A complete review of Iced Earth's career

Written by Thomas, May 2005

trangely enough, when discussing Power Metal with someone, Iced Earth is likely to be mentioned. Even if they are not really comfortably placed in that genre, it is hard to really put a label on Iced Earth. They started as band with heavy thrash roots and have over the years progressed in a way that brings them closer to a more melodic sound and further brought them closer to Power Metal even if the straight heavy metal is the pure base, and always has been for Iced Earth.

So what about this band that is often mentioned but perhaps everyone has not heard? Read on and follow the career of Iced Earth from the first albums - that are overlooked by many - to the latest, and discover a band that has created a unique sound of their own.

Iced Earth (1991) - 4/10

- The start of Iced Earth comes with the self-titled debut and it has an underground feel lying over it. Based in thrash with heavy pounding and some serious riffing but already showing that the songwriting is above the average thrash band, with partly more elaborated music containing harmonies and solos that make you draw parallels towards Iron Maiden. But despite this, there is much to work with for the guys because it is not really a very good album apart from the mighty track When The Night Falls. It only works well with bits and pieces but not in general. And it further suffers from the strained vocals from Gene Adam whose voice is not really suitable for the dark melodic thrash from Iced Earth at this point.

Night Of The Stormrider (1992) - 7/10

- The second album and introducing their second vocalist the band has taken a leap forward. The opening of the album with Angels Holocaust is mighty with samples from O Fortuna from the opera Carmina Burana by classic composer Carl Orff. The songwriting is better and now they have a vocalist that is capable of high-pitches. And as the production is better the sound with an underground feeling is lost. The music has been given a much better flow without that they have compromised with the complexity in the songwriting, and it sounds more apparent that Judas Priest might have been one of their major influences. Highlights include the mighty Angels Holocaust, Stormrider with vocals from Jon Schaffer, Pure Evil with an ongoing pounding and the ten minute epic Travel In Stygian. And even if John Greely really can't keep it together due to his lack of vocal range, Travel In Stygian is long, complex and mighty as it is switching from fast and aggressive to calm and beautifully gives a taste on how Iced Earth would progress with their next album.

Burnt Offerings (1995) - 9/10

- Third album and also third vocalist and finally one that could really do the music of Iced Earth justice, welcome Matthew Barlow. It is dark and epic and at last Iced Earth deliver an album with a decent production. The songwriting has now become even more complex as the music holds somewhat of a move towards a more progressive style of music. The sound is a bit softer and more polished but still with a distinguished onward pounding and also way more varied music than earlier. Still Iced Earth is heavy with clear thrash parts and they are so much more powerful with Barlow, surely a well needed push in the right direction. The mighty opening track in Burnt Offering is still one of their best songs and together with the long and epic closing track Dante's Inferno, Iced Earth give you a taste on all of their wide spectra.

The Dark Saga (1996) - 10/10

- A concept album based on the comic Spawn and it features some amazing artwork done by Todd McFarlane which is the inventor of Spawn. I'm not happy with the comparison but in lack of better ones it can be said that Iced Earth did a Metallica, like they did with the transformation from …And Justice For All to the Black album. With songs that are shorter, more direct and a not as complex album but equally mighty with a great hit factor but also with the production sound. Still with their unique sound intact it is a straighter heavy metal album and also with a really catchy killer track in I Died For You. The vocals from Barlow is absolutely top notch on this album and the epic ending trilogy of songs in The Suffering have obvious traces of their earlier and more complex songwriting. A tip is to read the comic or to see the movie, the story of the album will be so much better when you can visualize it.

Days Of Purgatory (1997) - 10/10

- Re-recorded versions of songs from the first three albums and their demo Enter The Realms from 1988. And when you hear Barlow cover the older tracks it makes you aware of the power that is held within these songs. A fresh and updated sound with a great selection of songs - this is the perfect introduction to the bands earlier days.






Something Wicked This Way Comes (1998) - 8/10

- Musically Something Wicked carries on with a sound similar to The Dark Saga, it was not much that happened between these two albums apart from that there are a couple of slower songs on this one. It is also a bit uneven and with more ups and downs compared to The Dark Saga, which is a very even album, and as the production here is not as great and feels like it has been done in haste with a sloppy sound. And yet again as on the previous album, there is on this album a mighty ending trilogy of songs which is splendid and epic in traditional Iced Earth manner. And once again an album with a catchy killer track and this time it is Melancholy (Holy Martyr) that is slightly reminding of the track I Died For You from the previous album The Dark Saga.

