Frozen Crown – Shieldmaidens of Metal

Italian power metal band FROZEN CROWN have inked a worldwide contract with Napalm Records! The five-piece was founded in 2018, and have since become one of the most influential Italian metal bands in the current scene. So far, FROZEN CROWN have released four albums – The Fallen King (2018), Crowned In Frost (2019), Winterbane (2021) and this year’s Call Of The North – which have brought the band huge media exposure, millions of streams and video views, and big European tours with the likes of Dragonforce and Nanowar Of Steel, as well as two headlining tours in Japan.

Their current album Call Of The North is FROZEN CROWN’s most mature work so far, showcasing the best of the band’s unique power metal style infused with classic heavy metal, melodic death metal and speed metal influences, all topped with bombastic production highlighting opulent orchestrations and harmonies.

Frozen Crown on the signing:

“We’re happy and honored to join the Napalm Records family and we’re ready for our next big step together! Since we founded this band in 2018 we worked hard incessantly, day after day, not only trying to put our best in our studio albums and live, but also managing the band all by ourselves, conquering every single little accomplishment with our DIY attitude, always keeping loyal to our (extremely) small entourage. Thanks to the support of our lovely fans, FROZEN CROWN eventually grew bigger, and got to a point where we were not able to handle it all by ourselves anymore. At the same time, we knew we needed more firepower to push the band further and bring it to the next level. And speaking of firepower, Napalm Records was just the best record label to start this new chapter with!!! We’re excited beyond words to be part of the best metal label in the world, and we can’t wait to start working together on our new album, joining forces with this huge team of professionals!”

Sebastian Muench, Senior A&R Napalm Records, adds:

“FROZEN CROWN are simply one of the most creative power metal bands to emerge in the last five years. Their previous releases, Winterbane and Call Of The North, are brilliant. We look forward to working with FROZEN CROWN to reach the next level in their career.”

Check out our review of their latest album Call Of The North HERE

FROZEN CROWN are:
Giada “Jade” Etro – Vocals
Federico Mondelli – Vocals, Guitar
Fabiola Bellomo – Guitar
Francesco Zof – Bass
Niso Tomasini – Drums

It’s hard to believe that “Call of the North” is the fourth album of Italian power metal band Frozen Crown. It feels like only yesterday since their 2018 debut “The Fallen King”, and they were considered the new kids on the block. But now it’s impossible to see them as anything but the veterans they are – and their new album clearly affirms this fact in the strongest possible terms.

The band kick off proceedings with the opening title track, and it is clear from the outset that they mean business with this record. After announcing their arrival with a suitably grandiose guitar-laden intro, they soon waste no time in ratcheting it up a few notches, and going full-bore at the listener. The energy on display here is thrilling, and still permeates even during a softer, more acoustic passage at the mid-way point. The ensuing track, “Fire in the Sky“, picks up even more speed and momentum – which you would scarcely think possible after the first track unless you heard it with your own ears. The band are clearly on fire at this point in their career, and the lyrics of the song imply a self-acknowledgement of this: “Can’t you see? // We burn like fire in the sky“.

Part of what makes Frozen Crown such a hot property is lead female vocalist Giada Etro, whose blazingly powerful vocals will forever burn a place in your heart. However, equally as impressive is Fabiola “Sheena” Bellomo on lead guitar, with her technical expertise responsible for many of the high points throughout the album. Next, we have the third-released single “Black Heart“, a more mid-paced song with a slightly darker edge to it. Some well-placed choral singing also adds to the drama. But even with this shadier aesthetic, the song can’t help but sound positive and uplifting, particularly if you’re paying close attention to the lyrics.

In these stormy times we’re standing strong
This fight will last forever
For blood and steel
Our flame still burns
Frozen Crown – Dark Heart

“Victorious“, on the other hand, takes some time out to showcase the band’s acoustic side, with some pleasantly fast tremolo picking. And while you’re listening, it’s easy to picture these bards huddled around a warm campfire. The image is fleeting, however, as the band forge ahead once more with their energetic trademark of heavy metal, and a renewed sense of urgency, as if they are charging off to wage combat in an epic battle. “In a Moment” sees that encounter arriving as Etro describes the scene: “A fight that never ends, as thunder strikes the land // Demon knights come from the gates of Hell // As evil’s getting in against the door we stand“. The fantastical nature of the songwriting here only serves to give more credence to this power metal offering, and the hard-hitting drums of Niso Tomasini are especially on-point. An observation which continues with the mechanical precision and rapid-fire drumming that introduces us to next track “Legion“, and sure enough, this one appears to be attempting to break the odometer with its sheer pace at various moments as well.

“Until the End” starts off deceptively slower, but quickly gains momentum, and we soon find ourselves swept up and taken on another ride. Both this and the subsequent number “Now or Never” see the band dropping much of their melo-death influences, and instead lean heavily into unadulterated power metal. While in “One For All“, the bards come out again with their acoustic guitars, and treat us to some impeccable vocals and finger-picking before the inevitable bait-and-switch, and return of the heavy distortion. As Etro is heard leading us into the closing moments of the album with what becomes a stirring call-to-arms: “All for one, one for all // We stand fiery in the dark // Till there’s blood within our hearts“. And with that we are left with the final track “Far Away” – a longer composition that is far and away the most unpredictable of the tracks that have preceded it. It’s a spectacular way to finish the album, and shows that even after nine tracks the band still have some tricks remaining up their sleeve. They are clearly a band bursting with a ton of individual talent, and it’s incredible they are able to contain it all and present it to us in such a unified, and coherent package.

Verdict: With “Call of the North”, Frozen Crown have practically ascended to royalty status within the power metal genre, and undoubtedly proven that they are worthy of the crown (frozen or not). It’s not only the best album they have ever produced, but it’s also one of the best in the entire business. A must-own for any power metal fan.