Iced Earth

Iced Earth

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Remastered & remixed reissue of the prog-metaller's classic debut album, originally released in 1990, it features new cover art & revised layouts! Century Media.

Iced Earth,Iced Earth,Century Media,Heavy Metal,Metal,Pop,Power Metal,Progressive Metal,Rock

Overture of the Wicked
Average customer rating:

As Wicked as it gets!

Very cool return

IE Shouldn't Look Back

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

This really didn't need to be done. But it's still pretty cool.

Overture of the Wicked
Iced Earth
Manufacturer: Steamhammer/SPV
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
General | Rock | Styles | Music
Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music
General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Ghost Opera

United Abominations

Paradise Lost

Unia

Systematic Chaos

ASIN: B000PA9PME
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Tracks:

Ten Thousand Strong 3:53
Something Wicked Trilogy: Prophecy / Birth Of The Wicked / The Coming Curse 18:31

Album Description

America's most successful pure Heavy Metal band has returned with the kickoff for their most ambitious project to date! Iced Earth have long been known as the champions of American Metal and have consistently delivered absolute quality for their legions of fans. Overture Of The Wicked is the opening salvo in their forthcoming two-part series that continues their famed Something Wicked This Way Comes series. The Overture Of The Wicked CDS contains a brand new song along with a re-recording of some of the Something Wicked... material. The first shot has been fired and Iced Earth is back!

Customer Reviews:

As Wicked as it gets!.......2007-07-24

This was my first experience with Iced Earth, and I am shocked, shocked that I haven't gotten into them before now. This EP is arguably one of the best things I have heard in a long long time. So as a consequence I have since bought 3 other Iced Earth albums. The musicmanship and production is top notch........I can't wait for the new album.

Very cool return.......2007-07-13

First off, I've been a fan of this band since I took a chance in the metal-dead environment of the late 90's and bought the wonderful 'Alive in Athens' CD (one of the greatest live albums of all time) in 1999. Like many, I felt very sorry about Matt Barlow leaving some years ago, the disintegration that followed and the multitude ill-turns suffered by leader Jon Schaffer.

So that's why I'm happy as hell for the return of the band and in this metal-happy musical climate of today I wholeheartedly wish Schaffer has finally his revenge and gathers the recognition that always eluded the band through 15 years of hard work and excellent music.

So what we have here is a taster of the forthcoming new album and a reworking of the classic "Something Wicked" trilogy from 1998's 'Something Wicked This Way Comes'.

Well, the new song "Ten Thousand Strong" is the first Iced Earth song we've heard written specifically for new singer Tim 'Ripper' Owens (since the 'Glorious Burden' album was written with Barlow in tow and only later was resung by Owens), and it shows; the guy is a monster singer. The song is pretty much 'Glorious Burden' fare, except perhaps a bit better. This is killer, even if simple, stuff.

No doubt the eyeopener here is the remake of the old trilogy, and so Ripper is *again* cast to repeat a Barlow performance, and one much loved by fans no less. And again, he falls short; clearly he is no match for Matt's tone and emotional delivery and comes across a bit forced and shrill sounding. The re-recording itself (I mean the music) is cool, even if I still prefere the original.

One very cool feature of this record is the return of 'Alive in Athens's excellent skinsman Brent Smedley, and if you fear after 8 years out of the band he may have lost his touch, well rest assured it's not the case because he is an absolute monster, even more than on the old days. If someone said it's Richard Christy playing, no one would doubt it, it's that good, stunning machine gun precision all the way. Another thing to mention are new axeman Tim Mills' lead guitar breaks, which are probably the best lead guitar ever featured in the band.

Finally a special mention to the excellent cover art, depicting the return of the Set Abominae character.

So all in all a very nice taster for what I hope is a killer CD to come in September, and one to finally put this great band where it has always deserved: at the top of the metal world :)

Let's just hope Schaffer manages to keep a lineup together long enough to see it happen.

IE Shouldn't Look Back.......2007-07-05

If the new single is an indication of what to expect from the new album, then this will probably be the best since 'Wicked'. The problem with this disk lies in the re-recorded material. When judged on his own merits, Ripper has a great voice, and he shows it off on the first track. However, the 'Something Wicked' trilogy can't be listened to without comparing it directly to Barlow's version, and in this context, the Ripper just can't win. The original was nothing short of amazing, and could hardly be improved upon, Barlow's voice thick and powerful. In comparison, Ripper sounds hollow and weak. It's not a fair comparison to make, because the two singers have completely different styles, but it's a comparison that's impossible not to make when Ripper sings Matt's songs.
If Iced Earth and its fans can manage to look forward to the future instead of looking back at what was, then there is reason to be optimistic. This single will serve as a good primer for the full-length.

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!.......2007-07-03

I don't hate Tim Owens. I loved "The Glorious Burden", almost as a different Iced Earth than the ones previously. I love Tim Owens' voice for Iced Earth. I loved Matt Barlow's voice for Iced Earth.

This is only four songs on a single, and only one of them is new. The new song "Ten Thousand Strong" is great. It bears traces of old Iced Earth without being the same old crap or repetitive.

Why do I scream "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!" for the title then? The other three tracks.

The other three tracks are not re-recordings, but new versions of the "Something Wicked..." trilogy at the end of "Something Wicked This Way Comes", "Prophecy", "Birth of the Wicked", and "The Coming Curse"

I don't mind having Tim Owens sing over songs that were originally done by Matt Barlow. But they completely RE-DID these songs! They sound very little, if anything like the originals. I am sort of a music traditionalist by nature. Cover songs don't appeal to me as much as originals, re-recorded albums are never better than originals unless it's an unchanged remastering.

It's not just the lack of Barlow's deeper, more husky voice in these songs, it's a completely new guitar, bass, and drum lines used. The rhythms are done at different speeds, the moods are changed. Where once "Prophecy" was a darkly moody, brooding song, it's now something resembling generic "demonic" metal.

