Iced Earth

panayiotis1984 · Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 6:40 pm Post subject:

ICED EARTH’s official web site, IcedEarth.com, has posted a 36-minute audio interview it conducted with Jon Schaffer on January 15, 2008. The interview can be downloaded and/or heard at this location:http://www.icedearth.com/media/interview_011508.mp3

To download the interview, use your mouse to right-click on the link above, and then select, "Download Linked File." The download is 41.2 MB.

Topics covered in the interview include tour and release plans for 2008, longtime frontman Matt Barlow’s return to the band, the band’s first gig at ProgPower USA on September 27, 2008, and the impact of family and other peronal committments on ICED EARTH’s stategy for the future.

ICED EARTH mainman/guitarist Jon Schaffer issued a press release last month
(Statement#1:http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=86574, Statement#2:http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=86797)
announcing that the band was parting ways with vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens (BEYOND FEAR, ex-ICED EARTH, JUDAS PRIEST) and was once again working with Tim’s predecessor, Matt Barlow, who originally left ICED EARTH in 2003.
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Video games are bad for you? That what they said about Rock 'n' Roll...

panayiotis1984 · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 3:59 am Post subject:

ICED EARTH has issued the following update:

"Freddie Vidales from San Antonio, Texas has been selected to pound the pavement (and a few eardrums) on the road with ICED EARTH in 2008 as the band’s new bass player. Prior to joining ICED EARTH, Freddie was the bassist and frontman for 10 years in his own band called INFUSION. Freddie has been influenced by bands such as IRON MAIDEN, BLACK SABBATH, DEATH, KING DIAMOND, and of course, ICED EARTH. You can hear and see Freddie covering tracks from a few of the bands above not only on bass, but also guitar at his personal MySpace page: www.myspace.com/killingchildrenfreddie"

Commented ICED EARTH mainman Jon Schaffer: "I feel like Freddie is the right guy for the gig. He has the chops, the attitude, and from the videos I’ve seen, a commanding, energetic, and intense stage presence that will fit in nicely with what ICED EARTH has always strived to be. I had a strong feeling about him based on the material that he sent and our phone discussions, so I asked him to fly up here before the slated auditions were to commence later in the month. After meeting Freddie in person and watching him play up close and personal, I didn’t feel the need to continue the search. He’s going to fit right in. We welcome him on board and look forward to jamming together at our first gig at Chicago Powerfest on May 2!

"Finally, I would like to personally thank everyone who auditioned for the position, and I wish you the best in your future endeavors!"

ICED EARTH’s official web site, IcedEarth.com, posted a 36-minute audio interview it conducted with Jon Schaffer on January 15, 2008. The interview can be downloaded and/or heard at www.icedearth.com/media/interview_011508.mp3 Topics covered during the chat include tour and release plans for 2008, longtime frontman Matt Barlow’s return to the band, the band’s upcoming gig at ProgPower USA on September 27, 2008, and the impact of family and other personal committments on ICED EARTH’s stategy for the future.

Schaffer issued a press release in December announcing that the band was parting ways with vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens (BEYOND FEAR, ex-ICED EARTH, JUDAS PRIEST) and was once again working with Tim’s predecessor, Matt Barlow, who originally left ICED EARTH in 2003.
_________________
Video games are bad for you? That what they said about Rock 'n' Roll...

panayiotis1984 · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 1:45 am Post subject:

ICED EARTH played its first show with vocalist Matt Barlow back as the group's frontman last night (Friday, May 2) at the Chicago Powerfest in Mokena, Illinois.

The group's setlist was as follows:

01. Dark Saga
02. Vengeance is Mine
03. Burning Times
04. Declaration Day
05. Violate
06. Pure Evil
07. Watching Over Me
08. Ten Thousand Strong
09. Dracula
10. Coming Curse
11. I Walk Alone
12. Setian Massacre
13. Travel In Stygian
14. A Question Of Heaven

Encore:

15. Melancholy
16. My Own Savior
17. Iced Earth

I don't know if you are a fan of this band, but i consider them as a very good Power Metal band.

Of course the good thing is that Barlow is back. I have no problem with Ripper that replaced Barlow for couple of years, but Ripper is more Priest and NWOBHM kind of singer rather than a Power Metal singer
_________________
Video games are bad for you? That what they said about Rock 'n' Roll...

rnr_child · Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 2:29 pm Post subject:

Fantastic band, i like their music a lot !

panayiotis1984 · Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 4:44 am Post subject:

ICED EARTH – Revelation Abomination: Something Wicked Part II; Brave World & Bloody Knuckles Track By Track Sneak Preview!

