Album Review: Achelous – The Icewind Chronicles (No Remorse Records)

The Icewind Chronicles is the sophomore full-length album from atmospheric and melodic metal band, Achelous. It will be released on March 17th, 2022 via No Remorse Records.

Mellow but cold, the icy melody that greets on Northern Winds will chill to the bone, even if it is relaxing. Slowly but surely and effectively, it transitions into a thumping and powerful blast of epic heavy metal. Achelous unleashing a battling war cry of stateliness.

The sense of epic is certainly helped by lyrics that are based on R.A. Salvatore’s Icewind Dale trilogy.

Flames of War is the opposite in tone. Less chilling, more heated. The energetic groove of the guitars, galloping drum and bass beat, and grandiose vocals combine to create something that can simply be called ‘heavy freaking metal’. A ripping guitar solo is the icing on this cake.

Though the real highlight comes with the chunky and crunchy metal meat of Savage King. A thrilling head-banger that still heavily features the melodic lavishness that Achelous has portrayed so far. This is what the words ‘larger-than-life’ were meant for.

Though the tempo shift and change up in vocals of Mithril Hall are certainly not far off that too.

Hell, it continues into the chest-thumping and head-banging heaviness of The Crystal Shard, the exceedingly strong story-telling of Halfling’s Gem and the unbelievable power of Face the Storm. Each track, a grand and intense offering that is rooted in the classic sound of heavy metal but twisted and shaped into something far more extravagant.

So, it’s no surprise that Outcast wraps up the album in style too. A melodramatic keyboard melody, morose vocals and building guitar rhythm leads to a shift that sees the track get heavier and more metal orientated. Though, with a thick vein of melody running through it.

Achelous – The Icewind Chronicles Full Track Listing:

1. Northern Winds
2. Flames of War
3. Savage King
4. Mithril Hall
5. The Crystal Shard
6. Halfling’s Gem
7. Face the Storm
8. Outcast

Links

Bandcamp | Facebook | No Remorse Records