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Hailing from Texas Frozen Soul came pretty much out of nowhere and got signed to Century Media Records and their new label got their name out with some fabulous promotion and album videos.  The band was previously singed on the awesome Maggot Stomp Records and I really enjoyed their 2019 ep – Encased in Ice.  3 of those 4 songs were re-recorded for this debut album, so basically this is 7 new songs.

The title track kicks off this 10 song 39 minute death metal extravaganza and you’ve probably seen the video for it.  The label did an excellent job with getting this video plastered from here to Mars.  Starting with an atmospheric intro buildup the song goes right into a full throttle blast beat and it’s highly evident Bolt Thrower are their main influence, once the mid-paced rumbling heaviness soon takes center stage.  The band focuses on the meaty and heavy riffs.  This is a damn fine opener.  “Arctic Stranglehold” starts with the crushing riffs and thunderous double bass, ripped right from the IVth Crusade, before galloping into a nice early 90’s death metal meat.  Some nice bass guitar work and vocalist Chad Green really harnessing Bolt Thrower’s Karl Willetts pipes.  Close your eyes and listen – I swear it sounds as if Karl did the vocals on this album, I mean it’s scary how Chad emulates him.  Even down to the specific enunciation with stretching out words and holding out the S’s, just like Karl did so perfectly.  The riffs on this track and towards the end of this song are just damn heavy and very catchy.

“Twist the Knife” has a little intro of sorts, before the isolated guitar part spews forth and then the drum rolls and right into the thunderous double bass.  The song has a jumpy feel to start out and then around the 1.30 that slower riff and the music slowing down from the mid-paced rumbling is excellent and then the song slows down a little more. Then right into the tank tread rumbling heaviness and then slowing down again to ensure places from Ft. Worth Texas all the way to Tunisia are no longer left standing.  The song has a bit of a doom death Asphyx approach in certain parts.  The slower moments and then how the song goes right into the mid-paced rumbling heaviness are just some of the things Frozen Soul does so well and this song must be in their live set, once true live shows return.  The pits will cause tidal waves.  “Gravedigger” closes out this album in a very doom death way, before the mid-paced rumbling heaviness returns to wreck-havoc on your chest cavity. 

I have heard some rumblings in the music scene referring to Frozen Soul as generic and/or vanilla type of death metal, unworthy for the hype they have been receiving.  You know, while Crypt of Ice is definitely Bolt Thrower worship, beyond reproach, I love Crypt of Ice.  I mean while the similarities are evident with Bolt Thrower even with them having a female bass guitarist, Samantha Mobley, just as Bolt Thrower has Jo Bench as their bassist, it is quite funny to observe these comparisons.  Crypt of Ice is memorable and has a thick and heavy production – I find myself going back to this album quite a lot this year.  I love memorable songs where I can remember the riffs, song structures and vocal patterns and hot damn Frozen Soul delivers that to me.  I look forward to future music from Frozen Soul as well as their musical growth in the scene.

 

[Visit the band's website]

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