One of the cornerstones of the doom metal genre, Funeral are more specifically Funeral Doom, slow, melancholic doom that is introspective and labyrinthine. From Norway they have similar musical themes to Bell Witch, Esoteric and Pantheist. You know death, loss, pain, each one of these delivered by baritone opera singer Eirik Krokfjord who replaced Sindre Nedland as the singer in 2022, his sonorous, Wagner influenced classical voice singing the words of Anders Eck, drummer and founder member.
He channels the troubled past of the band, losing members to overdose and suicide, into his music, signing to Season Of Mist in 2021, they bring their extreme style of doom to a major label and show everyone what the band are all about. Gospel Of Bones is over an hour of crushing emotion, the long drawn heavy riffs linger, down tuned and building levelling.
The inspiration of Sabbath still there but slower, more deliberate, sadder and heavier than before, the percussive power of Eck the anchor for all of Funeral's music. Gospel Of Bones is also the first record where they have used real strings adding violinist Ingvild Johannessen to their membership, she brings Hardanger fiddle a traditional instrument that is features on the instrumental cover song adding Norwegian folk to the Funeral heaviness.
So this could be seen a transitional album for Funeral, folk, classical and metal combining with special guests in the shape of violinist Øyvind Rauset of cult Norwegian band Folque, vocalist Espen Ingierd of Beyond Dawn adds some clean vocals while Kari Ulfsnes Kleiven brings soprano voices to counterpoint the baritone. Gospel Of Bones is Eck's autobiographical catharsis, bloodletting of the highest order from one of the pioneers of funeral doom. 8/10
Frozen Crown - War Hearts (Napalm Records)
Now signed to Napalm Records, War Hearts is the fifth studio album from Italian power metal band Frozen Crown. It's also their first as a six piece having added third guitarist, 18 year old prodigy Alessia Lanzone, joinign Fabiola 'Sheena' Bellomo and Federico Mondelli in 2023. So War Hearts is more than just a label debut it's a chance for them to re-debut as this new version of the band. Having the triple guitar attack means that Federico can also add more keys to their sound, fleshing out the broad power metal sound they are trying to achieve.
So this could be seen a transitional album for Funeral, folk, classical and metal combining with special guests in the shape of violinist Øyvind Rauset of cult Norwegian band Folque, vocalist Espen Ingierd of Beyond Dawn adds some clean vocals while Kari Ulfsnes Kleiven brings soprano voices to counterpoint the baritone. Gospel Of Bones is Eck's autobiographical catharsis, bloodletting of the highest order from one of the pioneers of funeral doom. 8/10
Frozen Crown - War Hearts (Napalm Records)
Now signed to Napalm Records, War Hearts is the fifth studio album from Italian power metal band Frozen Crown. It's also their first as a six piece having added third guitarist, 18 year old prodigy Alessia Lanzone, joinign Fabiola 'Sheena' Bellomo and Federico Mondelli in 2023. So War Hearts is more than just a label debut it's a chance for them to re-debut as this new version of the band. Having the triple guitar attack means that Federico can also add more keys to their sound, fleshing out the broad power metal sound they are trying to achieve.
In the power metal world Italy have some of the most revered names. Though many would say Scandinavia have more, I've always been a fan of the Italian scene as they have the recommended amount of cheese in their power metal but Frozen Crown especially have classic and heavy metal influences too (Steel And Gold), it means that if you like a band such as Unleash The Archers. Like modern day Maiden, having three guitarists means that they can add some more complex riffs/melodies and like I said more keys too.
The title is inspired by Children Of Bodom and about self improvement and overcoming adversity, the CoB influece can be heard on To Live To Die, while on Night Of The Wolf and Edge Of Reality, they have more of the blasting power metal associated with this band. Jade's vocals are tough and powerful, countered by Federico's in places, the backroom of bassist Francesco Zof and drummer Niso Tomasini, hit 100mph and don't slow too much, even with On Silver Wings and Ice Dragon they show they have power beneath the triple guitar attack.
War Hearts re-establishes Frozen Crown's quest to bring hard hitting power metal to more around the globe. Armed with more firepower than ever, wouldn't bet against them. 8/10
Carl Sentance – Silent Angels (Carlos Records)
Current Nazareth frontman, Dario Mollo singer and former/current Persian Risk man Carl Sentance gives us his third (?) solo album. The hesitation in my writing is that Persian Risk I think is still a going concern but has perhaps transformed into Sentance’s solo project, the band he has played with on the last few Persian Risk albums and solo albums are the same so you can see why I’m confused.
Carl Sentance – Silent Angels (Carlos Records)
Current Nazareth frontman, Dario Mollo singer and former/current Persian Risk man Carl Sentance gives us his third (?) solo album. The hesitation in my writing is that Persian Risk I think is still a going concern but has perhaps transformed into Sentance’s solo project, the band he has played with on the last few Persian Risk albums and solo albums are the same so you can see why I’m confused.
Anyway it doesn’t really matter as now he’s the Nazareth singer his solo band can keep that NWOBHM/Melodic metal/heavy metal sound that’s different to the bluesy classic rock of Nazareth, check out Farewell To The King here and you’ll hear the sort of anthemic classic metal I’m talking about.
Wayne Banks’ galloping bass, Russell Gilbrook’s pounding drums (Faith) and plenty of riffs from Sentence himself basically make this a power trio but there’s additional guitars from Jay Banks and Dario Mollo, keys by collaborator/mixer/masterer Zardonic, some slide guitar and extra female vocals too on Savannah. There’s moves into AOR on the title track, a bit of hippy psych meet’s Gun-style rock on Sleep Walk as the blues visits for Pain.
Wayne Banks’ galloping bass, Russell Gilbrook’s pounding drums (Faith) and plenty of riffs from Sentence himself basically make this a power trio but there’s additional guitars from Jay Banks and Dario Mollo, keys by collaborator/mixer/masterer Zardonic, some slide guitar and extra female vocals too on Savannah. There’s moves into AOR on the title track, a bit of hippy psych meet’s Gun-style rock on Sleep Walk as the blues visits for Pain.
His solo albums are always a chance to experiment with various genre’s, well ones that suit his voice, but it always comes back to gutsy hard rock where his brawny scream works the best. His solo work gives Carl a way to create outside of Nazareth and the constant touring that band does. It always gives good results and Silent Angels is no different. 8/10
Arrow Valley – Embodiment (Self Released) [Matt Bladen]
Now over to the West Midlands and a band who owe much to the likes of Alter Bridge as well as Killswitch Engage and that whole post-grunge meets metalcore sound of 10+ years ago. You would think Arrow Valley were American from the music but the vocals give away that they’re from this side of the pond. Founded during the pandemic, Arron Turner (vocals) and Luke Hatton (guitar) released an EP in 2022 and here they are two years later with their second and a full band consisting of drummer, Mark Harris Bristow, Abbas Ali on bass and guitarist Nicky Hughes.
Embodiment I assume is them trying to consolidate what they sound like in their new band format and while some of it works some of it doesn’t, I’d say they fair better when they play the big chunky alt rock riffs of tracks such as Why, rather than when they try to have screams a thrashing. Arrow Valley are much more effective as a band when they are in the Alter Bridge/Creed mould, Ode (I See You) working especially well. Production is D.I.Y but good throughout, Embodiment is an album from band that have bags of potential but need to work out what they want to be going forward. 6/10
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