I look forward to the new Iced Earth album. I love Iced Earth, and if Schaffer continues to get better with age like his previous albums, I will love it. What I do NOT like is the "rewriting of history" so to speak, the re-writing of these three classic songs of the "Wicked" trilogy. Please... if you don't want Barlow's voice on them, just record Owens over the song as it was! Don't totally rewrite the rhthyms, tempos, moods, etc! It ruins it for traditionalists who have stuck with IE through the ages.

This really didn't need to be done. But it's still pretty cool........2007-07-02

I am going to be brief. "Something Wicked" was my first Iced Earth album, and the original trilogy sent chills down my spine when I listened to it. Iced Earth have changed the trilogy.

First off, the trilogy sounds more produced than ever. Some parts sound really cool and dark, but in general the song just sounds more computerized and polished than the original's. One good thing, however, is the ethnic addition. The song sounds very middle eastern now, which it sort of lacked before. Anyway, I'll take the original version any day. But this version is still pretty good. Makes for a good recap before the new album comes out, but like I said it just sounds too computerized and polished. Also, I like Owens, but he can't match this song which was written with Barlow in mind.

"10,000 Strong" is unremarkable. It's just a single, so I can't complain to much, but it doesn't feel as heavy as it should be. I blame this on the mix and the production.

Average customer rating:

The more I listen to Iced Earth...
4.5-Star Offering that you can REALLY Bang Your Head to
A must have
Very Wicked Music
Iced Earth's best CD!!!

Something Wicked This Way Comes
Iced Earth
Manufacturer: Century Media
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Progressive | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The Dark Saga
Horror Show
Burnt Offerings
Night of the Stormrider
Glorious Burden

ASIN: B000009EAD
Release Date: 1998-07-07

Tracks:

Burning Times
Melancholy (Holy Martyr)
Disciples Of The Lie
Watching Over Me
Stand Alone
Consequences
My Own Savior
Reaping Stone
1776 (Instrumental)
Blessed Are You Something Wicked (Trilogy)
Prophecy
Birth Of The Wicked
The Coming Curse

Customer Reviews:

The more I listen to Iced Earth..........2007-04-14

...the more they annoy me. I think I hate power metal.

4.5-Star Offering that you can REALLY Bang Your Head to.......2007-04-06

To most metal critics and some fans as well, memorable, simply undiluted metal was pretty sparse during the mid-late 90's. I mean, in my opinion also, bands didn't exactly put out their most classic albums during that timespan. Just to list a few examples: Maiden put out their Blaze Bailey albums "X-Factor" and "Virtual XI" which I liked a lot, but most people bashed the crap out of 'em. Priest was basically dormant during this time, only releasing "Jugulator" and "98 Live Meltdown" both not up to par with Halford's classics by any means. Metallica experimented with their albums "Load" and "Reload" (both of which scared away many fans), Megadeth released "Cryptic Writings" which was quite good, but then put out their lowest point "Risk", and bands like Dio, Black Sabbath, and Ozzy were either releasing their worst albums or not putting any out at all. However, there was this one band in the 90's (don't worry, I know other bands were delivering the goods in the 90's like Pantera, etc) that held the thrash-metal torch high and proudly, not wanting to let their influences down. That band is the one and only ICED EARTH!

Just a devoted and humble group of guys who wanted metal to live forever, the crew of Iced Earth stood against the norm, beat all odds, and released some true, nose-to-the-grindstone classics during the 90's. "Something Wicked This Way Comes", which came out in 1998 is a perfect representation of their talent and reputation. The riffing can be thrashy, in-your-face, and aggressive-as-hell at times (on tracks like "Disciples of the Lie", "Stand Alone", or "My Own Savior") but it can also be quite melodic and emotional (i.e. "Melancholy", "Watching Over Me", or "Blessed Are You"). Basically, if you like Schaffer's heavier side then this cd is for you. But also, if you like his more melodic pieces that have passion and depth, then get this classic! Matt Barlow couldn't be better on this album as well. His voice is so well-ranged and powerful, it's just insane. He sings in his best thrash voice on the heavier tracks, but also really reaches low when the slow number comes up, singing emotionally and very sad on some songs (which is a unique and welcome effect). The drums and bass are also very much involved, taking the rhythm section to great heights.

As far as the songs go, SWTWC has great depth. There are almost an equal number of slow tracks as there are heavy ones, and for the first 10 songs they go in a pattern (heavy track, then a slow one). The heavy tracks are of course amazing, grabbing you by the balls and never letting go, but the power ballads grab you by the heart and act as a nice contrast to the heavy-hitters. Now I know that most fans are really dedicated to the thrashy, no-holds-barred style of earlier IE releases like "Burnt Offerings" or "Night of the Stormrider" but I really ask that you open up to their emotional side too. As for the tracks, "Burning Times" starts off the album and everyones knows that Schaffer never lets a sappy opener make an appearance. This heavy number isn't blinding fast, but it's a nice mid-tempo song with heavy riffage and soaring vocals from Barlow. The second number slows it down considerably, but is just as good. "Melancholy" is a very emotional song with some great guitar strumming and some of those "Sad" vocals from Matt. However, at the chorus, the heaviness is cranked up as the power chords rip through the speakers. Barlow then hit those high notes and really adds a lot to this hit. EVERY song is amazing, and while I don't have time to talk about all of them, I must mention the "Something Wicked" trilogy. What an amazing, all-out incredible way to end this masterpiece. All three songs (Prophesy, Birth of the Wicked, and The Coming Curse) are perfect thrash tracks, complete with fast-paced riffs, double-bass mania, and above-average vocals from Matt. They have their slow and emotional moments as well like the beginning two minutes of Prophesy, and the opening, classical piano piece on The Coming Curse. Just great, undiluted metal!

