After hearing Ice Vinland's debut, Masters of the Sea, it's easy to understand why it didn't garner much attention when it was originally released 13 years ago. 1998 was not a kind time for Heavy Metal. The band from Quebec has kept their banner flying, though, and 2011 sees the re-issue of Masters of the Sea, courtesy of Pure Steel Records. Perhaps the time for Ice Vinland is at hand.
Masters of the Sea is a blend of the loose, energetic NWOBHM style, complete with galloping bass lines, and a more keyboard-supported epic style, like Warlord. Singer Damien Leif has a high voice that is not unlike Lizzy Borden or John Arch, though wilder and less powerful. The songs on Masters of the Sea tend to be on the long side with most exceeding six minutes and all over five. There is a lot of spoken word, presumably to move the story of the songs forward, but I found it distracting. Musically the songs are above average and quite enjoyable while Leif's singing takes some getting used to and, for me, hinders them a bit.
Good, solid Heavy Metal, with slightly questionable vocals, is what you can expect from Ice Vinland's debut. It's great to see a band that has been at it for a long time get some recognition. They've certainly had some time to work on new material, with only 2007's Vinland Saga between 1998 and 2011 so here's hoping Ice Vinland have something special lined up for album #3.
