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I actually came very close to downloading this EP, as it's been leaked for a fairly long time. But decided not to. I'll probably buy it on iTunes when it comes out next month.

I did, however, hear some samples from it and definitely liked what I heard. One thing I've especially noticed is how the band seems a lot more confident now with Tim Owens than they did three years ago on The Glorious Burden. On that record, it sounded like Schaffer was sort of trying to adjust his sound a bit so that it would suit Owens' vocal style. Here, however, the band sounds much more comfortable and Owens sounds more "at home."

Overall, I definitely look forward to both the official release of this EP and the official release of the new Iced Earth album.

I have decided to not spoil myself and wait until the full album comes out- I don't like listening to individual songs on concept albums by themselves. Initial reviews were bad and I was worried, but its also recieved a lot of positive press since then, so I'm definitely looking forward to it.

Is there any reason why they decided to re-record these three songs?

I'm also waiting for the full album, never was a great fan of singles, demos or EPs.

I think it's just that it's been nearly a decade and a couple albums since the originals. Schaffer is probably in a different place musically now, and for those not familiar with the originals, it makes a msooth transition.

Eh, I'll just continue waitng for the actual album. I'm sure this EP is a nice fill-in while waiting, but after the album is released this will be worthless.

This isn't some random EP that IE put out just to support their upcoming album.Basically they redid the SWTWC trilogy so if you aren't going to buy it just for the single 10,000 Strong then buy it for the remade trilogy.IMHO I don't think it would be worthless just on that basis alone.

I just got back from the Music store to pick up the new Megadeth, and they didn't even have the Iced Earth EP. If I find it somewhere for cheap I'll consider it.

I don't think it's out in stores yet.The release date according to Amazon.com is June 5th.

Jon re-recorded the trilogy at SPV's behalf. They wanted something to tie the orginal story line songs into the new double album so Jon decided to do this.


I think the new song is pretty bad ass. It's also a "single" type song. 10000 Strong is short, to the point, and has a memorable chorus. This is a DOUBLE ALBUM so expect a shitload of epic songs and arrangements. For people crying about the "horrible new trilogy" this isnt on any of the albums it is just a bonus for people who buy the single.

I've never really gotten into IE, but after magnificient Tim Owens joined the band I got my hands on The Glorious Burden. The style is very close to their previous record, but the songwriting is way better. This song could would have fitted well that album and would have easily been the best song on that record. The chorus in this song must be one of the catchiest I ever heard in metal...

However, I still think that IE comes out sounding a bit thin, which I always thought has always been by far the biggesr prolblem with the band. I think they could definately make use of a second guitarist or could have used the symphony orchestra as they did on their last album...

They've had an army of second guitarists, but since Randall Shawver left, Jon has recorded just about every guitar part exceot from the solos. Its not like only having one steady guitarist means you can only have one guitar track per song. The songs are written for two guitarists. The thin sound just comes from sub-par production.

I SPENT ALL MY MONEY ON ALCOHOL!!!! NOOOOOOOOOO

I went ahead and d/l-ed this today on the standard premise that I would buy it if I liked it. Thankfully this sort of thing exists to prevent me from making such a mistake, as in this case.

I enjoy the brand new song. If this is indicative of the work for the new CD, I'll certainly be picking it up on release date. The reworked SA trilogy, however, is awful. One major complaint is the elimination of all the soft parts from the original, such as the soft opening on "The Prophecy" and the piano outro at the end of "The Coming Curse". Another thing I dislike is it feels like Owens is singing the same way through almost the entirety of the three songs. It might be because I still have the impression of the old versions of these songs in my head, so when I hear Owens singing them it just feels flat and almost monotone in comparison with Barlow, but I really do not like his vocals on the reworked songs.

In order to enjoy the newer trilogy you can't compare it to the originals.You have to have an open mind about this in order to really like it.Barlow and Owens are 2 different singers so Jon is going to cater to Owens voice that is why he changed some of the trilogy.If you are continuing to compare Owens to Barlow there is no way anyone is going to appreciate this on its own merits.

