Forming way back in 2009, Freeze The Atlantic have been through a lot. Throughout their line up changes and the challenges that have come with it, one thing has always been consistent; their love and passion for music and all the hard work that goes with it.
We challenged the band to pick their ultimate albums. Their selections weren’t half bad at all.
Tom Stevens (Guitar) – Figure 8 by Elliott Smith
It’s an incredible album. Effortlessly brilliant, understated and ingeniously crafted: every song is so beautiful in its own right. It contains some of my all-time favourite songs and the production from Rob Schnapf is incredible.
Jon Pearce (Bass) Deftones – Diamond Eyes
Having been a fan of the band for nearly two decades, I am still genuinely excited by each release from them. Their live shows have arguably become even stronger throughout the years, which has allowed them to remain firmly in the limelight, whilst many of their peers have faded away. This album pushed the boundaries of what they had achieved before. The record is both heavier and more melodic than their previous efforts and although perhaps not as critically acclaimed as some of their earlier work, I find this album truly inspiring.
Guy Davis (Drums) Smashing Pumpkins – Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
It is an album that will remain with me for the rest of my life. It’s heavy, mellow, beautiful and twisted and interests me so much. It’s rich with melodies, riffs and hooks and I’m a huge fan of Jimmy Chamberlin’s drumming. I saw them in 1997 when they toured this record and I remember the atmosphere set by the lighting and projections, something that stuck with me and I think of when I listen to it now. 10/10 in my opinion.
Andy Gilmour (Guitar) – Paul Simon – Graceland.
Born from the frustrations of his personal/private life at the time and his obsession with a bootleg South African township music tape he was given. Paul Simon decamped to Johannesburg to record what would be one of the most sublime albums ever made. It is a rare album that you can listen to whenever and wherever you are and still bring a smile to your face. It will always remain in my top 5 albums ever! Lovely stuff.
Liv Puente (Vocals) – Iron Maiden – Live After Death
Bit of a cheat there I know. This is more of a ‘live best of’ than an album but this is definitely one of my all-time favourite records by anyone, ever. Every time I hear it, it transports me back to my teenage years when I used to synchronise my walkman with the only two metalheads in my school and air guitar my way down the corridors. Isn’t it incredible how a song or album can take you back like that? For me it captures Maiden at their pinnacle, every single song is killer and to this day, it’s still one of the only albums that gives me goose bumps. Especially the song ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’. What a masterpiece. That one gets me every time! Scream for me Long Beach!!