Get this plus every other Iced Earth classic. You won't regret it!

A must have.......2007-03-21

Ths is one of their better albums. A must have for any metal fan. It runs the full musical range from very fast and heavy(Stand Alone), to softer (Watching Over Me). You Will NOT be Disappointed!!

Very Wicked Music.......2007-01-08

This is without a doubt, Iced Earth's best album. Every song on this album is enjoyable and then it has many great masterpieces. The vocals, lyrics, guitars, bass, and drums shine on this album. Heavy Metal with true musicianship. The best songs:
Burning Times: This song is slow and heavy. The vocals rule and the lyrics send chills down my spine. The chiming of the bells at the beginning and end sound really cool
Disciples of the Lie: This song is fast and heavy and will get your head bangin. It has a very haunting keyboard solo in the middle.
Consequences: this song is beautiful, a slow and soft one with great vocals
Prophecy: The best song in the trilogy and possibly the best on the album. It starts eerie and soft and then there is a short bass the solo that kicks this song up to speed. Great lyrics, vocals, and guitar work

This album is a must have for any metal fan

Iced Earth's best CD!!!.......2006-11-11

As an Iced Earth fan who owns all of their CDs, i must say that this is their best. From start to finish this album is filled with incredible songs, and just has such a complete feel to it. This album has something for every metal fan of any genre. Melancholy is incredible, as is the trilogy. Great place to start if your new to the band. One of the best metal cds ever recorded.

Average customer rating:

Metal and Monsters
Very Impressed
a Horror Show indeed
Phantasmagorically Great Fun!
Excellent

Horror Show
Iced Earth
Manufacturer: Century Media
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Progressive | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Something Wicked This Way Comes
The Dark Saga
Night of the Stormrider
Burnt Offerings
Glorious Burden

ASIN: B00005K9ZU
Release Date: 2001-06-26

Tracks:

Wolf - Iced Earth
Damien - Iced Earth
Jack - Iced Earth
Ghost Of Freedom - Iced Earth
Im-Ho-Tep (Pharaoh's Curse) - Iced Earth
Jeckyl & Hyde - Iced Earth
Dragon's Child - Iced Earth
Frankenstein - Iced Earth
Dracula - Iced Earth
Phantom Opera Ghost

Album Description

Look forward to spotting the band's new album, Horror Show, in European stores on June 25th and in US shops on June 26th. Horror Show is a concept album based on many infamous monsters. Drawing from legend, literature, film, and perhaps even real life. A cover of Iron Maiden's Transylvania was recorded as well, which will be included on a limited edition first pressing of the album on a bonus disc that also contains an exclusive interview with Jon Schaffer and a cover of Iron Maiden's Transylvania! The team of Travis Smith and Danny Miki once again created the artwork for the album which turned out amazing! 2001 release.

Customer Reviews:

Metal and Monsters.......2007-05-15

>Now, I've heard it said many a time that horror movies and heavy metal go together like sin and Satan. I mean it makes sense right? Heavy metal is sometimes very haunting, mostly dark, and shrouded in mysticism and folklore. Horror books (and movies as well) also portray scenes of extreme intensity and darkness, full of suspense and sometimes disturbing depictions. In fact, someone once said that "if heavy metal were to be classified according to motion picture, if would be in the horror section." So it's about time a band created a concept album solely about, you guessed it, classic horror stories. Included are the classic tales of Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Werewolf (among others), which talk of the evil and destructive means of these famous villains, but also the passion and beauty that goes along with them as well. Also, Iced Earth keeps the cheese at a safe distance, and approaches these subjects with seriousness and maturity, not going overboard MOST of the time. Besides the horrific images that Jon Schaffer and Barlow write and sing about respectively, they delve into the passion and emotion that are present in "Phantom Opera Ghost" and "Dracula", while, again, not sounding ridiculously embarrassing.

The musicianship is, to put it in words, exceptional and top-notch. Schaffer rips out crunchy and powerful riffs, that leave you sweating and out of breath, but also, delicately produces melodic and soul-searching acoustic passages (on tracks like "Ghost of Freedom", "Dracula", and "Phantom Opera Ghost") that leave you...well... breathless as well. Matt couldn't be better, and being his last studio release with the band, he really "goes out on a good note." His maniacal screams give you chills up your spine, while his emotional side challenges the listener to sing along and attempt to hit those high notes in tune with his iron pipes. The rhythm section sounds more than solid as well, keeping complex time with the immortal Schaffer, and generating memorable pieces, such as the opening bass part on "Damien" or the intricate and creative drum intro on "Wolf". Everything from the mandatory guitar to the occasional flute fits right in with the powerful music giving the listener ample satisfaction.

"Wolf" opens up on a great note, dropping the listener into talented drums and duel guitar leads, when...suddenly... Barlow screams like a madman, while Jon tears out some heavy artillery. The chorus is especially good, as it contains some insane double-bass{ing} as well as a sing-along vocal part. Matt describes the man turning into a wolf, the temptation and rage that goes along with that, and everything else implied perfectly. Very cool opener. "Damien" (which is one of my favorite IE songs ever) then creeps up, opening with a sweet bass line and some really moving "choir" effects, saying Set! Domino! Set! Very haunting intro, that gets even better when Jon dishes out a chilling acoustic passage, then...BAM! Heavy riffage bursts through the speakers accompanying Barlow's menacing vocals, creating images of evil and sadness all around. The chorus is, too put it simply, AMAZING and always continues to leave me awestruck. Again, Christy rides the double-bass like nobody's business while Matt reaches into his soul and conjures up some memorable vocals. The interlude is also note-worthy and very enjoyable. Flawless to put it simply.

