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Coldspell: A New World Arise
Coldspell - A New World Arise CD Album Review

Coldspell: A New World Arise

Modern Melodic Heavy Metal
3.5/5.0

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Escape Music
Review: Craig Hartranft
Added: 13.09.2017

From the chill of northern Sweden, Coldspell returns with their fourth long player, A New World Arise, after a four year absence. Surprisingly, the band also remains intact with the four principal players: Niclas Svedentorp (v), Michael Larsson (g), Chris Goldsmith (b), and Per Johansson (d). Coldspell gets keyboard assistance from long time collaborator Matti Eklund, but also from Jona Tee (Heat) and Ged Rylands (Tyketto/Rage Of Angels).

Coldspell Band Photo

Coldspell

After a first spin of A New World Arise, I wanted to say that not much has changed for Coldspell in four years. But after another turn, it seems Coldspell has turned their musical formula on it's head. Instead of melodic hard rock with a metal edge, they're delivering heavy metal with subtle hard rock groove. This is mostly heard in the riffage which seems thicker and sharper than before. Moreover, the sharpness borders on harshness, giving Coldspell's music another characteristic: a modern metal tone. Additionally, while still propelling the hard rock groove, the rhythm section also has a thicker and thundering heaviness. With all this going on it's surprising that vocalist Niclas Svedentorp is heard in the songs. But thanks to the mix and mastering by studio wizard Tommy Hansen his head is above the heavy metal water, if only gasping for breath.

So, essentially, the above explanation describes most every song within A New World Arise. For the modern heavy metal sharpness look to Forevermore, Wait Til Tomorrow, Call Of The Wild, or Losin' My Mind. If there's any song that truly revisits the melodic hard rock groove it's possibly This Is Me; it has a catchy swing to it. But the most interesting song here is Love Me Like You Do, a heavy metal song with Southern rock references from what sounds like a Dobro or steel guitar.

While Coldspell may be advancing in a slightly new direction, I found their venture into modern melodic metal to be acerbic, harsh, and wearisome. Enough so to say that I didn't find A New World Arise all that pleasing. Listen to Call of the Wild below. You may feel differently.



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The Bottom Line

While Coldspell may be advancing in a slightly new direction, I found their venture into modern melodic metal to be acerbic, harsh, and wearisome. Enough so to say that I didn't find A New World Arise all that pleasing.

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