Iced Earth's new album

Flint the Dwarf · Post by **Flint the Dwarf** » Sun Nov 30, 2003 7:23 am

Well, it's growing on me. Somehow. Ripper has some interesting vocals, I guess. He's got two voices with which he can sing: screaming (like an angry woman with throat cancer) and not screaming (like an angry woman with throat cancer). He doesn't have the deep, menacing, and emotional voice that Barlow had and I miss that sorely. What he does bring in is some extra energy and a reason for me to cushion my ears. I want to beat his face with my fist. Nonetheless, his performance on the first part of the three-part trilogy, titled "The Devil to Pay," is spectacular and I can almost stop missing Barlow until I hear the rest of the songs. The chorus reminds me very much of the deep and accented voice of the singer from Mercenary and is a weird sound coming from Iced Earth. Where I'm used to creepy and dramatic choruses, these are pretty typical for metal.

The lyrics are almost as if straight out of a history book in some parts. I commend Jon (rhythm guitarist, writer) for taking this approach, where many song writers in this genre shy away from presenting beliefs such as his. It is very patriotic, especially the 30 minute (and quite amazing) trilogy based on the three days at Gettysburg.

The songs on the first disc are basically exploits in mostly military and some political situations (ranging from Atilla the Hun to Napolean to the Red Baron) and present some interesting ideas but nothing unheard of. The story of Gettysburg, entirely on the second disc, however, is very fun to hear told this way. Very epic and emotional, and the redeeming aspect of this album.

The music itself, one of my favorite parts of Iced Earth (nothing complex, but it's always powerful), was lacking. Even the production seemed low in several songs. Generally, it seems slower and a little more orchestrated (which isn't really something I mind) but it's just not quite Iced Earth anymore. Especially after following up Something Wicked and Horror Show, I think Jon took the wrong approach. Not only did he change the singer (nothing he could do about that) and the subject of his music, but he changed the very sound of the music. He changed Iced Earth. It still has some very noticeable IE riffs and fillers, typical use of the chords Jon likes so much, and the same sort of rhythm but it's as if the very element that composes the music is entirely different. Like changing the words of the song and keeping the melody? Oh well, it's his choice and I still like him.

Anyway, for those of you that have heard it, what do you think?

Farlo · Post by **Farlo** » Sun Nov 30, 2003 8:01 am

i like it...hes no matt, but hes good

HungryCrackPot · Post by **HungryCrackPot** » Sun Nov 30, 2003 11:43 am

maybe if they didn't palm mute entire fucking songs, I would not hate them.
but they do.
and I do.
OH SHIT THIS GUITAR IS RINGING OUT MUTE IT QUICKLY BEFORE IT SOUNDS LIKE A NICE CHORD SPLIIIIIIISSSSSSSHHHHH

Set_Abominae · Post by **Set_Abominae** » Sun Nov 30, 2003 12:09 pm

The album isn't supposed to be out yet... Unless you're european, I guess.

nailz · Post by **nailz** » Sun Nov 30, 2003 1:21 pm

I think, maybe, after reading that, I'll have to check the album out.

Flint the Dwarf · Post by **Flint the Dwarf** » Sun Nov 30, 2003 3:15 pm

Yeah, I'm not really sure what you'd think of this album... I think you'll like it more than most IE you've heard but not enough to really like them as a band. If they continue in this direction. Still, it's interesting.

HungryCrackPot wrote:maybe if they didn't palm mute entire fucking songs, I would not hate them.
but they do.
and I do.
OH SHIT THIS GUITAR IS RINGING OUT MUTE IT QUICKLY BEFORE IT SOUNDS LIKE A NICE CHORD SPLIIIIIIISSSSSSSHHHHH

Agreed. But I don't hate 'em.

HungryCrackPot · Post by **HungryCrackPot** » Sun Nov 30, 2003 10:24 pm

neither do I
I was being dramatic
but I do have ill feelings towards their music.

MetalWolf · Post by **MetalWolf** » Sat Dec 13, 2003 2:08 pm

Honestly I love the album, however in its entire form it doesn't beat the perfection I thought Horror Show though (even though most IE fans dont respect that album as much as their older stuff). Dispite the fact I love the album very much, I was a fan of the Ripper from his JP days and when Iw as holding my breath who the new singer of IE was, when they said Ripper I let out a sigh of relief. The album just rules even though if I had to pick out a few weaknesses I guess its the song "When Eagles Cry"(both versions even though the acoustic is better just because I hear Barlow's voice in it clearly in the background) I dont mind him being patriotic to his country and all (even though you will never hear "When The Beaver Cries") but at least do it with some style like "Declaration Day", "The Reckoning" or "The Devil To Pay" I felt the song structure was great it was just that the lyrics made it look bad. Gettysberg trilogy was agreat but "The Devil To Pay" was the better part, "Hold At All Costs" was pretyt good but not as good as the first, "High Water Mark" was the worst of them. In the end its not perfect but good enoughf or me, in the end though I still sit back and wonder how would have Barlow sang some of those songs (like Hollow Man). My fav songs however are "The Devil To Pay", "Red Baron/Blue Max" (I even got an AMV idea out of it), "Attila" and "The Reckoning".

Flint the Dwarf · Post by **Flint the Dwarf** » Sat Dec 13, 2003 2:49 pm

I do love the trilogy. I honestly think this trilogy is better than Something Wicked (which was one of my favorite groupings of songs ever). "The Devil to Pay" is amazing, and "High Water Mark" really grew on me after my thirtieth listen or so. I actually really like that song now.