If you come into this with an open mind you'll be surprised that you might actually enjoy this and the up coming albums.

Honestly, I haven't listened to the new version, but I think you're a little off in this post. Saying you can't or shouldn't compare the new version to the old is absurd. If Jon intended it to be a work that stands entirely on its own and without comparison, he'd have named it something else and/or written something entirely new. If something is a remake, you're going to compare it to the original. That's part of why it's a remake in the first place (or to capitalize on an existing name). Not comparing them at all is just as much of an injustice as not giving them any consideration on an individual level is.

Having an "open mind" is a bit of a moot point here as well. Not just because we're talking about a remake, but because once you've heard an album from a band and have familiarized yourself with them, you never approach any later works with the same openness that you did the first time. And Iced Earth is not exactly (and has never been) a band that really keeps you guessing as to what they're going to do next either. Even their lineup changes are predictable.

I still haven't listened to the last album. Not because of the vocalist change but more because the only album I ever really cared for was Burnt Offerings. I keep meaning to give their newer stuff a listen out of curiosity though, so maybe I'll try this or the new album whenever it gets released. As someone who hasn't listened to the band at all since Owens joined, it might make the remake of the trilogy an especially interesting listen.

-Tyrion

I agree with you the point of what I'm trying to say is that the problem of comparing remakes is that a remake could be either as equaly good if not better then the original but certain fans see a remake as a bastardized version of the original and won't give the remake a chance even if that remake is a fine piece of art in itself staring at their faces.

For example King Kong.Peter Jackson's remake was pretty damn good and IMHO better then the original and I'm not talking about the special effects either.Now you have your die hard King Kong fans of young and old that love the original a lot but spat on the remake because they thought it was an insult to the original.If they had a clear mind they would have seen that the remake had some great qualities not seen in the original.

Now I'm not saying the remake of the SWTWC trilogy is better then the original what I'm saying is that people should look at it on its own merit and try not to really compare it to the original otherwise they won't see that the remake has its own qualities because they don't want to see it because they really really love the original and in their own mind it can't be either improved on or have it's own redeeming factors.

I'm hoping I'm making sense here I do see your point of view but I'm just making a POV on a different plane.

You know, when you say something like this, it implies that if someone dislikes something then they weren't originally approaching it with an open mind, which is a patently silly statement.

Now, if I were to approach the songs in a vacuum without comparison to the originals, I'd still find my original statements to be true regarding Owens' vocals. On those three songs sounds he flat, lifeless and just going through the (vocal) motions, which in turn brings down the quality of the whole production.

To use your King Kong reference and analyze it independent of the previous works, his vocals were the equivalent of the long, drawn-out and unnecessary boat and jungle scenes that padded an extra hour or so onto the film.


Not sure if this was your intent, but this implies that I don't like Owens work with IE, which is false as I really enjoyed TGB and the new song on this EP. I just didn't like the redone songs.

Ok before you and Tyrion gang rape my ass on this let me clarify what I'm trying to say.

I'm seeing all over the boards bad reviews on this most of it is because people are still on Barlow's nuts and can't accept that fact that Jon wanted to remake this on a different plane.Had it sounded exactly like the originals then people would expect the new albums to sound like it.What Jon wanted to do is set up the new albums by delievering the new trilogy in the same light as the upcoming albums.If there wasn't any new albums coming up then the arguments and complaints would have merit but people aren't seeing this they just say "oh it's not the same so it's no good".

Jon warned everyone before hand on what to expect but already people were dismissing this right off the bat not knowing that this was supposed to be a nice set up for the new albums.

I'm not jumping down on you by any means because you have every right to your opinion all I was saying is that if some people see it in a different plane then what it was before maybe they would enjoy the newer trilogy instead of bashing it(not refering to you of course)because it isn't 100% like the originals not realizing that it wasn't supposed to be in the first place.

But hey at least you aren't like those other stupid fanboys that just can't accept that Barlow is gone so they cry and cry and cry.