to fill the sound out occasionally. Plus it’s Frozen Crown…and they make it work. Acoustic ballads? A few acoustic segments, intros and passages – yes, and with hints of gorgeous folk I might add, but never a full on ballad, just a slightly more diverse guitar approach with their song-writing structure. And its Frozen Crown…so they make it work.
Basically, it’s Frozen Crown…and they make it work (not sure if I’d said that…). There’s instant moments, as there always is, but there are any hidden depths to this album. The dual guitar work of Mondelli with Fabiola Bellomo is of constant interest. This is undeniably Frozen Crown’s most technical, heaviest and complex album to date and although you can never be sure quite how much their second guitarist actually plays in the studio, the music is written for an intricate twin guitar approach. The shining ability of Bellomo has certainly given Mondelli the confidence to push the complexities in the music even further, safe in the knowledge that this is totally achievable in a live situation. Equally Etro is pushing her amazing voice even further…and nailing it time after time with unrelenting, ever-increasing confidence, which alongside the now stable top class rhythm section of Niso Tomasini and Francesco Zof, this is indeed an impressive unit of high calibre musicians.
The slightly raised technicality of the songs by no means reduces the power, speed and energy that has now become a Frozen Crown trademark. The introduction of occasional respite in the form of more acoustic moments has actually made some of the heavier sections sound even more bombastic and frenetic than ever, with the guitar and vocal jewels being able to sparkle with even greater intensity. Light and Shade displayed as well as any Power Metal band could. Yes, Frozen Crown in my opinion have done it again. They’ve grown, matured and expanded, all the while remaining true to themselves and their own identity and produced another excellent slab of utter…well, Frozen Crown!
(9/10 Andy Barker)
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