"Jack" is next, which tells the tale of the infamous Jack the Ripper and all he was known for. Without getting too graphic, Barlow puts himself in Jack's shoes, relating his life and adventures throughout his abominable reign. Fast-as-hell (probably the fastest on the album), with an especially notable bass part and Matt's malignant vocals give a dark atmosphere to the song. Also great, is after the interlude, Matt really delivers a haunting scream and very powerful verse. Another gem to enjoy. "Ghost of Freedom" showcases Shaffer and Barlow in their emotional side. It's mostly just an acoustic ballad that never gains momentum until the wicked solo. Very moving, and a nice contrast to the heavy hitters that surround it. While not my favorite IE song, it really adds a lot to the album and must not be overlooked.

"Im-Ho-Tep" naturally and not-surprisingly opens with an Egyptian-like riff that builds into a very driving and heavy riff from Jon. Barlow really sounds good on this one, hitting those high notes perfectly and with ease. It sounds like, during the verses, Matt sang one way, then overlain it with another vocal part. Very cool and noodly solo as well. Another acoustic passage opens "Jeckyl and Hyde", but not for long, because it soon turns into a heavy powerhouse. The chorus isn't that memorable, but still good. A mandolin is used during the interlude which adds some "class" to the song. Really cool time-change too at about 2:35 or so.

"Dragon's Child" opens with a haunting intro with some hushed vocals as well. Soon, Jon once again delivers a driving riff and Matt really sings his heart out. Very good song that will definitely fill an empty void. "Transylvania" is my personal favorite Maiden instrumental and I was glad that Iced Earth did a cover. Better production, a faster pace, and new musicians is all that's really new about this classic. Up the irons! "Frankenstein" is one of those songs that you know right away is gonna be something special. Heavy, opening riff that turns into a galloping verse complementing Barlow's intimidating voice. The chorus is easily one of the best off the album and very catchy. Great listen.

"Dracula" opens with a very soft acoustic intro with some over-the-top sappies from Matt. A tad too passionate but fear not, because after a bit your ears are filled with Matt's soaring voice and Jon's fast hands. To be honest, what starts off as one of the lightest off the album turns into the heaviest. Great stuff. "Phantom Opera Ghost" is also something very, very special. The intro is very entertaining and easy to hum to. Then after a bit Jon's guitar shreds itself some heavy riffs. A chick is brought in to do the female part of the story, and while I usually don't approve, it's acceptable with Iced Earth. No, really it's quite good and not awkward in the least bit. Matt is in his BEST performance here, sounding so much like the Phantom (from what I've seen in the movie), it's scary. The insanely fast acoustic part after the interlude seems impossible. Great closure to this masterpiece.

All in all, you need this album. It's so solid, and very memorable, it can get no lower than a 4.5 star. If you like classic horror movies (like myself) this album will interest you. But then, if you despise horror movies, but love epic and progressive metal that is ever so thrashy, then you won't be disappointed. Easily a top 10-15 NM classic, Horror Show puts on more than merely a "show".

Very Impressed.......2007-01-19

I don't want to bore people with a long elegant review full of analogies so instead, I'll just say that I found this by accident and have been hooked ever since. Very intelligent and memorable in it's delivery along with excellent drumming and guitar work with outstanding vocals.

a Horror Show indeed.......2007-01-08

This is heavy metal at its finest. Great musicianship. It's a concept album based on monsters from dark and old horror movies. The best songs:
Wolf: A great way to start the album, great guitar intro, and chorus
Damien: an epic talking about the antichrist, it starts dark and mysterious, and then gets slow and heavy
Dracula: this song starts very slow and soft and then Barlow screams of blood and vampires while the band picks up the tempo
The Phantom Opera Ghost: a song about the famous play, this song is a great duet with the phantom talking to his love Christine

Overall, a great album

Phantasmagorically Great Fun!.......2006-08-29

This is the first album I've ever listened to, much less owned, by Iced Earth. I was definitely not disappointed. Standout tracks include The Phantom Opera Ghost, Dracula, Jack, and Jeckyll and Hyde--but really, every song is a buffet of awesomeness. It's too bad Matt Barlow left after this album. I can't imagine anybody else doing lead vocals.

If you like your face, you probably shouldn't listen to this CD, as the sheer thrashing greatness will cause said face to explode.

Excellent.......2006-07-26

Despite having a larger fan base in Europe than in the United States, Florida headbangers Iced Earth have blessed fans of classic heavy metal with a theme album about monsters! Iced Earth have been around since the early 1990's, but the group became well known in the metal scene almost 10 years later with the release of Something Wicked This Way Comes. The next studio album, sadly the last to feature lead vocalist Matt Barlow, is 2001's Horrow Show.

The albums starts strongly with 'Wolf,' a fast paced onslaught that should have the listener in awe after one song. Damien, an epic song about the infamous son of Satan, is possibly one of the best songs featured. I am a Christian, but I listen to the lyrics in the context of the background on Damien, who is portrayed from The Oman. Other monster's tales included are Dracula, Frankenstein, Jack the Ripper, and the dreaded Phantom Opera Ghoast, which is my favorite song featured on this release. The song 'Ghost of Freedom' is a ballad about the fight to ensure freedom for an entire nation. Schaffer is very patriotic and has a passion for history.

A lot of fans that I know classify Iced Earth's music as a cross between old Metallica and Iron Maiden, with some hints of Judas Priest, Kiss and Morbid Angel. Iced Earth have a very balanced style of music and these guys will definately make your neck sore with their releases. Matt Barlow left fans a wonderful legacy of work with his last full-time performance with vocals. Horrow Show is one of Iced Earth's finest moments, along with Burnt Offerings and Something Wicked This Way Comes. Iced Earth does not disappoint fans with the evil, dark, but fun release, Horror Show.

