Iced Earth

[Magica Dragon]

Well as many of you probably know these guys are going to be supporting Heaven & Hell this November and I take it there are some fans around.
I wanted to know if it's worth buying an album of theirs and obviously if so then the best album to buy if you're a beginner. Also what sort of style do they play?

[Dragon235]

we actually have an Iced Earth topic, but the best album to begin with would be these:

Studio: to get a feel for Ripper's vocal job in the band "The Glorious Burden" 2 disc set is a must, to check out their old singer Matt Barlow get "Something Wicked this Way Comes"

also, its highly recommended by me to pick up the 3 disc set of "Alive in Athens" one of my favorite live albums of all time
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[Magica Dragon]

Sorry, disn't realise there was already a topic.
Anyway thanks, I've just recieved a rental copy of Alive In Athens so I hopefully I might watch that tonight.

[Dragon235]

no problem, never seen the DVD of Alive in Athens, heard Shaffer wasn't too happy with it, but should give you a good feel.
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[alitivity]

I was surprised that they werent on the bill for Cleveland, since Tim lives in Akron, actually Green OH just south of Akron
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Check out Al Diamond Phillips/Nevermet on the web
http://www.reverbnation.com/nevermet

[Spyke005]

Just got a stack of their albums, Pure brilliance.
The Sound is a very well thought out mix between power metal and Thrash Metal. They sound a lot like Iron Maiden in their prime-days.

Matt Barlow is better than Tim Owens could wish for despite how good he himself is. The Overture of the wicked album IMO was a flop, the Owens versions weren't even near as good as the original classics.

The Coming Curse ftw.

[ManOnTheSilverMountain_DP]

Iced Earth are an awesome band, without any dubt they're among the best US Metal bands ever.
I love all their first lp's and some of the new ones too.
I disliked the new album, unfortunately it isn't very good, except some parts...
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THEY CAN'T STOP US, LET 'EM TRY, FOR HEAVY METAL WE WILL DIE!

[Stained Class]

Iced Earth are an awsome band, especially with Ripper as Barlows voice seems a little over-done and gets on my nerves to be honest.

I'm not saying that Barlow is no good, because he is an ok vocalist with a good range but the problem here is the studio output and as much as like bits of the new album it is a little dull and repetitive, howver Glorious Burden is fantastic and the clips of Ripper I have seen youtube look really good.

Personally, I have to disagree with you Spyke005 on new versions of the Something Wicked trilogy though - I think they are much improved on the originals in almost everyway, some Schaffers guitarwork is a little disappointing in places but I think the new version is superior overall, especailly in the vocal department but to each his own.

But then again I prefer John Greely to Matt Barlow.

Anyhow, Iced Earth rock!

[Spyke005]

The entire scream as much as you can vocal style never really gets to me, Ripper aint that bad but his repeatitive screaming habbit does get old.

I prefer Barlow as the vocalist for Iced Earth because he incorporates a very low tone with a high pitched wail from time to time. Ripper is best suited to the medium and high ranges which is why to my ears he seems to be dull on songs like Melancholy and The Something Wicked Trilogy. If I were Ripper I'd knackered if I tried to do what Barlow did, so incorporating his own style into the songs is a good move, sticking to what he's good at, screaming like nobody's screamed before. As annoying as it is it is a talent, even in Judas Priest he left his unique mark in some classics he covered.

I prefer Barlow but Ripper is an excellent replacement. I can't really see Ripper managing Dante's Inferno like Barlow, but it'd kickass anyway.


I agree and disagree with you. The Something Wicked Trilogy was Barlow's department, Glorius Burden was an intense album, Ripper is fantastic and Barlow did push his voice too far at times but it worked.

[#75race]

Matt barlow rejoins Iced Earth! Full story here:

"Hello Dear Friends!

Once again the winds of change are upon us, and this time I can say that I am very happy about the result.

While out on the European tour I had several in depth discussions with many loyal Iced Earth fans. A common theme of these discussions was how much Matt is missed. I agreed with the fans that things were not the same and that it was a very special period in Iced Earth’s history.

When I heard several months ago that Matt was going to be doing a project in music again, I was thinking about contacting him and seeing what his intentions were. I didn’t act on this because I was so focused on the writing of the new epic, and frankly, it just didn’t seem realistic.

Well, after getting out on the road and speaking with many of you directly, I decided to call Matt and see how he was doing and if he was interested in working together again. I am proud to say that he is coming back to Iced Earth and we will be getting back to work in the studio very soon.

Matt will be singing on Part 2 of the Something Wicked concept CD and we will be looking forward to getting out on tour and delivering a series of Iced Earth shows that will rival any in the history of the band. And there will be a proper DVD filmed from this period, something we’ve all been waiting for.

