Frozen Chambers review @ DangerDog.com
Power metal band Force Majeure hails from Finland; their name, translated literally from the French, means 'greater force.' Certainly, this reveals mora than a little self-confidence in their music and pursuits. But can Force Majeure be 'greater force' in the already swamped field of power metal not only within their region but also the whole European theatre? The answer lies within the music on their latest release 'Frozen Chambers.'
To their credit, one significant attribute of 'Frozen Chambers' is that this is a complete effort by whole band. Even though we expect the lead vocalist and lead guitar(s) to rule most days on any given metal album, Force Majeure appears willing to draw upon and push forward everyone's strengths and talents. If anything rises above the others it can be either the vocals, the rhythm section, or the keyboards. But none of these at anytime overwhelm the others. Another positive attribute is the fact that the production is quite smooth, the mix clear. As you move into the music, you will find Force Majeure travels the well tread trail of melodic power metal with bits of traditional heavy and progressive metal. There's nothing new in this pursuit; so what about the songs?
'Frozen Chambers' begins and ends with traditional power metal in 'Gatecrusher' and 'Dead Times Awaken.' Both songs are heavy and aggressive with raw vocals. The former seems to favor the rhythm section and has good, but minimalist, fret work. In the latter, the guitars come through well, but the arrangement seems confused. In between these two songs you will find more power metal. The good news is that there is some really interesting music here; the bad news is that you often get more of the same, but it is hardly unbearable. Here's some of the good stuff: 'Wings Of The Fallen' has more predominant keyboard work, a great melody and fabulous vocals. Putting the harsh vocals aside, Ricky sounds like a metal version of Geddy Lee. Another notable track is 'I Hear Voices,' which starts well with a short but terrific bass and drum intro. Then, just when you think you're moving into more monotonous power metal, about two and a half minutes into the song, things become interesting and intriguing. 'Winter's Tale,' essentially a power metal ballad, shines because of the vocals and the keyboard work, particularly the solo and the outro. 'Endure The Cold' is a better power metal number simply because of the melodic arrangement and surprising vocal arrangement. Here, Ricky sounds more like a raw Tobias Sammet. As for the songs I did not mention, they were either ordinary or uninspiring to these ears. However, there are always exceptions. At first, 'Dr. Daydreamer' put me off completely. Yet after several listens, the song grew on me sounding like an enthusiastic, but heavier Edguy.
Overall, Force Majeure's 'Frozen Chambers' is a fine first effort filled with moments of grandeur and innovation. Other times, it's basically routine. Will they be a 'greater force' in their genre? Possibly. Force Majeure has the skills and talent to rise above their peers especially if they keep writing songs like 'Wings Of The Fallen' or 'Endure The Cold.' So I encourage you to check them out. You may be surprised.
3,5 / 5 stars
http://www.dangerdog.com/reviews_2008/force-majeure-frozen-chambers.html
Frozen Chambers arvostelu @ StalkerMusic (in finnish)
Jokunen vuosi sitten Gatecrusher nimisen promon julkaissut Force Majeure pöllähtää kokopitkien ihmeelliseen maailmaan, varmasti joissain piireissä hyvinkin odotetun Frozen Chambers- levyn myötä. Samaisella Gatecrusher-biisillä avautuu tämä levy ja homman nimi tulee selväksi heti ensimmäisellä kiekaisulla: hieman modernisoitua, mutta perinteille uskollista melodista metalliahan Force Majeure tuntuisi olevan.
Seuraavaan biisiin ärhäkkyys onkin vaihdettu katkeraan tilitykseen ja musiikillisesti mennään hempeämmissä tunnelmissa vaikka tuplabasarit pitävätkin kappaleen mukavasti vauhdissa. Ei ole yllätys, että nämä kaksi ensimmäistä biisityyppiä määrittelevät pitkälti levyn sisällön. Mukaan on tosin ujutettu modernimmasta metallista tuttuja riffejä ja komppeja, ja kerran jos toisenkin tulee Children of bodom mieleen, mikä taitaa kyllä kertoa enemmänkin siitä, kuinka paljon Bodomin pojilla melometallia materiaalista löytyy, ei toisinpäin. Jos aletaan Suomen myyntivaltteja luettelemaan, niin Sonata Arcticaa ja Stratoakin löytyy. Pohjalla tietysti -ei kovinkaan yllättäen- Iron Maiden. Pari lähes progeiluksikin taipuvaa kikkaa jostain välistä löytyy, mutta kuriositeetiksi ne jäävät.
Jos bändivertailut ovat edellä mainittua luokkaa, niin on selvää että loistavasta debyytistä on kyse, ja varmasti moni lauantai-illan kultakurkku kusee hunajaa tätä kuunnellessaan, mutta uutuuden hohtohan tästä puuttuu. Laatujulkaisu, laatubändi, ei silti mitään uutta. Millään osa-alueella ei haukata sitä itseään, joten seuraavalta lätyltä odotetaankin jo huikeaa mahtavuutta. Hyvä, hyvä.