Average customer rating:

awesome concept album
vocals shine on this album
Awesome!
Iced Earth's Slower Concept Album
darkness covering

The Dark Saga
Iced Earth
Manufacturer: Century Media
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Thrash & Speed Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Progressive | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Something Wicked This Way Comes
Horror Show
Burnt Offerings
Night of the Stormrider
Iced Earth

ASIN: B000005HN1
Release Date: 1996-07-23

Tracks:

Dark Saga
I Died For You
Violate
The Hunter
The Last Laugh
Depths Of Hell
Vengeance Is Mine The Suffering
Scarred
Slave To The Dark
Question Of Heaven

Customer Reviews:

awesome concept album.......2007-04-07

like pretty much everyone knows by now this is a concet album based off the comic/graphic novel spawn. awesome comic awesome album. this is a truly heroic effort put forth by a very talented band. if you like power metal or heavy metal in general, you will love this band, and owe it to yourselves to buy this album. my favorite two tracks on this are the hunter and a question of heaven. the angelic singing in question of heaven is simply breath taking and beautiful.

vocals shine on this album.......2007-01-08

This is the first Iced Earth album that you can really get into the vocals track. It was my first Iced Earth album and I was not disappointed. Best songs are Dark Saga, Violate, The Hunter, Vengeance Is Mine, Slave to the Dark, and Question of Heaven (one of my favorite Iced Earth songs).

Awesome!.......2006-11-23

It's pretty obvious that this is one of the best Iced Earth, wait nevermind. best METAL album ever! From the haunting riff to "Dark Saga" to the speedy song "Violate" all the way to the epic album closer, "A Question of Heaven", this is a heavy metal classic. Although I like Something Wicked This Way Comes a little better (probably because that was the first album i ever bought), I want to recommend this to anyone who is into thrash, progressive, epic, and just old heavy metal. I must say that this is an emotional masterpiece from Iced Earth.

You should start off with this album or Something Wicked This Way Comes.

Iced Earth's Slower Concept Album.......2006-09-06

Okay When It Comes To Concept Album's Iced earth Pretty much has Most Bands BEat(Expection of Queensryche With operation Mindcrime) They Have Givin us Great Concept releases Such As Night Of The Stormrider & Something Wicked This Way Comes. This Is Good But It Just Isnt As Heavy As Some Of There Other Stuff. The Wrting Is Genious However. Best Tracks: I Died For You, Depth's Of Hell, LSave To Darkness

darkness covering.......2006-07-24

"The deal was rigged. There's darkness in my soul. I want to die again." So writes Iced Earth guitarist Jon Schaffer, channeling his inner Todd McFarlane and setting the mood for what has been largely regarded as one of the best power / thrash metal albums in the history of the genre. We all know the story. Assassin Al Simmons is set up by his employer, killed, and sent to hell. Whilst there, he makes a deal with the devil; one that allows him to look upon the face of his wife, Wanda, once again. But Satan tricks Al, and that is where we begin our graphic, tragic, and epic tale. Taking on such a daunting task is a large risk, but it is an admirable one. Even more admirable is the fact that Iced Earth pull this off with a finesse and skill few knew they had. Sure, "Burnt Offerings" was a great album. But "The Dark Saga" is the refinition of all the groundwork laid by its predecessor. Coupled with the compelling story of Spawn, you've got yourself one hell of a ride, one that draws you in and twists you remorselessly until you are given back to the real world with a quickened pulse and a tear in your eye. Okay, so it may not happen on first listen; for me it took three. In time, though, the greatness of this album can sink in.

The opener and title track is a pretty good summation of the album, both conceptually and musically. We are then given to the ballad-ish "I Died for You," about how things have changed since our hero (or antihero, rather) left this world. "Violate" grabs hold of you and doesn't relent, featuring a heavy riff, a Metallica-esque breakdown, and lyrics that describe just how sick the titular character (Violator) truly is. "The Hunter" is one of the best songs on the disc, for several reasons. First and foremost, the lead riff is not only one of the most well-written pieces of musical goodness the band has penned, but it is also one of the most addictive. Secondly, the lyrics really add more depth to the story by giving us an opposite viewpoint, one of heaven and its agent sent to combat the hellspawn. Really fantastic. Lastly, Matt Barlow's vocals are at their near best on this song, really expressing his whole range. Unfortunately, at this point, the quality of musicianship takes an abrupt fall. "The Last Laugh," despite being a well-crafted thrash song, is pretty bland. The rhythmically driven "Depths of Hell" ups the ante a bit, but it simply cannot reach the heights attained by the first part of the album. "Vengeance Is Mine" also is marred by a rather boring first third, but the ensuing guitar work by Randall Shawyer (who co-wrote the song) redeems it. Now we reach "The Suffering," one of Iced Earth's trademark trilogies. Fortunately, the entire set is extremely well-executed. "Scarred" (often mistakenly called "The Suffering Scarred") starts off moody and plodding, but soon builds to a memorable chorus backed by a thrashy guitar part. Soon it transitions into "Slave to the Dark," a subtler song than most on the album, at least for its first thirty seconds. At this point it transforms into a fast-paced yet accessible tune with an ensnaring guitar part. We now come to the concluding number of our story: "A Question of Heaven." Widely regarded as Iced Earth's finest song, there is no denying the true musical mastery if this melodically simple yet heartpoundingly epic track complete with a literally heavenly choir and an inherent sense of tragedy and mourning. By far one of the most lyrically involved pieces on the album, it is hard not to shed a tear when listening to this massive work of emotional art.

