Ice Exiled – Reset The Sky

Ice Exiled
Reset The Sky
Label: Inverse Records
Out: November 29^th, 2024
Playing time: 42:19

Ice Exiled, a powerful force in the Finnish metal scene, offers a refreshing and heavy sound where melodies play a crucial role, seamlessly combining clean vocals and growls into a versatile whole.

With these pithy words, the press release describes the band. The story of Ice Exiled begins in 2016, still under the name ‘Archares’. In the early years, the band played a few concerts in their hometown of Helsinki. During the Corona pandemic they withdrew. The time was used to write new songs. In early 2024, the band re-formed with a new line-up and the current name ‘Ice Exiled’. The EP ‘Civilisation Zero’ was released independently. They have since signed a record deal with Inverse Records. The debut album ‘Reset The Sky’ will be released via this label.

‘Open Fire’ is introduced briefly by acoustic and electric piano. As soon as the instruments kick in powerfully, the announced growls can be heard. Quiet and powerful sections alternate. It tends towards melodic rock with epic choruses. Occasionally, growls are interspersed again. ‘Civilisation Zero’ also starts quietly with guitars and keyboards. Once again, there is an interplay between calm and rock. Growls and clear vocals can also be heard alternately, with the latter predominant. Some riffs provide a Metal feeling. Gentle piano sounds can be heard on ‘Bloodfeud’. The first part is ballad-like, later it becomes anthemic. ‘Chained And Bound’ offers a catchy melody in the mid-tempo range right from the start. There is a short guitar solo towards the end of the song. ‘Reapers Feast’ starts with a synth staccato, but fortunately only shortly. It soon gets heavier with driving riffs. The guitars, the duet vocals and the growls sound a little hectic at times. Once again, you can hear catchy melodies in ‘Face The Night’. The song is also a little quieter. There is also a sing-along chorus. In the second half, the song becomes much heavier with lots of riffs. However, these are slightly softened by an electric piano. ‘Anthropocentrum’ alternates between contemplative ballads and heavier Metal passages. Once again, you can quickly sing along to many parts of the song. ‘The Satellite (We Call Home)’ is once again very catchy. At first, the cello melody dominates, underpinned by guitar riffs and electric piano. We are already familiar with the alternation between ballad, Rock and sometimes even mainstream. However, this is particularly pronounced here.

Yes, the sound on ‘Reset The Sky’ is refreshing and varied. But there is only a little of the advertised ‘heavy sound’ here and there. The beautiful melodies clearly dominate. And yes, there is a harmonious variation between clear vocals and growls. But here, too, everything is very melodic. Above all, Ice Exiled impress with their knack for creating great melodic arcs. A successful Melodic Rock album.

Ice Exiled – Face The Night: https://youtu.be/tlBNBX_OEi8?si=TNXmkg-UY0J71vAA

Lineup:

Miika Matilainen – Vocals
Oskari Kilpi – Guitars, Keyboards
Veikko Sajaniemi – Cello & Vocals
Roger Gottleben – Bass
Juha Savolainen – Drums (live)
Ville Nummisalo – Drums (on album)

Track list:

• Open Fire
• Civilization Zero
• Bloodfeud
• Chained and Bound
• Reapers Feast
• Face the Night
• Anthropocentrum
• The Satellite (We Call Home)