Album Reviews

Frozen Crown – The Fallen King

Frozen Crown is a new power metal band founded in 2017 in the northern Italian metropolis of Milan. The songs are written by keyboardist Federico Mondelli (Be The Wolf) and singer Giada Etro (Ashes You Leave, Tystnaden). The band draws their main influences from Sonata Arctica, Nightwish, and Orden Ogan. They also include elements melodic death (Children of Bodom, Dark Tranquility), specifically with the use of growling vocals. While the band does incorporate keyboards, I would not categorize them as a symphonic metal band, the keyboards just add an extra layer to the traditional heavy power metal sound.

Musically, Frozen Crown’s debut album does not try to re-invent the wheel. There are no huge surprises or progressive elements. The band simply relies on their expert level musicianship and ability to craft well-written power metal songs. Given the fact that their lead guitarist, Talia Bellazecca is only 17 years old makes the performances on the album all the more impressive. Bass player Filippo Zavattari and drummer Alberto Mezzanotte round out the band.

The album kicks off with a powerful blast of drums from Mezzanotte to introduce the first song, Fail No More, a rapid fire double-bass drum, riff-heavy power metal album with impressive vocals and lead guitar work. To Infinity starts with melodic harmony vocals and an Anette-era Nightwish folk metal vibe.

Kings is another typical power metal song with chugging guitars, double bass drums, and powerful melodic vocals. I Am The Tyrant has a main guitar riff that sounds like classic Ross the Boss era Manowar. The song’s main melody is catchy and has a fist-pumping chorus. The first single, The Shieldmaiden is a fast paced power metal anthem with some killer drum work once again as well as some impressive vocals peppered with aggressive growls which fit the mood of the song perfectly.

The albums requisite ballad, Chasing Lights, is an unremarkable, typical metal power ballad, which is highlighted with some pleasant vocal melodies from Etro, which give the song some emotional resonance. The song bleeds into the next track, Queen of Blades with a razor sharp guitar riff and mid-tempo drum beat. The melodic vocals are once again combined with growling vocals to give it a slight modern metal vibe.

Across The Sea is a song has a mid-tempo pace with some nice vocal work, but it doesn’t have much else to make it stand out. Everwinter draws inspiration from classic Nightwish and is as close as Frozen Crown gets to a symphonic metal sound. The last track, Netherstorm is a fast and heavy power metal track that has elements of Kamelot and Sonata with more growls added to give the song an aggressive feel. This song is as close as the band gets to a modern metal sound.

In the final analysis, Frozen Crown have created a fine debut album with plenty of chops and melody, however, if you’re looking for something unique and different, you will have to look elsewhere. Still, it is nice to have a new band that doesn’t try to be anything more than what they are, which in Frozen Crown’s case, that is being a talented young power metal band. With experience,growth as a band, performing live, and time, I look forward to what Frozen Crown can deliver on their next album.

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