"It’s done, or is it? While BW&BK heard 16 of the 19 tracks written for the second instalment of the Set Abominae concept, even at the eleventh hour (during mastering), ICED EARTH's Jon Schaffer is still unsure of the final sequence. As we sit in the rent-a-car listening to a possible final mix, the mainman/guitarist considers a radical overhaul, removing the remaining segues from the running order, having already opted out of ‘Be Warned’ and ‘Time Marches On’, the latter utilizes sound clips of historical events; “Oh, the humanity” Hindenburg disaster, Winston Churchill and Adolf Hitler speeches, etc.) “The record seemed to flow better. When you’re driving down the road, most people just skip over them.” Then playing the debate out in real time, he switches tact. “This is an artistic album. You’re not supposed to put it on as background music and go do something else. You need to listen and pay attention.” So are those (all?) segues doomed to the vault? “They’ll be on the (proposed) box set. It’s supposed to be like a hardback comic book, with space for the singles and the two (full-length) discs. They’ll be extensive artwork that will flush out the story and those (deleted segue?) pieces will be exclusive to that. I’m also toying with writing a couple of additional acoustic guitar parts, specifically for it.”

So what follows is the running order, as proposed, minus just the two segues mentioned above. Given two opportunities to hear this master work still isn’t enough to digest the complex storyline, intricate musical details and the overall breadth of the project, so here are some rough notes, augmented by brief plot-line synopsis.

1) ‘In Sacred Flames’
Intro. The acoustically, joined by multi-voiced choir, tying together how Part 1 ended.

2) ‘Behold The Wicked Child’
From word go, classic metal picking. During the break, an echoey, distance voice. HEAVY bottom end (Dennis Hayes on bass). Thematically, the birth of Set Abominae on the 6th hour, of the 6th day of the 6th month. Plenty of ear candy, including chanting female vocals after the chorus.

3) ‘Minions Of The Watch’
Lyrics by Matt Barlow. Cleaner, Barlow’s voice shines through. Set is oblivious to his destiny.

4) ‘The Revealing’
Pace quickens, more prominent guitar. At age 13, Set is made aware of the master plan. Lyrics again by Barlow. Short on word, long on riffs.

5) ‘A Gift Or A Curse?’
From the introspective, contemplating mind of Set. A slower, ballad type song, includes hand drumming. '70s JOE WALSH/EAGLES vibe. Jon Schaffer singing some lead vocals (!) also harmonizing with Matt. Tom Morris (producer) plays Stratocaster and gets co-writing music credit. Picks up intensity, briefly, come the bridge, but falls to the aforementioned laid-back pace at the end.
“Am I a gift, Am I curse. I’m one and all Of God and Earth”

6) ‘The Coronation’
Segue. Crack of military snare and French horn (coronet) brass flourish. Snare continues, joined by tympani and low symphonic strings, building layers. The repeated theme recalls a similar cadence to RAVEL's ‘Bolero’. Leads directly into…

7) ‘Crown Of The Fallen’
First time the Barlow/PAUL STANLEY reference is relevant. Not full force vocals. Lots of intricate finger-work, not merely riffs.

8 ) ‘The Dimension Gauntlet’
That trademark, bouncy Iced Earth rhythm. A Middle Eastern theme (Set’s signature music) can be heard.

9) ‘Injecting The Venom’
Segue begun with haunting winds, greeted by more tabla/timbali/conga hand drumming and bubbling sounds. Human voices (ominous “Ah, Ah”). Pizzicato symphonic strings amongst a whirlwind of otherworldly sounds, including sackbut (other odd pipes/horns). Set is purposefully beset by cobras, rattlers and black widows, their poisons intertwining to ignite his murderous rage.

10) ‘I Walk Alone’
1st single. Troy Mills gets co-writing music credit. Barlow and choir on the chorus, although a single voice (Set) cuts through. Mid-tempo, with abrupt ending. Same as the single version, although the voices of the choir have been expanded beyond Morris, Barlow, Schaffer, thus making for a wider sound.

11) ‘Harbinger Of Fate’
More ethereal. Barlow in that ‘I Died For You’ mode. Big dynamic jump (not tempo) come chorus. Multiple voices, tolling bells, dive bomb guitar run and rapid hand drums as song fades.
“I am the Future, ending Man’s Tomorrow”

12) ‘Crucify The King’
CRUNCH! Barlow penned lyrics. Heavy groove bottom end, high vocals in chorus. Interplay of the pummelling bass, staccato guitar riffs and Barlow’s highs.

