I'm a guy that likes rock and metal with a certain edge to it. The forbidden stuff, like a pact with the devil, or a drug overdose, or a complicated relationship, or death itself. Hardships of life in the lyrics and the riffs. Smart changes of moods and rhythm. A certain sensation of constant danger and complete lack of innocence. Heavy rock that provokes you, that has a certain uncertainty (sorry), that makes you feel cool like an outlaw. That is the reason why melodic metal, speed metal, or power metal, have never been my cup of tea. Despite one of the best bands of the genre ANGRA being from my country Brazil, I know only a handful of songs from them but never followed the style as it was not my favorite.

Still, I was exposed to bands like DRAGONFORCE, HALLOWEEN, BLIND GUARDIAN and others which I know a handful of songs each as well, but despite appreciating the incredible musicianship, I was never seduced by chants, choirs or high pitch vocals in my metal. Please understand that I do not despite the genre, I just did not pay much attention to it. However, with the internet, social media and youtube, I realized how strong the genre is with millions of fans around the globe and hundreds of bands in many countries. With a touch of epicness and sometimes with melodies that make you want to put on a helmet, get the sword and go into battle, I became more and more an admirer of the style and a fan of watching drum and guitar covers from these fast songs on the net. But there is still a hard line dividing the really good bands in the genre and the forgettable ones, and I am still figuring out what really attracts me to this type of metal.

Finland is big on epic, fast, melodic metal with bands like LORDI and ENSIFERUM. With operatic solos, clean or dirty vocals, and in some cases, great attention to costumes and overall visuals. Finland has given us great bands with some of them becoming very well known worldwide like NIGHTWISH. And they are still producing more heavy bands and FROZEN LAND is one of them with their most recent work "Out Of The Dark". A 9 songs album that took 5 years to be made since their first work, the self entitled "Frozen Land" in 2019. The new album seems to be a little out of focus which is not surprising after such a long break. The "King is a Bitch" (in Finland as well?) opens the album with a high scream followed by the famous fast paced double bass drum so present in the style. A solid guitar riff giving way to the chants to take the king out cause he is a little bitch. I love a little Finnish humor. The mix gives the impression of 2 guitar players with a lot of doubled guitars recorded. The only guitar player credited is the very good Tuomas Hirvonen that may need a helping hand on live performances. You can check this tune on youtube.

The album follows with "The prophecy" that keeps the energy up. A simple melody and instrumentals and sincerely, it does not have much going on that grabs your attention until a fast paced cut for the solo part, leading to the inevitable -ooh,ooh,ooh choir that is also a standard of the genre. A good song but far from the album's best. A little too soft of a chorus for my taste. I told you there are great things coming from this style of metal and "Dying of the Light" is one of them. This is the tune that can give some more established bands a run for their money. Epic from beginning to end, it has all the ingredients with great musicianship, a good melody and vocal performance. Tony Meloni has a great vocal range and, unless the whole band can sing, he may also need some help live for the backing vocals cause there are plenty. Good tune and for me the best so far.

The next one is a ballad that takes you out of the epicness of it all. "Don't You Ever Leave" is a little hard to go through but I did it 3 times because I want to be sincere in my review. Is not good. Sorry. Is campy as fuck. Romantic metal songs are a difficult formula to get it right and this one is a little painful to hear. Good guitar solo however. Hopefully things will get better with "The Northern Star"and it does a lot. Interesting and creative riff, good melody that stays in your head, great energy and for me the best vocal performance so far. Great work from keyboardist Antti Sorsa creating a riff that dances with the guitar. This I believe is the most complete and epic song of the album ( I ditched the other) that has all the elements I like. This song performed live with a full set it would be something to behold. Time for the bass to shine. With a great bass intro from Aleksi Salomaa we have another good and energetic tune in "White Lightning". Creative riffs and good melody that reminds me of ANGRA and the great Andre Matos (RIP). An interesting interlude in the middle with the keyboard,bass and guitar changing the mood, and a chorus to sing along. Are they going to keep the same level on the next?

Not quite, "Out Of The Dark" starts with a promising intro YNGWIE MALMSTEEN style but falls quickly into a kind of pop rock song from the 80's that left me disappointed. A little bit too soft again from my taste. Nothing epic and unfortunately forgettable. Good guitar solo again. We have 2 more, let's give it a try. A nasty voice starts "The Slayer" that should be forbidden to be called this name. With a complete gear shift, the band performs a song that you may hear in a rave. The keyboard takes over and follows the vocal with a kind of dance festival feeling. Suddenly, a masterful mid section of pure heavy metal creativity comes out of nowhere, and the song comes back to the somewhat irritating keyboard riff and dance vibes. I really do not know what to say about this one. I would remove the middle part from this tune and add to a fucking heavy song and it would fit perfectly. The rest I would just throw it away.

We got to the end of this rollercoaster (and sometimes a carousel) ride with "Señorita" that closes the album and has a youtube video as well. Another rave dancing vibe tune that is too far  away from heavy music to my taste. A creepy voice asking a Señorita where the party is. With touches of electronic rock (does this exist?) and a poor melody, I have to say that after I watched the video I thought, this is a band with a sense of humor and they make happy crazy tunes that sometimes may remember power epic metal but they are really not into the style and not too serious about it. But when I look at the great warrior god artwork on the cover of the album and listen to a song like this one and the one before, I really do not see how they fit together. The cover promises something that is not being delivered. I also think that the talent of competent drummer Aki Kuokkanen is being wasted on these last 2 tracks and this is a shame.

An inconsistent album with the band shooting in different directions and not hitting any target. There are good songs and good passages in the album but they are scattered. The musicians are top notch and the vocals are great for the speed melodic metal genre, and maybe this is the style they should concentrate more on. All the ingredients are there but the recipe needs to change. Finland has good metal fountains to drink from that could help the band find their own style and keep on faithful to it.