Canada seems to have been unearthing some good up-and-coming bands in the power/folk vein lately.  Last year’s revelation Viathyn and their fellow Albertans Shadowblade are at the head of this pack.  The former’s album The Peregrine Way made my top ten last year, and had the latter’s debut album Frozen Serenity been heard long before this review was written, it could just as easily challenged for a spot on last year’s list.  As it is, Shadowblade has a lot of potential, and if Frozen Serenity is any indication, that potential could very well be much more.

Though Shadowblade does have some folk influences, it is on the power metal side where the band truly makes its living.  The vocals aren’t truly confined to either genre, as they aren’t high enough to be classified as power or flaky enough to be classified as folk.  In fact, Shadowblade’s vocals would feel more at home on a Viking metal album than either of the genres.  The album begins with “Prologue,” which features proficient guitar picking skills and a cheesy spoken word intro.  That gives way to a powerful track in “The Dreamwaters,” which features folk-influenced power metal and the contrasting clean and growling vocals.  “Snowfall” is one of the most balanced tracks on the album, with both styles standing out equally and the vocals provide a storytelling atmosphere to the song.  The slow parts on the song also have their chance to shine, showing the band’s range.  The first two minutes of “Beijing Sunrise” is Shadowblade putting its musicianship on display.  Production on the album receives an instant boost with Nino Laurenne of Thunderstone handling those duties.  With only one proper song under the five minute mark (“Call of the Ocean”), it will take much patience to get through Frozen Serenity, but the results are quite rewarding.  There are still some rough edges with Shadowblade, which will be taken care of with time and experience.

For a relatively new band, Shadowblade already shows signs of being one of the next breakthrough bands to come from Canada.  Along with Viathyn, they are poised to follow in the musically skilled footsteps of Into Eternity.  There is still room for them to grow, but it appears that Shadowblade has what it takes to take their music skills to the next level.

TRACK LISTING

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*Comments:

1.  Prologue
2.  The Dreamwaters
3.  Call of the Ocean
4.  Snowfall
5.  Beijing Sunrise
6.  Lunar
7.  The Redeemer
8.  Frozen Serenity
9.  Frozen Serenity II

Total playing time:  52:17

Release Date: September 17, 2010
Label: Band Self Released

Shadowblade - Frozen Serenity

Reviewer: Peter

April 19, 2011