Rioghan releases a haunting reimagening of Madonna’s ‘Frozen’

One of the most intriguing rising names in Finnish metal, Rioghan, begins a new cycle with the release of “Chapter I: Frozen“, the first single from their upcoming ‘Frozen EP’. Known for their blend of modern metal, gothic melancholy, and cinematic atmosphere, Rioghan transforms Madonna’s 1998 hit into a darkly ethereal experience that bridges fragility and crushing heaviness.

The song serves as the first chapter of a story that will continue through the band’s upcoming original material. The ‘Frozen EP’, set for release next spring, will feature five tracks – each accompanied by its own music video. Rioghan worked again with their long-time collaborator Aarni Visuals, and like always, the results are breathtaking.

“We’ve continued our usual way of releasing a new EP after an album. However, this time there’s only one cover song. We were planning a fourth cover EP and wanted to include our own version of Madonna’s ‘Frozen’. But as we began working on it, Valtteri and Teemu started developing a broader narrative idea based on the song – something that could extend into a full EP”, vocalist Rioghan Darcy comments.

“So, we decided to abandon the idea of cover EP entirely, and dive into this alternative path that we could shape into something truly our own. ‘Chapter I: Frozen’ lays the foundation for a heart-melting story rooted in the theme of the ‘Kept’ album.”

This year has been an eventful one for Rioghan. Their sophomore album ‘Kept‘, released in February, debuted at #6 on the Finnish physical album chart and received glowing reviews internationally. Following the release tour, Rioghan joined Finnish alternative pioneers SARA for a show at Helsinki’s Ääniwalli and marked their first-ever festival appearance at the legendary Nummirock.

The momentum continues through the end of the year. On October 31st, Rioghan performed at the H-18 Halloween event at Science Center Heureka, followed by a show at John Smith Frozen Festival in Jyväskylä (November 28th). Both performances are special acoustic shows, offering audiences a new perspective on Rioghan’s world – intimate, mesmerizing, and emotionally powerful.

Rioghan is:
Vocs – Rioghan Darcy
Guitar  – Teemu Liekkala
Guitar – Tero Luukkonen
Bass – Antti Varjanne
Keys – Aleks Toppari
Drums – Valtteri Revonkorpi