Review: “Glacial Domination” by Frozen Soul
Having decimated the weak with 2021’s deadly bludgeoning “Crypt Of Ice” the return of Dallas Texas Death Metal beasts Frozen Soul with “Glacial Domination“ is one on the highly anticipated Richter scale. That’s largely because not only do the band return to former guitarist Daniel Schmuck (Power Trip, Creeping Death) for assistance but Trivium vocalist and guitarist Matthew Heafy who gain producer and co-producer credits respectively. Add to that four noteworthy guest appearances and you have a stage set for another brutal slice, inspired by the band having played opening slots for their personal heroes in Obituary and Napalm Death during their first wave of attack with Century Media…
Primed for an atmospheric introduction piece “Invisible Tormentor” has 28 seconds of John Carpenter film score inspired palate cleansing tension building sounds before Frozen Soul put the pedal to the metal and begin cranking out the Old School Groove Death Metal. Green’s vicious bark isn’t as quite as harsh as others in the genre which means that every word from the lyric sheet is audible (which has to be a good thing, right?) while the flaming hot solo is an instant winner. It’s the downtempo finale which really drives it home, the band sounding like Krisiun meeting Skeletal Remains in a dark alley with a baseball bat while Pantera watch on with huge grins, placing their bets. Joined by Reese Alavi of Creeping Death “Arsenal of War” continues down the left hand path of with a lethal injection of old school Thrash nostalgia and a classic whammy bar drop solo mid cut elevating it. A mosh put mover to which sweaty bodies will sway like marionettes, it has all the power and presence of the modern production edge while at the same time having a timeless quality which means it will appeal to fans of material released at any point over the past 40 odd years. Maintaining the high rate extinction with verve and swagger “Death and Glory” slams the coffin lid shut and hammers in the nails while the victim is still inside, kicking and screaming.
Most of the cuts have an 80’s VHS horror film style introduction that sets the tone and “Morbid Effigy“, which features John Gallagher of Dying Fetus has one of the better ones. Green’s bowel clenching gravelly vocals reach a new low at this point, allowing him to go toe to toe with Gallagher during this dark tale, accompanied by a plethora of mid-tempo chugging riffs. Instrumental “Annihilation” adds a creepy synth vibe as if taken from a low budget John Carpenter science fiction horror film score before the pummelling album title track hits home. “Glacial Domination” keeps the headbangable groove intact while having a solid bass line from Samantha Mobley that is allowed to bleed out before Trivium guitarist Matt Heafy drops an unmistakable trademark solo or two. Having him on board is clever, not allowing him to add any clean vocal parts is even cleverer as it would actually be to the detriment of the song itself, the contrast between Green’s vicious throat shredding bark and Heafy’s cleans simply to greater contrast to bridge on a cut like this without Heafy being the main vocalist. Naming a song after your band is always an interesting choice and fortunately “Frozen Soul” happens to be one of the albums finest points. Another classic story driven affair, it has riffs for days and pummelling rhythmic gymnastics for weeks. Echo effects on some of the vocal parts have been carefully selected for maximum effect, the ear worm riff of the chorus accompanied by some of the catchiest lyrical moments the band have to offer. “Assimilator” follows suit, an equally powerful cut that slaps like concrete slab to the face, another bludgeoning affair that keeps the frostbitten thrill ride alive while not having that real incendiary moment that would elevate it.
A tale of revenge “Best Served Cold” is unforgiving on so many levels, a relentless riff driven affair that builds on the bones of some of the more trance inducing mid tempo chug and dark atmospherics that separate this album from the pack. Solid but not necessarily stand out, it has all the grit and punch you want from a Death Metal cut and doesn’t stray from the bands comfort zone. What they do, Frozen Soul do exceptionally well which makes for a skull crushing good time. What they lack at times is a few more face melting solos, a huge breakdown or to bring some of the dark intro synths into the middle of a track to give it a new direction. A flamboyant solo lifts “Abominable” from its vice grip of monolithic crushing tones, some sinister leads adding ensuring it has the necessary joie de vivre without allowing the album to tail off into oblivion towards the end. Drawing inspiration from Godzilla, “Atomic Winter” brings another hard riff that slows down progressively as it cleaves the flesh from the bone for one final time. A tour de force of Groove laden Death Thrash, “Glacial Domination” takes a few risks while remaining true to the roots of Frozen Soul, which is something to be applauded [7/10]
Track Listing
1. Invisible Tormentor
2. Arsenal of War (ft. Reese Alavi of Creeping Death, Blake Ibanez of Power Trip and Fugitive)
3. Death and Glory
4. Morbid Effigy (ft. John Gallagher of Dying Fetus)
5. Annihilation
6. Glacial Domination (ft. Matthew Heafy of Trivium)
7. Frozen Soul
8. Assimilator
9. Best Served Cold
10. Abominable
11. Atomic Winter
“Glacial Domination” by Frozen Soul is out 19th May 2023 via Century Media