In the modern era of music, it seems that attention spans are at an all time low. People want new content immediately before moving onto the next shiny new thing. As a result, it is important to strike whilst the iron is hot and to take any momentum gained and move with it quickly. Texas’ own FROZEN SOUL put the entire metal world on notice with their debut full length album Crypt Of Ice back in 2021 and have worked themselves into the ground to ensure that they are front and centre of everyone’s mind when it comes to modern death metal. Now in 2023, the band are back with their sophomore effort Glacial Domination and are looking to build on the solid foundation that they have made for themselves.
With the ascension of FROZEN SOUL over the past couple of years you would be forgiven for thinking that this was an overnight success. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth as we found out from frontman/lyricist Chad Green. “I was pretty much ready to give up on music after my last band broke up. I was in college and convinced this wasn’t for me,” he explains. “Seeing my friends in bands doing so well out of our local scene inspired me to knuckle down and keep going.” It was that grit and determination, paired with finding like-minded individuals that would prove to be the winning combination. With the band going from strength to strength, signing with Century Media Records, writing, and recording two full-length albums (along with a number of split EPs) and touring the world within the space of five years.
With Glacial Domination, we see FROZEN SOUL taking a massive leap forward in the level of songwriting on display, but also in the laser-pointed focus and ambition in everything that is undertaken. A prime example of this is the inclusion of death metal royalty in the form of John Gallagher of DYING FETUS on the albums premier single release Morbid Effigy. “We toured the US with the boys and got to know him really well. So, when we wrote a brutal death metal style song for the album it felt like a no brainer to call him in,” explains Green. “It helped that he really liked the song and took a really keen interest in putting his spin on things, which gave it that really natural feel.”
Another song that shows the artistic growth of the band is Arsenal Of War which includes a vocal guest spot from CREEPING DEATH vocalist Reese Alavi, a decision which in Green’s mind was a no-brainer. “Reese is someone who I’ve known for many years. He’s one of the best dudes I know from the scene and the work ethic and love that CREEPING DEATH put into everything they do has been super inspirational to us as a band.” The other inclusion on the track is a little more subtle. With Blake Ibanez of POWER TRIP adding some divebombs and lead parts over the top of the song just to add that little extra spice. “Blake was there because the song was a memorial for my brother. We wanted to include someone from a band that he loved, and it just so happens that POWER TRIP were one of his favourites. So, it worked out pretty perfectly.”
One of the main catalysts for the band’s creative leap forward is the acquisition of TRIVIUM frontman and overall metal hero Matt Heafy who joins the band in the role of producer. However, he also lent his experienced ear to help write a couple of the songs from the album. “Matt was a real breath of fresh air to work with. He is so knowledgeable about death metal and metal in general that we found plenty of things that we have in common,” Green elaborates. The original plan was for Heafy to simply feature on a song, but when the two parties were put in contact with each other it appeared that he was not just in it for a one off, that he wanted to be involved in the whole process of recording and producing the album. “We ended up flying out to the TRIVIUM hanger in Florida and pre-produced around nine songs that we had already had ready to go. And then he helped us write two more.” The two songs that were co-written in the studio would be Glacial Domination, the album’s title track, and Abominable. The latter of which is the pinnacle of the band’s songwriting journey to date. A five-and-a-half-minute salvo of huge sounding guitars, well-crafted lead runs and guitar solos that are as exciting and emotive as they are proficient and well thought out.
Now that the band have their second album in the bank, locked and loaded, they now look forward to what the rest of the year has to offer and for the Dallas natives it is proving to be a pretty exciting time. Not only do they have a north American run planned with one of the most stacked line ups you are likely to see (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, TERROR, FUMING MOUTH and PHOBOPHILLIC) they also have a full card of summer festivals in the works and that is just for starters.
One thing is for certain, and that is that FROZEN SOUL is a band that has the world at its feet. And with an album as strong as Glacial Domination in its grasp and a clear mission plan in mind then we are truly all about to witness another ice age and we can’t think of anything more exciting.