Album Review: Frozen Soul - Glacial Domination

A brutal and utterly beautiful tundra of frosty ferocity rising up from the very core of old school death metal, Texan quintet Frozen Soul are ready to blast you in the face with the bitter blizzard that is their second studio album 'Glacial Domination.'

Featuring an all-star lineup of contributors such as; Jonathan Gallagher of Dying Fetus, Gost and Matthew K. Heafy of Trivium, Frozen Soul have stepped up their game since their stunning debut 'Crypt of Ice.'

'Invisible Tormentor' explodes with an ominously atmospheric synthy groove stomp before ripping things apart in a cacophony of blistering blastbeats, frantic riffage, soaring solos and demonic gutteral vocals. An absolutely cracking opener that's both fun yet utterly insane. 'Arsenal of War' opens with the sounds of a battlefield before charging forward with crushing riffs, slamming, stomping chugs and thunderous drums. 'Death and Glory' picks up the pace with a fevered stride before slowing down to a bassy, headbanging march.

'Morbid Effigy' sees the entrance of Jonathan Gallagher of Dying Fetus. A synth heavy opener akin to the days of 80s horror-movie soundtracks.  Gallagher's brutally demonic gutterals drag the track in to the frozen abyss with a pulsating drag of ferocious heaviness. 'Annihilation' is an absolute dedication to the 80s horror genre; a synth heavy John Carpenter head nod, this interlude is both atmopsheric and a fitting breather from the ferocity. But it doesn't last long with the title track which was co-produced by Trivium's Matt Heafy. With a slightly groove/thrash feel supporting the old school death metal brutality, this is the most accessible track of the record but it's every bit as epic as the tracks which came before it. 'Frozen Soul' and 'Assimilator' both feature the enigmatic Gost. The former encorporates more of that atmospheric synth and is sinister in nature with a beatiful build-up; this track twists and turns with gruelling guitars and a demonic energy throughout. 'Assimilator' doesn't hold back with a slight groovey undetone to the old school death metal onslaught supported by soaring solos. Both of these tracks take inspiration from John Carpenter's 'The Thing;' a very apt fit to this frosty masterpiece.

'Best Served Cold' glides straight in to a chugging, riffing frenzy before sliding in to a freezing, mid-tempo stomp. As the record descends in to its closing stages, Matt Heafy returns to contribute to 'Abominable' an evil, thunderous assault with screaming solos that just doesn't let up at all. Then we have the conclusion of 'Atomic Winter;' a punishing, wind-milling trudge which gives off the energy of wading through an icy tundra of despair.

Old school death metal with catchy hooks, synthy atmosphere and intelligble barks and growls; both brutally insane yet highly accessible. Frozen Soul have absolutely nuked their wintry surroundings with a killer sophomore record. 'Glacial Domination' is crisp, addictive, ferocious and absolutely stunning.

Rating: 8/10
Release Date: May 19th 2023
Released By: Century Media Records
FFO: Obituary, Bolt Thrower, Cannibal Corpse

Track Listing:

1) Invisible Tormentor
2) Arsenal of War
3) Death and Glory
4) Morbid Effigy (feat. John Gallagher of Dying Fetus)
5) Annihilation
6) Glacial Domination (feat. Matthew K. Heafy)
7) Frozen Soul (feat. Gost)
8) Assimilator (feat. Gost)
9) Best Served Cold
10) Abominable (feat. Matthew K. Heafy)
11) Atomic Winter