HEADLESS is a Heavy Metal band based out of Italy. Formed in 1993, the released their debut full-length album in 1998. Then there was a long hiatus until 2013 with the second. "Melt the Ice Away" is their third, and contains nine tracks. "So Much of a Bore" leads off the album. Fans of early 1990's YNGWIE MALMSTEEN will recognize Goran Edman's voice, with his range and thick with vibrato. The overall instrumentation is pretty mellow, without sharpness in the guitars for example, allowing the vocals and harmonies to take center stage. But the guitar solo is very nicely done. "Good Luck Resized" has more of a bite, from the bluesy chords mostly. Still fairly chill overall. The title track, "Melt the Ice Away," is a mid-tempo song with a riff that uses single guitar notes, complete with some background whispers. The single note approach doesn't allow for a lot of excitement though the vocals are again strong.

"Frame" is a tender, slower song that brings on some genuine emotion. Still, some minor chords here and there seem to clash with the established sound at times, which is a bit odd. "Shortage" is a little dirtier from the low end riff and the slightly sped up pace. The chorus is really well done here but I still find the verses a bit terse and lacking any kind of real punch. "A Senseless Roaring Machine" is more in the realm of darkness, especially with the eerie spoken words in the beginning, sounding like someone is very distressed. It's really unlike any other song on the album and I like the energy that comes from the distress. "Stillness of the Heart" is more like a 1980's anthem, with high reaching vocal harmonies and some crafty guitar work. "Gather Knowledge Gather Wisdom" is the long song on the album, at over six minutes in length. The opening guitar and vocals work well in supportive parts. The main riff is again a mid-tempo meter. Sometimes I can hear the song venturing into really melodic and memorable territory but other times the chords just don't connect as you would expect. The chorus is dead on again though. Not sure how this can be in conflict like this.

"When Dreams & Past Collapse" closes the album. It's another mid-tempo song with a lackluster riff. The album has potential for sure. There are times when some of the melodies take you back to the great days of yesteryear when this kind of music featured big hooks and choruses and songs that you could sing along with and remember for years to follow. But there are other times when it just doesn't make a strong connection and the riff, well, rambles for lack of a better description. The vocals are the high point of the album for sure. Give it a listen and decided for yourself.