Metal Reviews

After the first few listens I was ready for a major disappointment. Too many songs are all the same pace, and there is nowhere enar enough lead guitar or riffs onthe album.

That said, when you allow yourself to saok in the storyline and appreciate the atmosphere, it really is very good. Not their best, but possibly the best since the original Something Wicked (ok, that's only two albums, but still).

I'm not sure whether to expect the second part to be more direct and aggressive now that the scene has been set.

What is wrong with Horrow Show? That's second only to the original Something Wicked for me.

With the exception of a few songs I like Horror Show the least. The band started sounding stale at that point, which is probably even more reason why Barlowe left aside from helping homeland security in the US.

Stale? I think it's their best album.

I too, really enjoy Horror Show more than any other "Barlow-era" Iced Earth. I think it's the subject matter for me. I love the classic horror monsters. "Wolf" is absolutely my favorite track from that CD. I would say that my second favorite Iced Earth CD would be "The Dark Saga" because I'm such a Spawn fan.

I've heard it multiple times now, and while my first impression was very positive, upon repeated listens, its mainly lost its charm. There are some excellent songs- The Clouding, Ten Thousand Strong, Something Wicked Part I, Framing Armageddon, Something Wicked Part II (an awesome interlude)- but its simply too long, and filled with too many mediocre songs and interludes. It was something I was worried about before the album- Schaeffer simply isn't that creative of a songwriter, and his songwriting cannot support a 19 song long album. On the plus side, Ripper is completely amazing here- this is his best performance ever, methinks, which is saying quite a lot. So, not a bad album, just a bit of a boring and mediocre one, with some excellent songs here and there.

And hey, its nowhere near as boring as The Dark Ride, at least. And people may kill me for this, but I prefer Glorious Burden.

65/100

You'll be happy to hear the next Iced Earth album as you would call it will be released under the name of Pyramaze.

I don't understand this mentality at all. You associate bands with singers instead of songs?

Well a singer does have a great role in delivering emotion and give character to the songs, so yeah. Considering how good Barlow was, Iced Earth changing singer is understandably a disappointment for many, especially when the replacement has such a vastly different style. I think Ripper's a great singer when put into correct use, but he's a dubious choice for Iced Earth - he just doesn't pull off the melodic stuff quite as well and his level of emotion isn't anywhere near that of Barlow (who some people considered overly dramatic, but fuck them I say).

That said, this album is growing on me. Definitely the hardest Iced Earth to get into yet; at the first listen it seemed pretty much catatonic, but repeated listens have appeared to reveal quite a few hidden qualities. Jon Schaffer's riffage isn't anywhere near the form of the old days, hasn't been since 1995 really, but sometimes good songwriting doesn't necessarily equal good riffwriting. The Glorious Burden I thought lacked in most aspects, but Horror Show really kicked ass in places I must say.

I'm getting tired of the these Barlow nuthuggers still emo'n about him leaving IE for once and for all HE'S GONE LIVE WITH IT geez stop crying in your post toasties if you love him so much wait for the new Pyramaze album in the meantime stop crying like little babies for crying out loud

I liked Barlow just as much as the next guy but he's gone and I accepted Owens as the new singer and he really shined on this new album and has gotten more of my respect now.

Well his songwriting has become very formulaic, predictable, and borders on boring. I save judgement for the new CD until I hear it.

If a singer has been with a band for a while, and has helped contribute to their sound, then yes.



None of that applies to Damien, Dracula, The Phantom Opera Ghost... or even Frankenstein.

Or were you just talking about The Glorious Burden?

I have to disagree with most people in here stating this album is predictable. Sure there's the classic Schaffer riffing but the way this sounds and as an experience this is like nothing he has ever done before. This is ambitious, grandiose, epic, emotional and exciting. As far as individual songs go this might not be anything extraordinary overall, but listening to this album when fully concentrated is a different experience altogether than any other Iced Earth album, and a very enjoyable one. Not to say that there aren't any songs that couldn't stand on their own, for example Framing Armageddon is in my opinion Iced Earth at their most wicked and ballcrushingly metal since Burnt Offerings.

I can't really compare this to past Iced Earth albums because it's different in style and concept. I won't bother with those saying this album is predictable, because I certainly didn't see this coming. Except for the guitars I can't see how this sounds like past Iced Earth albums. I actually have to agree somewhat with Ken on this one, "When hate mode is locked on..." The bashers are what's boring and predictable here.

Nailed it. Those songs, plus Wolf, is pretty much exactly the reason I still have faith in Jon as a songwriter.

Here's my position that I wrote above:

IMHO I wouldn't point the finger at either vocalist. I fault Jon Schaffer. Musically, he's is in a huge rut. The guy just keeps regurgitating the same riffs over and over again. Plus, ( and I could be wrong) isn't Jon the main or only songwriter for IE? I put the onus squarely on his shoulders. Other than the big 3 song Gettysburg thing at the end of The Glorious Burden, I feel that the rest of his most recent material is really mediocre at best. Even the last Demons and Wizards CD was mediocre.

&

I too, really enjoy Horror Show more than any other "Barlow-era" Iced Earth. I think it's the subject matter for me. I love the classic horror monsters. "Wolf" is absolutely my favorite track from that CD. I would say that my second favorite Iced Earth CD would be "The Dark Saga" because I'm such a Spawn fan.

Further, ( and I don't know if the comment above was aimed at me persay) I am no way locked in hate mode. I wrote in a previous post that I'm reserving judgment for the new IE release until I hear it. I'm just discussing Schaffer's work on TGB, D&W (TBTCK), and the latest EP.

Very well put. I would go on and say that not only isn't Barlow a match for Tim in versatility, but actually very few vocalists are. And those that are, they don't usually have his power. After this album, I think Tim showed quite clearly that he needs to be placed in the same category with singers like Halford, Dickinson or Tate.

Furthermore, to say Tim is a Halford copycat shows only how little one knows about the Ripper era in Judas Priest. While he can emulate Halford perfectly if he wishes, Tim did, in fact, sang in a totally different manner from Rob's on both albums with Priest, and especially on his debut on Jugulator. He had such a raw approach, very aggressive but in a very different way from Halford's in Painkiller (which is Halford's most aggressive vocal work), with tremendous power in his lower registers and only occasionaly go for the high piercing scream. To listen to Jugulator and to label Tim as a Halford wannabe denotes only superficiality.

Anyone know what's on the 2cd version? I will get a copy soon just bought a lot lately busy month for releases.

Everyboy is talking about this new Pyramaze album when does it come out?

That's what I want to know...

This may open a full can of worms,

but alot of bands replace singers. There will always be haters and praisers. There is nothing you can do with that except live with it.

Personally I look at bands when they change as a different band, a different era. It is possible for someone to like both versions. I like both the Joey and John era of Anthrax. I am sure I will like the new Thrax no matter who the singer is. Same goes with IE. I like all the eras. Some of my favorite songs are from Horror Show etc, but hey I love Stormrider and Barlow didnt even sing on that album. Framing Armageddon is one of my fave albums by IE. I do think that Ripper is at his best on this album. Its like finally he has gotten used to the bike and can ride it around the block without falling. I really cannot wait until part 2 comes.

There are still haters around that don't think Maiden is Maiden without Paul Di'Anno. Just have to live with change.

It should be released sometime during spring 2008, I think they are supposed to start recording the instruments this autumn and the vocals early 2008.