In equal turns poundingly heavy and sublimely melodic, "A Question of Heaven" is without a doubt the best song on the album. The thing is, the competition here is so fierce that it is hard to determine this on one listen alone. Thankfully, "The Dark Saga" is an album that not only lends itself to repitition, but demands it. For those of us lucky enough to indulge it, the reward is so heavenly that one almost feels guilty given the dystopian nature of the story. Stylistically, it seems to me that the numbers written by Schaffer are the better of the bunch. But the fact of the matter is, this CD is a fine display of Iced Earth's ample musical talents as a whole. An unrelentingly intense journey that only falters briefly, "The Dark Saga" is deserving of any praise it is given. Hopelessly hopeless, the story ends as it begins: "Rising to the heavenly skies. Just to plead for death. Just to be denied."

Average customer rating:

UNBELIEVABLE
Hell awaits...I'm the Tour Guide!
Pretty darn good
dissapointment
Iced Earth Reborn

Burnt Offerings
Iced Earth
Manufacturer: Century Media
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Progressive | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Night of the Stormrider
The Dark Saga
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Iced Earth
Horror Show

ASIN: B000005HM9
Release Date: 1995-04-18

Tracks:

Burnt Offerings
Last December
Diary
Brainwashed
Burning Oasis
Creator Failure
The Pierced Spirit
Dante's Inferno

Customer Reviews:

UNBELIEVABLE.......2007-04-07

this is a must have metal album. totally unique and awesome band, i just feel compelled to tell the world about these guys. matt barlowe has an awesome voice, and jon shaffer is an awesome musician. to describe their sound they sound like if iron maiden and old metallica joined forces. they are heavy and fast like metallica and melodic and epic like iron maiden. dante's inferno is the pinicle track on the album, an awesome 16 minute epic. I beseech each and every metal fan out there, if you have not heard this band before you need to start listening to them now. start out with this album, then go for night of the stormrider or dark saga.

Hell awaits...I'm the Tour Guide!.......2006-11-17

First I'm going to say this is what Metal is supposed sound like! DARK, Heavy, Ripping... Take Judas Priest add some Iron Maiden and the Aggression of Slayer/Metallica ( Master of Puppets ), and you have Iced Earth! This band is one of the best things that happened to Metal! This cd is awesome, everysong Kills! but the Epic Matserpiece "DANTES INFERNO"
is why I bought this cd, my God what a ride...All i can say if you LOVE Metal like me you "HAVE" to buy this cd. 5 Stars Plus!!

Pretty darn good.......2006-11-03

Pretty good album, here. They did well with Barlow. You can tell, from a lot of IE's music throughout their entire catalog, that they're big thrash fans. It goes without saying. Dante's Inferno is undoubtedly the highlight here. Now, having read the book, this song obviously doesn't compare with one of the the classic stories of history. That said, this song is awesome. It fits together well, the music fits with the story, and it just flat out rocks. Beyond this song, the rest of the album is very good. The majority of the other songs are good without being standouts. Last December is the best of the middle tracks. The title track is awesome, 2nd to the ending track. Good intro, great throughout. The only real problem with the album, at least in the thrashy parts, is the huge Bay Area tribute. Most of the songs in the middle could be lifted from assorted Bay Area albums, excepting Barlow's vocals. Listen to the title track: one of the riffs was lifted straight from the song Master of Puppets (2:59). Besides the worship of other bands causing a drop in originality, the rest of the album is great. Check it out if you like thrash or power, although this is more on the thrashy side.

dissapointment.......2006-08-11

there are two versions to this album and i ordered the version that was displayed and i was sent the wrong one!

Iced Earth Reborn.......2006-07-14

Any of thoughts of Iced Earth being power metal quickly get shot down when listening to the great Burnt Offerings. First off, the lyrics are too dark, the vocals too powerful, and the overall presentation too thrashy for power metal. I hope this ends all comments from people who say Iced Earth is power metal. They are most definately not. Iced Earth is closer to Slayer, Megadeth, and Iron Maiden then Sonata Arctica, Blind Guardian, and Helloween.

Onto the album, this is nothing short of sick (in a good way) and is a great introduction to the "voice of Iced Earth", Matt Barlow. His vocals range from operatic like Bruce Dickinson, to powerful yells like Tom Araya. The guitar duties are amazing, handled masterfully from Jon Schaffer and Randall Shawver. The drummer is also good, as well as the bass.

Favorite Songs: Burnt Offerings, Brainwashed, and of course, the almighty Dantes Inferno.

Also check out Horrow Show, The Dark Saga, and Alive in Athens for more Iced Earth.

Average customer rating:

Iced Earth's Best Album
Great
I guess this is where it all began.....
Iced Earth's best album
A good debut, but buy Days of Purgatory instead

Iced Earth
Iced Earth
Manufacturer: Century Media
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Progressive | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Night of the Stormrider
Burnt Offerings
The Dark Saga
Horror Show
Something Wicked This Way Comes

ASIN: B000005HL0
Release Date: 1991-03-26

Tracks:

Iced Earth
Written On The Walls
Colors
Curse The Sky
Life And Death
Solitude
Funeral
When The Night Falls

Album Description

Remastered & remixed reissue of the prog-metaller's classic debut album, originally released in 1990, it features new cover art & revised layouts! Century Media.

Customer Reviews:

Iced Earth's Best Album.......2007-04-29

This is Iced Earth's most solid release, showcasing Schaffer's talent at the early stages of the band before everything became centered around Barlow. If you want to hear a great mix of thrash and power metal riffs and solos, this is the album for you. If you'd rather hear Barlow's melodramatic singing, then get one of the later albums.

Schaffer is purely and simply a thrash guitarist, and this album shows off his talent. The opener is reminiscent of early Slayer, later Death, with some Maiden-like hooks and solos. The singing is terrible. I may have to pick up the album where Barlow is singing some of the tracks off this album, but seeing as the music was written with Adam in mind...I figured I'd start here. But "Iced Earth" is not the best song on this album, and is, as another reviewer agrees, a bit of a let down as the song the band is named after.

However, all the other songs are amazing in terms of the guitar-work. The singing, again, is horrible (the best tracks are probably the two instrumentals, "Solitude," and "Funeral." John Greely was definitely a step in the right direction.

