Artist: Immortal Souls Album: Ice Upon the Night Label: Facedown Records Rating: 7 out of 10

Combining the vocal stylings of black-metal mavens Dimmu Borgir with the driving riffs of power-metallers Iced Earth, Immortal Souls' recently-released Ice Upon the Night is a reason for fans of all heavy music to rejoice. Hailing from the frigid shores of Finland, the band makes their American debut with Ice, which is licensed by predominantly-Christian hardcore and punk label Facedown Records. Acquiring US rights to this album was a smart move, because once word gets out about the Immortal Souls' powerful assault, metal fans will definitely be seeking them out. Ice's second track, "Welcome to North," sums up the band's strengths most aptly. Combining a surprisingly-catchy, classic metal chorus with more modern-styled verses, "Welcome" is topped off with furious harmonized lead guitar work that most new-metal bands couldn't touch. Like that song, Ice is pretty consistently a guitar player's (or guitar fan's) dream, as nearly every track is filled with blistering leads that are also beautifully melodic. In contrast, bassist and singer A. Sarkioja's vocals are downright scary, marrying the guttural growl of black and death metal bands with the high-pitched scream of metalcore mavens Zao. Together, they form a dual attack on the senses. But what sets Immortal Souls apart from many of their contemporaries is the songwriting skill evidenced throughout Ice. Most of the tracks here rely on classic verse-chorus song structures, which allows standouts like "Sacrifice" and "Edge of the Frost" to offer potent hooks as well as brutal music. Some of the heavier cuts do begin to bleed together, but thankfully the Souls are the rare metal band that understands the importance of contrast. Accordingly, they dial back the distortion on a couple of Ice's later tracks, allowing the melodies to come to the forefront. "You" and "Man of Sorrow" both offer stripped-down verses with melodic vocals delivered in deep, resonant tones reminiscent of Queensryche singer Geoff Tate in his lower register. Of course, the clean-toned arpeggios delivered by guitarists E. Sarkioja and Pete Loisa do give way to headbanging riffs at times, but the juxtaposition works. In addition to giving your neck a break, these moments of calm before the storm also offer an opportunity to discern some of the band's darkly-poetic lyrics. On the former track, Sarkioja seems to be speaking from the perspective of God as he sings, "I wait alone in the dark for the gates to unfold./You are far and distant...and so cold./ Thee so weak in belief/ Everything you must see/ But I'm the breath of wind." Elsewhere, Sarkioja offers a bleaker outlook, but even on "Suicidealive," he still offers a glimmer of hope. "They try to hide the tears and look away," he sings. "But they just stare at my scars./ My broken heart pumped the blood/ out of my broken veins./ A new start I will seek, mind is strong but body weak./ I await my heart to heal." It's only March, but Immortal Souls clearly have one of 2004's best heavy albums on their hands with Ice Upon the Night. Rock fans turned off by the often-sacriligious and violent lyrics of black metal should be pleased with the Souls' more positive lyrical bent. And for those who like a little melody with their moshing, Ice has that in spades. If winter sounds this good, who needs spring anyway? - Todd Thatcher