13) ‘Sacrificial Kingdoms’
Lyrics by Barlow. Jumps right in. Historical references to Rome/Ottoman Empire both falling as Set pulled the strings. Barlow ultra-highs atop sustain guitar.
“Your future’s clear if you look back
Every culture’s earned their fate
Your gluttony as my tool of choice
You’ve proved your worth less every day”
“Kingdoms fall to the ground, crushed by their own greed”

14) ‘Something Wicked (Part 3)’
Lyrics by Barlow. Choir delivers the chorus, but Barlow interjects a solo line after every pair by choir. Dramatic shift to staccato riffs w/ neat guitar underpinning

15) ‘Divide Devour’
Speedy/heavy! Again chorus=choir, apart from Barlow, who sings “I will divide. I will devour.” Female vox in Latin atop speedy guitar. Shorter tune, not much embellishment

16) ‘Come What May’
Slower, but guitar buzzing away underneath. Matt sings in soulful, lower register. Stops just short of Schaffer asking listener, ‘Do you want what’s carved out for your life or do you have the drive/ability to make your own path?’ Repetitive chorus of symphonic strings stretches Barlow’s repertoire, screaming over top.
“From living in caves to manned flights in space
And for all that it’s worth, still the sad pathetic race”

17) Epilogue
yet to be finished…
_________________
Video games are bad for you? That what they said about Rock 'n' Roll...

rnr_child · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 9:25 am Post subject:

I am a big fan , they are a fantastic band i have all of their albums and if i was to pick one i could not!
_________________
Master of puppets, I'm pulling your strings
Twisting your mind and smashing your dreams

panayiotis1984 · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 3:30 pm Post subject:

IcedEarth.com has posted the cover art for the band’s forthcoming full-length studio album, The Crucible of Man – (Something Wicked Part II) which continues where their 2007 release, Framing Armageddon – (Something Wicked Part I) left off. The Crucible of Man features the return of frontman Matt Barlow who was Schaffer’s original voice of choice to introduce the Something Wicked saga back in 1998 as a trio of songs which concluded their album, Something Wicked This Way Comes.

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Video games are bad for you? That what they said about Rock 'n' Roll...

#75race · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 3:52 pm Post subject:

The cover looks sick! This new album is gonna kick ass! Can't wait! Very Happy

rnr_child · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 2:37 am Post subject:

Great cover ! I think that new album will be a fucking classic!
_________________
Master of puppets, I'm pulling your strings
Twisting your mind and smashing your dreams

#75race · Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 12:29 am Post subject:

Just to let everyone know, Iced Earth have uploaded six new songs off their new upcoming album "The Crucible Of Man" onto their myspace site. Five of them being samples, and one is a full song. Smile

http://www.myspace.com/icedearth

rnr_child · Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 5:58 am Post subject:

The new album is fantastic
_________________
Master of puppets, I'm pulling your strings
Twisting your mind and smashing your dreams

Spyke005 · Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 10:04 am Post subject:

Come What May, Crown of the Fallen and Harbinger of Fate are the highlights.
The album could have been much better but hell this is brilliant itself. Nice one Iced Earth! Combine the musician-ship from this with the heavy rip your spine out riff style from Part 1 and Part 3 will be one of the greatest albums of the decade. Twisted Evil

Stained Class · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 10:27 am Post subject:

Personally, I find the album to be disappointing quite frankly.

I mean although I am a HUGE fan of Tim Owens, I am also a fan of Matt Barlow and although I was gutted to see Ripper go, when I heard the "I Walk Among You" EP I got very excited.

Then the album came...meh Confused

Whilst the album has some great tracks on it, it is for the most part bland and sounds a little generic for want of a better term. It doesn't have the same energy that Framing Armageddon has for me and to be honest I don't see it staying in my stereo long (although I will be giving it a couple more spins to see if it is a grower). As for the return of Barlow, it's a case of great singer, tired songs I mean Barlow sounds just as strong if not stronger than on Horror Show and his work on Pyramaze's Immortal album is superb to say the least.

I'd rate it 6.5/10 - great in places but overall, very bland.

[Though I will also admit that whilst I prefer Framing Armageddon, neither of the two "Something Wicked" albums live upto Iced Earths back-catalogue (Ripper will probably never surpass The Glorious Burden), particularly the "Something Wicked" trilogy of songs which sound so much better than these two albums - whether it's the Barlow or Ripper versions of the trilogy]