This is the sixth album by Italian power metallers Frozen Crown.
Frozen Crown are one of the absolute best in the business. Although 2024’s War Hearts didn’t ascend to the same stratospheric heights as 2023’s phenomenal Call of the North, it was still a great album, one that continues to get better with every spin. So, across ten tracks of new material, what does new record The Legend of the Six Kings have to offer us?
Well, it’s another glorious batch of power and heavy metal goodness. It’s epic and stirring, and once again boasts the high levels of quality execution we’ve come to expect from Frozen Crown.
The songs are short and tight, written to maximise impact. Only one exceeds four minutes, (the title track closer), emphasising the album’s focus on concise songwriting, with big hooks and plenty of instantly appealing character. Basically, it’s (mostly) no filler, all killer power metal. Why ‘mostly’? Because there’s an unexpected Goo Goo Dolls cover, which is fine, but feels a bit superfluous to requirements and out of place.
One slight misstep aside, the rest of The Legend of the Six Kings is greater than the sum of its parts. Despite their brief nature, the songs are packed with content and ideas. Keyboards, choirs, blazing solos, and more all flesh out the core skeleton of the music. There’s a darker, more aggressive aspect to the record that raises its head in places – think melodeath and harsh vocals, (Winter Hearts and the aforementioned title track), but mostly it’s the luscious metallic delivery we’ve grown accustomed to. It’s all topped by the band’s talented lead singer, who delivers a predictably awesome performance. Her voice is addictive.
Filled with anthemic songs that demand repeated replays, Frozen Crown keep pumping out the hits, and they show no sign of slowing down yet. The Legend of the Six Kings is another winning addition to Frozen Crown’s hugely enjoyable discography.
Essential listening for any heavy or power metal fan. Great band, great songs. What’s not to like?