I want you all to know that it was you who made this a reality. I have missed Matt’s presence onstage and in my personal life in a big way over the past few years, so I appreciate your honesty in our discussions. It did help me realize the decision to move forward with pursuing this. The fans have spoken and we have delivered!

You true fans know that I’m a straight shooter, I say what I mean and mean what I say. And though I value your opinions greatly, you must believe that this is a decision that comes completely from the heart and is not motivated by anything other than what feels the best for Iced Earth. This is the way that things have always been dealt with, for better or for worse, but always honestly and from the heart.

Tim Owens is a great and talented singer and I wish the best for him and his future on a personal and professional level.

There will be more news soon as to further developments and plans. This will push back the release of Part 2 a bit. Not because we couldn’t be ready to record in time, but because of a new addition to Matt’s family in early 2008!

I am very happy to announce that Iced Earth is truly BACK!

Have a great holiday season. We’ll be in touch very soon with more details.

Jon Schaffer"


I think it's great that Matt Barlow is back, but at the same time, I feel kinda sorry for Tim Owens. Oh well. I wish him luck, and hope he finds the perfect band to be in, sometime in the near future.

[screaming_4_priest]

I wonderd why some one woth as much tallent as Ripper was even is this lame band.
he came from Judas Fucking Priest man Iced Eartbh are nothing much with out Ripper.
When i saw them couple weekd back the band were ok but Ripper was awsome.
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[Magica Dragon]

Well I prefer Barlow overall but I don't think this is a wise move. I mean they should have at least let Owens sing on the second part of Framing Armageddon. He was fantastic when I saw Iced Earth last month in Brighton and I think it's all a bit harsh to be honest.

[Spyke005]

A recording of both singers on the upcoming something wicked album would be awesome, I mean Barlow is the perfect Set Abominae but having 2 separate singers playing different roles would epicise the trilogy.

Matt ftw.
I prefered Tim as the IE singer than as the JP one btw.

[Holymagica]

Tim "Ripper" Owens gave a rambling interview to Eddie Trunk on last night's (Friday, January 11) edition of the "Friday Night Rocks" radio show on New York City's Q104.3 FM in which he discussed his split with ICED EARTH and his future plans. A few excerpts from the chat follow (edited by BLABBERMOUTH.NET for clarity).

On the split with ICED EARTH:

"I think it was something that had to happen for both sides. It [was] not [amicable] at all. To tell you the truth, you don't get fired two weeks before Christmas and told ten minutes…

"I completed the [HEAVEN AND HELL] tour [with ICED EARTH] and was getting ready to work on [ICED EARTH's forthcoming album 'Something Wicked Part II']. I was actually supposed to be in my car and leaving that night [from Tim's home in Ohio] and decided, since I didn't hear from Jon [Schaffer, ICED EARTH mainman], I would wait until the morning to leave to go his house [in Indiana] and work on it. And the time I was supposed to be already gone, I just happened to go on my computer to see if Jon e-mailed me about what time he wants me there tomorrow is when I got the e-mail saying I wasn't in the band. And that was at 5:30. 5:40 — it was like 5:42 or 5:43 — I got my first e-mail from somebody, and then my first call came in at 5:45, saying, 'Man, I just heard.' [Laughs] My oldest daughter said to me, 'Man, what [would have happened] if you weren't home? That would have really sucked.' So the whole thing, really, was not handled in the way that I think it should have been. It's an unfortunate situation and an unfortunate ending.

"I had a nice ending with PRIEST — they made sure that, financially, I was handled for the next while to make sure that I got on my feet. Things were handled right and in a professional way. And I think the worst thing [about getting fired from ICED EARTH] was, [which] bummed me out, it was [two weeks] before Christmas. Now, I agree with the decision — I needed to go. I mean, I've gotta be honest.

"I'm trying to get back on my feet to get going, but I've gotten so many offers, it's unbelievable, and some great ones. And obviously BEYOND FEAR [Owens' solo project, which released its self-titled debut album in 2006], SPV [the record label] is so excited about it, we already have a gameplan on that, Wendy Dio [Ronnie James Dio's wife/manager] is still managing me.

"You know, it's [the split with ICED EARTH] something that had to happen, and I don't disagree with that."

"I think each one of us [Jon and I] had different ideas. I think the main idea was that I wanted to write and I wasn't able to, but in Jon's mind he did give me an opportunity to. But you know what?! I've gotta be honest… it all was good and it just didn't work out.

"I have nothing bad to say about Jon and I do wish him luck and everything. I really wanna do BEYOND FEAR and I have other opportunities that are better for me at this time, anyways. The unfortunate thing is I've been offered a few things in the past few years that I've turned down that were pretty good things, and I've turned it down, and looking back, I wish I would have probably taken them. But it was a good ride, and it was a good thing. It taught me that it's not always what you think it is in the business.

