It's hard to believe it's only been five years since Frozen Soul released their debut album, "Crypt Of Ice." Coming out in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, they must have wondered, like so many other bands whose first album came out in those uncertain times, what future, if any, the band would have. By the time their second full length release, "Glacial Domination" came out, they were a fixture on death metal shows in North America and Europe, with fans heralding them as one death metal's best examples of the old school made new, along with such bands as Baest and Gatecreeper. Now, a third album has arrived, and my God, it's worth talking about.

Horror movies were always a present influence on death metal music, and right from the get go, that's clear to hear with the intro of the title track. It perfectly captures that stalking vibe heard in classics like Friday The 13th and Halloween, and best of all, it segues perfectly into the band, who perform this track with all the force of tumbling boulders. Interestingly, the guitar work of Michael Munday and Chris Bonner is the star of the show here, providing a perfect platform for Chad Green's vocals, while also taking command of the song at other times. It's also the first time Gerard Way appears on a song and I didn't immediately turn it off!

Indeed, the entire band is on top form on "No Place Of Warmth," with several songs being led by the rhythm section. "Invoke War," another of the advance singles from the album is a perfect example of this, while "Dreadnought" contains bass that's thicker than mince. Frozen Soul has always had a hardcore element to them, but it's more evident than ever on their third outing, such as on "Chaos Will Reign," which features a breakdown that even people who don't enjoy the style will enjoy. The hardcore is also clear to hear on "Deathweaver," which builds up for about eighty seconds and then turns into an absolute frenzy. The great thing is that the mix of death metal and hardcore doesn't veer into deathcore territory, at least not too much.

While there's plenty of groove, there's no shortage of aggression on offer. "Absolute Zero" was both the first taste of this album, and of this approach. The best way it can be described is, imagine Chad Green standing in front of a block of ice, then punching it into dust in less than a minute. The fury is also present on one of the record's standout songs, "Ethereal Dreams," which encapsulates both savagery and horror creepiness. Meanwhile there's "Frost Forged," which feels like being picked up by King Kong and slammed onto concrete repeatedly, before the album wraps up in serious style in the form of "Killin' Time (Until It's Time to Kill.)" The title is great on its own, but it moves so well and features all of the musical endeavours that have made "No Place Of Warmth" such an enjoyable album, signing it off with an absolute whirlwind of a song.

Frozen Soul made fans with their debut, staked their claim to the stage with their sophomore album, and now, "No Place Of Warmth" stands tall as their first truly great album. They've gone from strength to strength and they've never sounded stronger than they have here. It's fast, it's groovy, it's a titan on a rampage. We've already been treated to some excellent releases in 2026, but this one is head and shoulders above any other death metal album, at least that I've heard, from this year. Frozen Soul's music has been gaining popularity and respect over the past five years, and now there can be no doubt that their place among death metal's young elite cannot be doubted.