What makes this album worthy of the title of "best album" is the fact that there is ABSOLUTELY NO FILLER. This surprises me, because Iced Earth tends to enjoy putting the listener through as much filler as anyone can bear. And when they don't, the albums have been somewhat lackluster in terms of the guitar-work (I think Barlow pushed Schaffer to the side when he joined...you hear a lot more creativity in the guitar on the first three albums).

This is a solid release for fans of thrash and power metal, and the most enjoyable album by Iced Earth. All the songs are good or great if you can get past the average vocals (the singer actually does a good job at the opening of "Life and Death," so I hesitate to call him absolutely terrible). But if it takes this kind of vocalist to allow Schaffer free reign, then so be it. Great album.

Great.......2006-10-27

Iced Earth really is great. Probably the best songs on here are Iced Earth and my personal favorite is Life and Death.

The vocalist honestly isn't as bad as everyone says. No, he's not as good as the following ones but these songs only suit his voice. Iced Earth with Matt just doesn't sound as good, nor do any of the other tracks on this album.

I guess this is where it all began............2006-08-30

I guess this is where the Iced Earth saga began. Listening to their mature stuff like "Something wicked this way comes", I thought their previous work would lack the punch, but I am proud to say that it is not. There are some interesting vocals here with melodious music. I simply devoured every single track on this CD and ran it 10 times in 2 days. I am a collector of their albums and I have another 2 of their albums to add to my collection, that is if they are not releasing another one soon.

Iced Earth's best album.......2006-05-26

this Iced Earth album is awesome. i dont like john or matt as singers. tim in the new album is awsome. my favorite song is iced earth , written on the walls , and colors. i dont get y people reviewed it saying that they hate gene adam's voice. he is awesome, especially in the song Iced Earth. BUY THIS CD.

A good debut, but buy Days of Purgatory instead.......2006-03-05

The three-star rating and the title may be a little misleading. Don't get me wrong, this is a GOOD album, but Gene Adam's vocals kinda ruin it. Pretty much all the best tracks on here are redone on Days of Purgatory, and they all sound a LOT better with Matt Barlow singing. But if you're a completist like me, or if you just want to hear where Iced Earth came from, this is still worth picking up.

So here's the track by track breakdown:

1. Iced Earth - The music is solid, and the lyrics are great (though they're sung horribly). However, for the song that has the band's NAME, it's a bit of a letdown. And probably not the best choice to lead off the album.

2. Written on the Walls - One of if not the best song on the album. This is the song where Adam's singing is the least offensive, and the guitars are great. It's really unfortunate this song didn't make it onto Days of Purgatory.

3. Colors - This is one of the most original and interesting songs Iced Earth has ever done. Who would ever expect a song from Iced Earth about getting mugged in a subway? Unfortunately, Adam's singing here is especially bad. The Days of Purgatory version is 1000% better, but this is still one of the best tracks on the album.

4. Curse the Sky - Again, another solid track that suffers from bad singing. But the rest of the band pulls their weight and almost makes up for it.

5. Life and Death - In my opinion, this is the weak point of the album. This song really drags in the beginning, and by the time it picks up, the song is halfway over. There's just not enough time left in the song to save it.

6. Solitude - This song gets big points for being an instrumental, because it's a much-needed break from Gene Adam's horrible voice. However, this one's short, and it serves mostly as a prelude to The Funeral.

7. The Funeral - Because this one's also an instrumental, it may be the best song on the album. I'd also go as far as to say it's Iced Earth's best instrumental ever, easily surpassing "1776" off of Something Wicked This Way Comes or their cover of Iron Maiden's "Transylvania."

8. When the Night Falls - This is another song with a slow build, but it works out better than "Life and Death." For one thing, it's longer, and the buildup doesn't take so long. This is a good solid track, and a great finish to the cd. And if you've made it this far in, you're probably desensitized to Adam's vocals by now.

Although my review may have come off a bit harsh, this IS a good cd. It just suffers from some of the worst vocals I've ever heard. Nonetheless, most of the best songs make it onto Days of Purgatory, and they all sound better there, especially "Colors." For a debut it's not bad, but due to the vocals I would definitely consider this the bottom of the Iced Earth barrel.

Average customer rating:

90s albums this great are hard to come by.
needs better vocals
Metal to the max
NO REMORSE!!! ITS TOO LATE!!!
Musical masterpiece

Night of the Stormrider
Iced Earth
Manufacturer: Century Media
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Progressive | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Iced Earth
Burnt Offerings
Something Wicked This Way Comes
The Dark Saga
Horror Show

ASIN: B000005HL6
Release Date: 1992-04-28

Tracks:

Angels Holocaust
Stormrider
Path I Choose
Before the Vision
Mystical End
Desert Rain
Pure Evil
Reaching the End
Travel in Stygian

Album Description

Remastered & remixed reissue of the prog-metaller's classic second album, originally released in 1991, it features new cover art & revised layouts! Century Media.

Customer Reviews:

90s albums this great are hard to come by........2007-03-16

Iced Earth are easily one of the best bands to debut on a record label in the 90s. If I wouldn't of known any better, I'd think this was an 80s classic/thrash metal album. They really capture that 80s heavy metal feel on this album. In my opinion it sounds like a mixture of Slayer, Metallica, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden most of the way through. But all the way, they have a very unique sound that is their own. Believe me when I say they are no imitators of the above bands. They have a style all their own influenced by the classic, great metal bands. The guitar easily stands out the most here. Jon Schaffer writes extraordinary music and riffs on NOTSR. He has some of the fastest hands I've ever heard on guitar, especially for a rhythm guitarist. He is definitely one of the most talented, underrated rhythm guitarists out there. There are so many classics on this album that will be stuck in your head after just a listen or two.

