ROZARIO – Northern Crusaders

vote
7.0

• Bands:
  ROZARIO
• Duration: 00:50:48
• Available from: 02/20/2026
• Label:

• Pride & Joy Music

Streaming not yet available

This is a truly beautiful album, “Northern Crusaders” by Rozario, a Norwegian band that made its debut in 2023 with the good “To The Gods We Swear” and that now, with even greater experience and confidence in its abilities, returns with a decidedly more solid and convincing work.
Perhaps from a title like the one that accompanies this release (“Crusaders of the North”) one could have expected a more combative and Viking sound, but instead the Nordic quintet focuses on a heavy-power metal that owes a lot to the most representative bands of the new generation, such as Bloodbound and Sabaton, with a pinch of creativity à la Masterplan and without disdaining some links to the 1980s rock of the Scorpions.

Twelve total pieces form a convincing and varied tracklist, where on the positive side we find powerful riffs, which at times could also recall something of Primal Fear, in particular in their more symphonic version of “Seven Seals”, so to speak; many melodies with a good impact then demonstrate how the group led by the good singer David Rosario knows how to create very engaging vocal lines, often using well-placed refrains, supported by full-bodied choirs and some epic atmospheres. On the other hand, however, our band struggles to find a truly personal sound, but it's probably not even what they ask for or want from themselves when they prepare to compose new music.
Unfortunately, not even the production is among the most successful: nothing that serious, but an attentive and trained ear can notice how some songs could trigger an extra gear if one could count on a clearer sound than the current one, and above all a greater depth in the sound of the guitars and drums.

But, beyond this, the songs work and fascinate: in general Rozario prefers more controlled rhythms, which often translate into powerful midtempos capable of hitting step by step, as evidenced by “We Are One” and “Crusader”; the latter in particular is a piece that has all it takes to excite from the first listen, winking a bit at the latest Bloodbound but with certainly more warmth and transport than the more recent productions of the Swedish colleagues. The vibrant “Down Low”, however, is massive and has a modern touch that reminds us of the Greek Firewind, and even the guitar work of the young Taran Lister can be compared, with due proportions, to a six-string big name like Gus G.
And believe us, the enthusiasm and excitement skyrocketed with the scratchy “Sleepless”, with which we were reminded of the great Angel Dust, a German band that we miss so much and that here almost seems to want to be honored with granite riffs bordering on thrash metal.

“Northern Crusaders” is a massive work that strikes thanks to an enveloping sound and songs to be blasted at full volume, making it one of the most interesting productions in the power field during the first part of this metallic year. While waiting for their next step, the Rozarios deserve a full 7 on their report card, the kind that the most severe teachers gave, always demanding the most from their students!