Review by Peter Finn for MPM
Italian power metal band Frozen Crown released their new studio album ‘War Hearts’, and their first with Napalm Records on October 18, 2024.
‘War Hearts’ will be the band’s fifth album in their seven-year career and a first as a six-piece band, featuring Giada “Jade” Etro (vocals), Federico Mondelli (vocals, guitar), Fabiola “Sheena” Bellomo (guitar), Francesco Zof (bass), Alessia Lanzone (guitar) and Niso Tomasini (drums).
Formed in Milan during 2017, Frozen Crown has built a hard-core fan base with their combination of power metal, old-school speed and heavy metal. The result being a vibrant sound rich in melodies, powerful riffs and un-tamed energy.
The ‘War Hearts’ title gives a respectful nod to legendary Finnish melodic death metaller’s Children of Bodom, a band who inspired Frozen Crown from the start. ‘War Hearts’ consists of 10-tracks with a running time of nearly 43-minutes, including a 7:37 album closer.
The album opens with the title track ‘War Hearts’, a symphonic start coupled with Jade’s vocal brings the pace from the off, the power riff delivered by Mondelli is bone shaking. Tomasini is hitting everything at double pace. The guitar solo skips across the surface. A song about fighting for your dreams, it delivers a first-round knock-out.
The pace continues with ‘Steel And Gold’, the triple guitar attack brings a sledgehammer of sound to the track, the combination of distortion and squealing breaks is brilliant. The soaring vocal harmonies induce a feel-good atmosphere. The fret work is epic, producing a deep and elegant sound.
Tomasini’s rapid beat and a DragonForce-esque break begins ‘To Live To Die’. Again, the pace is relentless driven along by an unforgiving rhythm section, pure speed metal. Jade’s vocal is crystal clear and passionate.
‘Night Of The Wolf’ are Jade’s opening lyrics, the title indicating a quiet, stealth in the shadows attack. However, the attack has the subtly and energy of a herd of charging buffalo. It’s a galloping anthem of a track, the blistering harmonies matched by the hurtling triple guitar solos. Jade’s vocals slice though the wall of sound, like Canis Lupus’ incisors biting flesh.
The intensity recedes slightly for ‘On Silver Wings’. Rather than the energetic riffs, the focus is on Jade’s controlled and understanding lyrics. Her voice has the elegance of a gliding swan, the band are like it’s legs swimming upstream against a strong current, full of energy and purpose. The track cleverly illustrates the two tempos playing simultaneously.
Apparently, ‘Edge Of Reality’ was inspired by the 1986 movie ‘Highlander’, for which Queen recorded the soundtrack. A battle-cry of a track, a hard beat provided by Zof and Tomasini summons the listener to the arena, where they are met with a trident guitar assault. Jade’s words stirring the emotion. There’s even a couple of Brian May style guitar breaks in there, it’s a skilfully constructed track.
‘Bloodlines’ follows, and refers to the ‘Vampire: The Masquerade’ series of board and video games. An orchestra of guitars start the track. Jade’s vocal is infectious, you’re eager to hear more as she carefully emphasises different words drawing you in. Tomasini’s beat is steady and combines well with the slower deeper riffs allowing you to be hypnotised by Jade’s voice.
‘I Am The Wind’ invites Federico Mondelli to join Jade on vocal duties, the duet works well, the chanted chorus adding a pirate vibe. The pace starts slower, building and swirling as the symphonic sound fills the room. The track started as a gentle breeze, before concluding as a pounding, crashing thunderstorm.
The penultimate ‘King Of The Sky’ is a short instrumental with a full orchestral sound, I’m a little surprised it sits here and not at the start of the album. But all that matters is that Frozen Crown have decided to use it to lead in their closing epic.
That epic is ‘Ice Dragon’, the title conjures up images of ‘Game of Thrones’ and the intro following on with the guitar harmonies from the previous track, could have been music from the series. Jade’s clear and cut lyrics are narrating a story, it is a full cinematic sound, that is occasionally punctuated by a quick drum-beat and a roaring solo. The atmosphere builds as Mondelli adds his vocals, an angelic chorus leads in a fabulous piece of fret work. It’s a high-quality tale, accompanied by an impressive musical back-drop. Frozen Crown have definitely saved the best ‘til last.
Looking at the track times, I was slightly surprised that the addition of the third guitar, that of the exceptional talented Alessia Lanzone, resulted in shorter track lengths. I was expecting a longer flowing sound. However, what it has done is bring a far more technically layered production, the complex detail involved is a great step forward.
The album has concise and punchy power metal songs, rich in scorching riffs, spinetingling solos, symphonic vocals and unbelievable energy. I did find ‘War Hearts’ quite intense and I was almost breathless listening to it, maybe throw a couple of slower tracks in to mix it up, some may argue that’s not the Frozen Crown or speed metal way. I can guarantee that if you’re a fan of the genre, then Frozen Crown’s ‘War Hearts’ is a great addition to your collection.