Alive In Athens (1999) - 10/10

- This 3 CD live album was recorded on the nights of January 23rd and January 24th 1999 in Athens, Greece. Iced Earth was the only band who played at the Rodon Club those nights, and they performed in front of sold-out crowds (of approximately 2000 people) both nights. In order to make something special out of the event, they performed two vastly different sets each night, as part of a plan to release a live package with the majority of their catalog on it. The result is a great looking package containing approximatly 3 hours of music with an impeccable sound and an impressive tracklist which leaves nothing behind. Considering the fact that Iced Earth have kind of an monotone and less diverse style then many other bands, it might be too much for even the most hardcore metal fan to digest the whole thing in one sitting but divided and enjoyed in smaller doses - for example one cd per night - this is a must for every fan and as I see it the ultimate Iced Earth collection. A masterpiece in the genre.

Horrow Show (2001) - 8/10

- Everyone loves a horror story right? And on this one you get a whole bunch of them since this is kind of a concept album based on characters from classic horror stories. You got Damien from Omen, the creature from the Black Lagoon, Wolfman, Jack The Ripper, Dracula, Frankenstein and many more creeping personalities. The Horror Show album has a very dark approach and even if it heavy as usual the production has left the album with a softer sound. The album holds an even and fairly good quality right until the end where two epic tracks are to be found, first the track Dracula that starts calmly to then kick into gear with a galloping rhythm with a mighty and melodic refrain. And last but not least is The Phantom Opera Ghost that features female guest vocals and together with some of Barlow's best vocal efforts this epic and complex duet is a diamond in the treasure chest of Iced Earth.

Dark Genesis (2002) - 7/10

- A five album box containing the first demo Enter The Realms and the first three albums plus the Tribute To The Gods album. Re-mastered versions in a great looking box with killer art-work and the older albums sounds a lot better than the originals but with Days Of Purgatory the need for this one becomes superfluous.






Tribute To The Gods (2002) - 5/10

- As many other bands before them even Iced Earth turned themselves into a cover-band for an album. Iced Earth choose to pay tribute to their gods by respectfully follow the original versions without tamper too much with them, but still they managed to make it sound very much of Iced Earth. And perhaps it isn't that strange since they have chosen songs from bands that have inspired them (or rather inspired Jon Schaffer, who is the driving force behind the band). This is an album mainly for the fans because it never becomes too exciting and measured with their own standard it isn't really anything out of the ordinary. Sure, it's professional, but it has the effect that you rather pick out the originals and take them for a spin instead. Includes songs from bands like: Kiss, Blue Oyster, Alice Cooper, AC/DC , Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden.

The Glorius Burden (2002) - 7/10

- Matthew Barlow leaves the band and furthermore leaves the metal scene entirely to start studying the law. Tim "Ripper" Owens that made fame in Judas Priest takes over the vocals and Iced Earth gets a rawer sound with him behind the microphone. The Glorious Burden is released as a two-disc set where the first is the "traditional" album with a classic Iced Earth sound even if the production might feel a bit thin and songs that are a bit up and down in quality. There are some highlights and it is a decent Iced Earth album but it is with the second disc that it gets magnificent. Three songs with a total time of around thirty minutes that illustrates the battle at Gettysburg in 1863. With Jon Schaffer's genius we get a musical illustration of the days in the battlefield in some of Iced Earths greatest metal moments. Furthermore it is done entirely with an orchestra to enrich the metal that brings the second disc up to an entire new level for Iced Earth. Something to be held against them this time is that they are a bit too patriotic and for a non-American it can be hard to take in the fascination for their civil war. A more thorough review can be found here.

The Blessed And The Damned (2004) - 10/10

- A collection worthy of its name. A double album release with material from all of the albums released by Century Media, meaning all but the last one. A perfect introduction to the band for the beginner with a really good selection of songs.

- Related -
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Demons & Wizards - Demons & Wizards (1999) - 8/10

- Demons & Wizards isn't an album from Iced Earth but is surely worthy enough to be mentioning here. It is the side project from two true visionaries in Jon Schaffer from Iced Earth and Hansi Kursh from Blind Guardian. The self titled debut can easily be described as the music from Iced Earth with the vocals from Blind Guardian, and it will most likely attract fans from either of the bands. And if you like both bands I hope you already got this one.

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Members has come and gone in Iced Earth but it is vocalist Matthew Barlow that has made the biggest impression of all, without him I don't think that the band would ever have come to become what they are today. And with Tim Owens now holding a grip on the microphone they have a vocalist that can keep them on the top. But without Jon Schaffer there simply wouldn't be anything at all, he is the consisting force that has steered the band throughout the years and he is what Steve Harris is for Iron Maiden - the songwriter and the glue that holds it all together. And in this moment we are waiting for a DVD from the band based around Gettysburg as well as there is supposedly a new Demon & Wizard album in the works.

Thomas - May 2005