Iced Earth - Dystopia (#7426)

metalgod · **Joined:** Thu Sep 16, 2004 12:50 am **Posts:** 5515

You're welcome to comment on:

Quote:

Iced Earth - Dystopia
Heavy Metal
Quoted: 83 / 100

Click here to see the review.

MetalStorm · **Posted:** Tue Nov 08, 2011 12:39 am

Oh man this album is totally fucking the shiznet. a solid 95 for me and Stu does an excellent job of filling the void left by Barlow :dio:

Cannibal Valter · **Posted:** Tue Nov 08, 2011 2:02 am

didn't listen to it yet but the wait will soon be over and I'm pretty sure that this will fucking rock my ears off!!! :dio:

juannaman · **Joined:** Tue Jan 20, 2009 12:53 pm **Posts:** 360

fucking hell from what i heard from this it's very good even though the feel is very different from other iced earth stuff but i can hear alot of matt barlow in stu's voice

Jeff@Metalreviews · **Posted:** Tue Nov 08, 2011 2:16 am

I like the new singer Ripper Barlowe! :dio:

Masshole McDinglenuts · **Joined:** Tue Sep 13, 2011 9:23 am **Posts:** 474

This album is fantastic. Easily one of their best.

And I agree about "Days of Rage." It's a cool tune, but feels unfinished to me.

Wivian · **Joined:** Wed Aug 31, 2011 5:50 pm **Posts:** 613

I agree with the score and killer songs selection. Probably the best they`ve recorded since the original Something Wicked album.

SolarSoul25 · **Joined:** Wed Dec 22, 2010 5:14 pm **Posts:** 622

I agree with Zad on this one. The album is definitely a step back into more traditional territory for Iced Earth, which is exactly what fans have been craving. Stu is an excellent replacement, and the best of both worlds between Tim and Matt (though certainly not a replacement of Matt, more like a successor to his legacy).

Aside from what has been mentioned, I personally think that Equilibrium is a highlight track. I love the movie, and the concept behind it, and this track just stands out to me along with V. Days of Rage is probably the weakest non-ballad track in my mind, too short and repetitive to really do anything for me. Boiling Point also doesnt do much for me for that reason, just dissappoingly short lived for such great potential.

Bruce_Bitenfils · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2011 2:42 am

Alright, it clicked. Good album, good review, spot on score.

Goat · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2011 11:01 am

Bruce_Bitenfils wrote:

Alright, it clicked. Good album, good review, spot on score.

The Evil Dead · **Posted:** Thu Nov 10, 2011 3:31 pm

All you really need is Stormrider and Something Wicked. These guys are such a mess. Everything Horror Show and past are pretty mediocre. Who's their singer? Barlow going to come back another time? We're getting the Ripper next album instead of Stu? :lol:

FlickoftheSwitch · **Posted:** Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:46 pm

The Evil Dead wrote:

All you really need is Stormrider and Something Wicked. These guys are such a mess. Everything Horror Show and past are pretty mediocre. Who's their singer? Barlow going to come back another time? We're getting the Ripper next album instead of Stu? :lol:

Huh?

The Evil Dead · **Posted:** Sat Nov 12, 2011 10:51 pm

Exactly.

GeneralDiomedes · **Posted:** Sun Nov 13, 2011 10:53 pm

Previewed on the 'tube .. will definitely be picking up ASAP. I love STUs voice, lets hope he can establish a long term working relationship with Jon.

For me it picks up right where Crucible of Man left off, with improved songwriting and a faster pace.

Bruce_Bitenfils · **Posted:** Sun Nov 13, 2011 11:08 pm

GeneralDiomedes wrote:

Previewed on the 'tube .. will definitely be picking up ASAP. I love STUs voice, lets hope he can establish a long term working relationship with Jon.

For me it picks up right where Crucible of Man left off, with improved songwriting and a faster pace.

Now that you mention Crucible of Man, I think Divide & Devour would perfectly fit in Dystopia. And Divide & Devour was the only song I (really fucking) liked in Crucible of Man. Coincidence? I think not.

MetalMaster · **Joined:** Tue Feb 15, 2005 10:04 pm **Posts:** 197

Stu Block is a fantastic replacement for Matt Barlow and I actually find him a way better singer. He can almost sound identical to Barlow, but can do even those highpitched Ripper vocals which Barlow has some serious trouble with. The songwriting is the best so far and as a fan of melodic power metal I really love the direction Schaffer is taking this band. I think Dystopia is the best song they've ever done and Dark City and Triumph & Tragedy are also among the best songs they ever recorded. The lyrics are great and written with a lot of passion and Stu delivers it with fantastic emotion. Jon is a real patriot and knows what the american flag stands for, which is liberty and justice for all, not guilty until proven innocent and torturing innocent civlians to find a boogeyman hiding in a cave and arresting farmers for selling raw milk and giving government contracts to firms that have been caught selling hiv tainted vaccines.

Masshole McDinglenuts · **Joined:** Tue Sep 13, 2011 9:23 am **Posts:** 474

The Evil Dead wrote:

All you really need is Stormrider and Something Wicked. These guys are such a mess. Everything Horror Show and past are pretty mediocre. Who's their singer? Barlow going to come back another time? We're getting the Ripper next album instead of Stu? :lol:

You don't think you're intelligent, right?

dead1 · **Joined:** Tue Apr 13, 2010 7:22 am **Posts:** 2250

Finally listened to this one.

It's a massive improvement over the Framing Armageddon shit fests, though not as good as Glorious Burden or anything before it.

Stu Block's a great singer and fits the band well.

The album does drag on at times but is a pretty solid effort overall.

Bruce_Bitenfils · **Posted:** Mon Nov 21, 2011 11:51 pm

dead1 wrote:

It's a massive improvement over the Framing Armageddon shit fests,

Am I the only person who likes Framing Armageddon?

(But not The Crucible of Man, mind you)

dead1 wrote:

Stu Block's a great singer and fits the band well.

He impresses me more with each listen. I really, really think the choice is perfect and I really, really hope the collaboration works. Fuck, I'm going to say it: I think he matches Barlow. There.

Masshole McDinglenuts · **Joined:** Tue Sep 13, 2011 9:23 am **Posts:** 474

I like Framing Armageddon and The Crucible of Man. Mind you, I don't find them mind-blowing, but if you trim the fat from each, all those short, pointless songs, both make for quality albums.

The good songs get lost in the mix a bit because the albums are kind of tedious listens from start to finish.

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Iced Earth - Dystopia (#7426)

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