"Every step I've made in my career I've learned — everybody learns. I've always said I wanted to become a better singer and a better frontman and I've learned from this experience that you continually try to become that.

"The PRIEST thing was a great experience for me and I love to talk about it because it ended so well.

"I saw Glenn [Tipton] and Ken [Downing] — they came out to the Birmingham show when we played and they came back. It was a blast talking to them, and they are just so fun. Glenn and Ken and Jon and I sat in the dressing room, and we just had a great chat. It was fun. I've always enjoyed talking to those guys, and they were always really genuine with me, and 'till the very end, they were pretty genuine with me. I mean, the business end talks — there's no doubt about it — and it's the same thing that happened with ICED EARTH. The first person that's gonna get blamed is the new person, whether it's something else that could be an issue. But, really, that's what happened, and I know that, for me, publishing is a big thing, and I'm not getting it with that.

"It really got worse for me after I did BEYOND FEAR, because BEYOND FEAR was actually one of the better-reviewed CDs across the board that I've done. It might not have [gotten] as many 10s as maybe [ICED EARTH's] 'The Glorious Burden' did, but it definitely didn't [get] as many 2s and 3s as 'The Glorious Burden' did either. So it was one of the best-reviewed CDs I've ever done, and I wrote the whole album — I mean, half of it I wrote all by myself and the other half I wrote with John Comprix, the guitar player. So I think it got even worse then. But that is what it is. What's funny now is they have to get the old singer back although all Jon ever said in interviews… I think it's more of a… 'they need that, they need to get Matt [Barlow, ICED EARTH's singer who preceded and followed Tim in the band] back' and I agree — Matt's a great guy and a great singer. All Jon ever said was — and still will say it — is he writes all the stuff. 'I tell Matt what to sing.' It's what he always said and it's what he did with me.

"If I went out and joined somebody like YNGWIE MALMSTEEN. Well, you know what you're getting into — you're not joining a band, you're just joining a project to jump in and sing with him real quick. It's a whole different experience. I thought I was getting into a band and I was promised different things, and it all worked out until now. And I think everybody does know that it's the Jon Schaffer thing. It's a revolving door with everybody, and that's a cool thing, and Jon has built this thing from the ground up."

"You have to remember something, and the same thing happened to me when I got in JUDAS PRIEST — the band changed their style a little bit, and I love the change, but all of a sudden there's violins and 1,800-choir-piece singing on. You know, that wasn't going on in the past. The albums I did were a big change. On the new record you've got bongos and wool instruments. It seems like when I get in bands, they change a little bit. But you know the pressure of getting ICED EARTH was nothing like JUDAS PRIEST. To me, they're both major, major bands, but when you compare them, it's like comparing a triple-A ballclub to Major League baseball. And that's not a [knock on ICED EARTH] because every great baseball player has played in the triple-A."

"Jon and I always got along so well — our press trips and while we were together — so that was always a fun thing. We always got along well in the studio. It was a learning experience probably for both of us. It was more of a learning experience for me, I know, because obviously Jon's pretty used to getting rid of people and getting new members, so it's not really much of a difference for him. My bass player [BEYOND FEAR's Dennis Hayes, who was fired from ICED EARTH at the same time as Tim] found out because he looked on the web site and his name was gone. [Laughs]

"I felt like I was going nowhere. It was the same thing in PRIEST — 'Man, I wanna write, I wanna do stuff. I'm getting all these offers for BEYOND FEAR to do these tours and these shows and I can't get them out there. I've gotta turn everything down. Damn, I just wanna get out there and do other things, I wanna write and do stuff.' I got my wish… [Laughs] … just in an unprofessional way. I know if I ever would have left, I would have given notice — I would have done an album and given notice.

"It's funny how things work out. I remember Jon always complaining how Richard Christy [former ICED EARTH drummer who quit the band in order to work for 'The Howard Stern Show'] left in the middle of a tour — he said, 'I'm gonna end up leaving' — and [Jon] said it was unprofessional. And I think to myself, I got fired two weeks before Christmas, which was kind of strange. But it makes you a better person.

"I have good memories of ICED EARTH and it was a good opportunity for me."

[Magica Dragon]

That's a great interview. Ripper's a class guy although you can tell he's pissed whicj is fair enough, I know I would be. Shaffer's obviously an asshole and I wish Ripper all the best, an amazing voice. Will be picking up the Beyond Fear release as soon as possible
I'm still excited about Iced Earth with Barlow though. Even if they should have let Tim sing on Something Wicked Pt.2