3,5 / 5 tähteä
Toni Romo
http://stalkermusic.no-ip.org:8082/stalkermusic/index.pl?Call=Review&id=191
Frozen Chambers arvostelu @ Vertigo.CD by Kari Koskinen (in finnish)
Lukuisia demoja ja pienjulkaisuja puurtanut kotimainen Force Majeure ottaa debyytillään eräänlaisen työvoiton. Frozen Chambersin purkittaminen aloitettiin jo parisen vuotta sitten, jolloin tietoa julkaisijasta ei vielä ollut. Kiekosta tuli sen verran vahva, että Low Frequency tarttui syöttiin ja tulokset ovat nyt kaiken kansan kuultavissa. Ja kiviäkin kiinnostaa?
No kyllä pitäisi, sillä Force Majeure on asiansa osaava yhtye. Jätkien esikoinen sisältää vielä omat lastentautinsa, mutta sävellykset ovat kauttaaltaan varsin pätevää tekoa. Lievällä progressiivisuudella maustettu melodinen metalli kulkee vaivattomalla ja reippaalla otteella. Jälki on teknisesti pääosin hyvää, mutta siinä on jäljellä myös tiettyä rosoisuutta ja elävyyttä. Näitä viisuja ei ole pro-toolsilla tapettu.
Yhdeksi vertailukohdaksi voisi esittää kotimaista Afterworldia, jos joku tämän pari pitkäsoittoa julkaisseen yhtyeen vielä sattuu muistamaan. Vokalisti Ricky Tourneen kurkku taipuu varsin korkealle, mutta tarvittaessa äänestä löytyy myös sopivaa ärhäkkyyttä. Kappaleet ovat tarttuvia, mutta eivät varsinaista hittiainesta. Päähän kertalaakista iskeytyvät koukut ovat vähissä, mutta tätä kompensoidaan keskivertoa monipuolisemmilla rakenteilla ja pienillä mehevillä jipoilla.
Pientä miinusta tulee ohuehkosta rumpusoundista, joka on tuo mieleen lähinnä keskivertoa paremman demon. Eipä tuo silti varsinaisesti haittaa, sillä kitaroissa on purevuutta ja musiikin irtonaisen rokkaava fiilis vie mukavasti mennessään. Kelpo debyyttihän tämä.
3/5 tähteä
http://www.vertigo.cd/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2595
Frozen Chambers reviewed @ Archain Metallurgy by Lane
In my review about Force Majeure's last demo 'Gatecrusher (2004), I predicted that the next release from these guys would be a full length album and so my clairvoyant skills are proved: 'Frozen Chambers', the debut album is here!
'Frozen Chambers' present a young, enthusiastic melodic metal band. A band, who are already good in what they do, but who don't have too much originality in their makings. In my ears I hear Force Majeure's metal as a mixture of heavy metal and power metal, mainly sounding pretty German, but also Finnish, of course (to give you some kind of direction, let's throw names such as newer Edguy, Kotipelto [especially the good debut 'Waiting For The Dawn' from 2002, not newer ones] and Freedom Call). There's Force Majeure's best abilities: They way they throw hooks at a listener is admirable, and there really is no expendable material on this album, and energy-filled performances are always pleasurable to listen to. Vocalist Ricky Tournee sounds quite a bit like Tobias Sammet, at times entering Michael Kiske and Timo Kotipelto style high notes. Sadly, bad Kotipelto articulation is also there... Okay, not as strong as Kotipelto's, but still disturbing. But overally the vocals performance is good, and Tournee handles his voice pretty well.
'Gatecrusher' crushes from the speakers with such style that a listener is simply forced to continue listening of the album onto more melody-weaving 'Wings of the Fallen'. Triplets are complete with "the title track" 'Chambers', which owes something to Gamma Ray (Kai Hansen bits in vocals). But the goodies don't end here, because good-time rocker 'Dr. Daydream' is here to give you an injection of fun. More solemn 'I Hear Voices' is another old song, and this updated version kicks ass, no less. The band's melodies and choruses are something to hum to, let me tell you. Hell, we have a five of a kind now! But... Time to calm down, take out your lighter and cry to ballad 'Winter's Tale'. Oh why must there be a ballad/a slow song on every bloody album of this ilk?! Okay, this one ain't too bad, but still it cuts the good flow that was going on for the first five songs. 'Endure the Cold's opening riff is a bit lame, but when a red thread is found a minute or so into the song, it's time to howl the chorus again, and that heavy solo part is just a kick to the balls! 'The Lightbringer Returns' is a middle eastern-ish piece, distantly reminding about the majesty of Kotipelto's debut. Nicely rocking 'Secret Moment' begin with Steve Harris style bass line. Wicked guitar riff-laden 'Dead Times Awaken' is a bit forgettable as a closer, sounding Force Majeure lite.
I don't find the worse song material as the largest stumbling stone of 'Frozen Chambers'. No, I think the production misses angularity. It's just too "nice", especially guitars. Drums and bass, on the other hand, sound well ballsy. All the elements are audible, but there's no adventurism in the production field. Not a single bit.
So the first half of 'Frozen Chambers' is pretty killer, but the second one is just okay for a big part. However, that doesn't mean the last half is needless, because there's some good music heard on it, too. I think this platter is a pretty safe pick for the fans of melodic metal. This definitely stir up expectations towards the band's next effort. Check out this energetic band, that's my simple advice. It's not cold as the cover picture gives to understand, not even close.
Rating: 7+ (out of 10)
Reviewed by Lane
04/30/2008 23:13
http://www.archaicmetallurgy.com/review.php?rid=573