ROZARIO – Northern Crusaders

Northern Crusaders (2026) is the sophomore album by Norwegian heavy metal band Rozario. It is the follow-up to their ecstatic debut album, To the Gods We Swear (2023). Named after lead vocalist David Rosario, cleverly replacing the “s” with a “z,” the band combines big and meaty riffs with soaring melodic vocals and catchy hooks. Whether it was planned or not, most of the songs on Northern Crusaders have a war theme going on, which works well, given the album title. The lineup that plays on the album includes Rosario on lead vocals, Stein Hjertholm on guitars, Taran Lister on guitars, Anders Halsan Engum on bass guitar, and Per Helge Bruvoll on drums. Similar to how producer Robert John “Mutt” Lange was like a sixth member of Def Leppard, producer Trond Holter is the unofficial sixth member of Rozario, capturing the band’s signature sound from their debut album.

Going into the Battle of Melodic Goodness

The band takes great pride in their ability to write anthemic choruses and out-of-this-world melodies, which is exactly what they showcase throughout the whole album. Starting off with the powerful and mighty “Fire and Ice.” Rosario’s vocals are perfectly blended with the charismatic and luscious backing vocals. “We Are One,” not to be confused with pop rock band Fun’s similarly titled “We Are Young,” despite both songs having a similar concept, highlights the importance of a good rhythm section with Engum holding down the groove with a pulsing bass line. The higher key change during the song’s finale shouldn’t work, but it does. “Down Low” is a midtempo rocker with a monstrous groove and blitzing guitar playing.

“Die Like Warriors” is painfully corny, but its optimistic spirit is breathtaking and inspiring. The victims have accepted their fate and are prepared to go down with dignity. “Until the Gods Are Calling” has a piercing guitar riff and melodic hooks galore. The backing vocals add icing to the cake with perfection. “Sleepless” is a gorgeous and orchestral number, mixed with beautiful acoustic guitar melodies and a meaty bass line, that lays a fine line between a ballad and an infinite banger. “The Warning” has an infectious groove with a singalong chorus that’s a lot of fun, despite the seriousness of the song’s message. “Betrayed” is the heaviest and darkest song on the album. With a somber and terrorizing atmosphere, the instrumentation does not disappoint with a menacing bass line, a swaggering groove, and a killer guitar riff.

Final Assessment

Northern Crusaders is a wonderful listen where every track sonically sounds amazing, thanks to the modern production, and the instrumentation is excellent, allowing the whole band to shine. Hjertholm and Lister deliver lots of shredding and tasteful riffs, while Engum and Bruvoll maintain a solid foundation, preventing the songs from going off course rhythmically. Rosario is not the greatest singer in the world, but the backing vocals are the secret weapon to this band’s sound, much like how Def Leppard’s backing vocals play a big part in their distinct and recognizable sound. For those who are interested in tasteful and melodic heavy metal, give Rozario’s Northern Crusaders a chance!

Album Tracklist

1. Fire and Ice
2. We Are One
3. Down Low
4. Free…Forever
5. Crusader
6. Coming Home
7. Die Like Warriors
8. Until the Gods Are Calling
9. Sleepless
10. The Warning
11. Haunted by the Past
12. Betrayed

Band Lineup

David Rosario – lead vocals
Stein Hjertholm – guitars
Taran Lister – guitars
Anders Halsan Engum – bass guitar
Per Helge Bruvoll – drums

Check out the music video for “We Are One” from Rozario’s Northern Crusaders!