Ice Fortress - Arctic Crusade
  Genre: Power Metal
  Release Date: 2007
  Label: Unsigned
  Band Web Site:

Ice Fortress is truly a young and driven band hell bent on freezing all comers in their tracks. The Virginia Beach-based power metallers released their previous demo Titans Of Augmoor last year (a review can be found on this site), and while it lacked polish in spots, one thing it never lacked was spirit. Full of dizzying solos, epic passages, and rocket-fueled riffing, the demo showcases a rough yet talented band getting ready to leave the caves and unleash havoc on all who oppose. But the path to metal glory is never easy, and after the release of Titans Of Augmoor, the lineup of Ice Fortress changed dramatically. Founding member and drummer Ben Rictor was replaced by Evan Phillips, and guitarist Patrick Williams was shown the door a short while later. The band had little trouble finding a suitable replacement for Williams, as newcomer Kelan Hudson brought a strong presence to the rhythm guitar slot. Another founder would soon fall victim to fate as bassist Tom Mason had to leave because of college, leaving only guitarist/vocalist Peyton Gregory from the original lineup that formed in 2004. Things could not get any worse…wait…never say that! Keyboardist Scotty Paparone was soon forced to leave Ice Fortress by his parents, who wanted him to focus more on his studies. Man, parents will never understand metal!

Would the anti-metal forces stop our young heroes? HELL NO! Undaunted, Gregory found new bassist Jon Zerbonia to complete the lineup (sans keyboards) and was hell bent to show their growing legions of faithful that the Ice Fortress was stronger than ever! As the new lineup emerged from their own Groat Studios in early 2007, they were confident that their new EP Arctic Crusade would make all of their previous work pale in comparison. Well, now, if you think for one second that Ice Fortress had lost their fighting spirit, you haven’t heard anything yet!

A solemn keyboard intro sounds what appears to a funeral requiem in remembrance of all the trials Ice Fortress has gone through, but then a cymbal crash and a 0-to-60 in .5 seconds blitz of savage melodic riffing begins the titanic monster that is the opening track “Crusade Of The Arctic Wastelands”. As the guitars and drums begin their march, the menacing narrative vocals of Gregory enter the whirlwind. His delivery is much more confident, gritty and controlled than on Titans, and his quicksilver guitar leads dance atop the rock hard foundation of Hudson’s backing chords and the machine gun skin pounding of Phillips. The keyboard solo is excellent…but I wonder who played it? (The keyboards on this EP are unaccredited). What a beginning to the arctic assault which is on the way…wait…it’s already begun!

We all know tornadoes are only spawned in warm weather, but what would a tornado be like if it was spawned in the dead of winter? Well, if it was anything like the second track “Eternal Flame”, it would be a rip-your-skin-off-your-face, instant frostbite affair that would leave you gasping your last in the falling snow. The harmony solos and the take-no-prisoners leads of Gregory unite with more mind-melting keyboards to create a blizzard that will vanquish all in its path. Fire and ice unite with deadly results!

The catchy power metal anthem “Hammer Of Thor” resurfaces again on Arctic Crusade, and while the early version only hinted at the power of which Ice Fortress was capable, the new version adds more polish, a tighter arrangement, and a stronger vocal performance. This is easily one of the best tracks in the band’s ever growing body of work, and I am anxious to hear this song, as well as all of their other offerings, in a live environment. I have a feeling it would totally kill!

Like a ‘69 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda, when Ice Fortress fires up the speed metal engine, it is hard to slow down! “Valor” is yet another leap into the maelstrom of the frozen tundra wastes. Our heroes forge on powered by some tight harmonies, machine gun double bass tap dancing, and the solos are so epic that no army ever assembled could defend against them! You line ‘em up, and Ice Fortress keeps knocking ‘em down!

Who is the keyboardist on this demo? According to the liner notes, his name is “Unknown”…well, you know what? I wish our mystery guest would enter and sign in please because his lightning quick ivory work unites with perfection to the lead riff on “A Wizard’s Requiem”. If he’s just a session player, I think they need to see if they can draft him full time! Good track.

The vocals of Peyton Gregory take on almost a black metal quality on “Eye Of The Shadows” and they compliment the gritty leads and piledriving chords, making it probably the most purely aggressive track on the EP. The boys know how to write a memorable twin harmony, and they come out to play in full force on this one! Another winner!

“Dragonlord” is another track from Titans that makes a return performance on Crusade. After listening to both versions side by side, it is almost like you are hearing a completely different band! Where the band has stumbled before, now they confidently shove aside the doubters with their heavy handed leads, drums that never fail to destroy…just listen for yourself! The final track on Arctic Crusade seems to be a victory cry for a band that was nearly destroyed, but has emerged from the turmoil stronger than ever.

Stronger than ever…I keep using that phrase over and over again, and for a damn good reason! The lineup of Ice Fortress circa 2007 is without a doubt the strongest lineup that the Virginia Beach hell raisers have fielded to date. Guitarist and vocalist Peyton Gregory seems to have taken all the anger and frustrations of the past year and used it to add extra punch to his high octane string melting and increased confidence in his creative and unique vocal style. Still narrative in its delivery, he has become a power metal bard that is perfectly suited for delivering gritty tales of ice, dungeons, and dragons at 7800 RPM. It took me a while to get used to it, but now I really enjoy it! Rhythm guitarist Kelan Hudson is now Gregory’s six-string tag team partner, and he has also tried his hand at songwriting. The two unite with deadly results! Bassist Jon Zerbonia and drummer Evan Phillips make the Ice Fortress wrecking crew into a rampaging mastadon that can stomp the lifeblood out of all who stand in their way. You could say that the shakeup of 2006 was the best thing that could have ever happened to Ice Fortress.

The trials by fire (or should I say “by ice”?) that Ice Fortress has endured on their path to Arctic Crusade did not destroy them. One listen to this latest offering will tell you that they emerged from the battle with no marks or scars, and just a trail of broken and frozen bodies of unbelievers left in the snow by the roadside. Do not miss this EP because it is a powerful testament to the will of perseverance that lives in us all who have metal blood running through their veins!

Review written by: Matt B.        
Date: August 22, 2007
Rating: 4 stars out of 5