My favorite track on the album is the epic album closer- Travel In Stygian. It is so fast and the tempo and riffs keep changing the whole way through. The chorus is easily one of the best, if not the best on the album. My favorite riff on the entire album comes at 4:40 on this song when Schaffer just shreds on guitar. Other favorites of mine also include Stormrider(which I was surprised at how awesome Schaffer's voice was, as he sings on this one),Angels Holocaust, and Mystical End. There are two short acoustic songs which act kind of as intros for the song afterwards. Those two songs are Reaching The End and Before The Vision. Both are excellent, but the later of the two is better I personally think. Greely's vocals really shine on these two. John Greely does an amazing job on vocals for this album. His vocals are very dynamic, going from a nice, smooth, clean voice to an extremely heavy metal voice. He can also hit those high notes. He was an excellent choice by Schaffer. Is he as good as Matt Barlow? Probably not, but he's very close in my opinion.

This is an epic, dark, concept album. Whats not to like about that? To tell you the truth, I really can't find any problems with NOTSR whatsoever. Everything is just solid in all aspects. I was expecting a good album, but what I found was that this exceeded my greatest expectations. So that makes for an easy 5 star album.

needs better vocals.......2007-01-08

This is the first really good Iced Earth album. It has only one weak area, the vocals!!! You should get the Matt Barlow versions of the songs. The best songs are Angels Holocaust (my favorite Iced Earth song), Desert Rain, Pure Evil, and Travel in Stygian. This is also a great concept album telling a dark and sad story.

Metal to the max.......2006-11-22

Obviously, Iced Earth has never heard of "The Sophmore jinx". Because albums usually don't sound THIS good. An absolute clasic, to the end. There are many classics that are played to this day such as "Stormrider" and "Travel In Stygian". I recommend this to anyone who likes Iced Earth or any other metal band. Best metal album in my book, and hopefully in your book too.

NO REMORSE!!! ITS TOO LATE!!!.......2006-08-04

This is by far my favorite Iced Earth album to date, next to Burnt Offerings, Dark Saga, Horror Show, Something Wicked, Glorious Burden(although it took a while for Ripper to grow on me), hell, all the Iced Earth albums are f-ing amazing.

What distinguishes this album from their later releases is the the complexity, probally making this album the most complex from an American band at that time. Plenty of palm-muting and driving guitars and drums make this CD instantly-satisfying, and while the vocals arent Matt Barlow, he is better than alot of vocalists who where around at that time (especially James Hetfield when he mellowed his growl). The vocalist goes from operatic to downright Tom Araya-ish.

As for the songs, there is literally no bad songs, a trend that wont be stopped until Glorius Burden (I really, really hated all the 9/11 stuff, even though they have a great theme of patriotism.) My favorites, though, are Angels Holocaust/Stormrider, The Path I Choose, Pure Evil, Mystical End, and Travel in Stygian, probally the greatest closer to an Iced Earth album next to "Dantes Inferno".

Fans of metal in general should enjoy this. Also get IE's aforementioned albums.

Musical masterpiece.......2006-07-28

An awesome concept album, about a dammed warrior who brings death and destruction to Earth and in the end, hell awaits his unforgiving soul.
This there second album with new singer {this band has changed singers a # of times} John Greely who does an excellent job and a new drummer.
American Power Metal with a dark mood....the music really blends nicely for this dark concept album.
Travel In Stygian..... Man, wow!!!! What a song. Was the first Iced Earth song I heard years ago. I ran down to the record store {back then that is how you got music} No" they didn't have the tape so I bought there first album and had to wait months to order this one on CD from a mailorder catalog.
This album truly has that heavy metal magic that makes a classic and for me that magic would not really show back up with further Iced Earth releases till "Alive in Athens",
Stormrider is a must must must buy for any metalhead. Man I love this type Power Metal...

Average customer rating:

Great, Historical Modern Day Metal
great album but i do miss barlowe
Nice shot Mr john!
Not a Burden, Just Glorious!
Good stuff

Glorious Burden
Iced Earth
Manufacturer: Hunter
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Blues | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | Blues | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Something Wicked This Way Comes
Horror Show
The Dark Saga
Burnt Offerings
The Blessed and the Damned

ASIN: B0000YTOXA
Release Date: 2004-01-13

Tracks:

Star-Spangled Banner
Declaration Day
When the Eagle Cries
The Reckoning
Greenface
Attila
Red Baron/Blue Max
Hollow Man
Valley Forge
Waterloo
When the Eagle Cries (Unplugged)
The Devil To Pay
Hold At All Costs
High Water Mark

Customer Reviews:

Great, Historical Modern Day Metal.......2007-05-20

This was my introduction to Iced Earth. It may not be their best album, but it's still an extraordinary piece of work. As I'm sure you all know, this is Tim "Ripper" Owen's debut with the band. You're probably thinking that that's no good. Do not fret. Remember, this guy sang with Judas Priest. That ain't too shabby if you ask me. Now of course Iced Earth's best and most popular era was with Barlow. And rightfully so. He has the perfect voice for Iced Earth and did a superb job. But, Tim brings different things to the table. He can hit the high notes and the classic metal screech better than Barlow, although Barlow's was also excellent. "Ripper" doesn't have nearly as low or deep up a voice, which also changes things up quite a bit. All in all, Owens gives a more than average performance and is an exceptional replacement. This is unlike almost anything out there right now in the fact that this is very educational/ informal and all about history and war (mostly Civil War and a little World War I). Now I'm not a big guy on history, but if I had to choose, the Civil War and the World Wars would be my favorite topics. You don't have to like history one bit to enjoy this cd, although you may not get the full effect that a history buff might get out of it. Just listen to the amazing instruments and Owen's voice. They're enough to make your head spin.

Now, there are really no filler songs on here, with the exception of the introduction, the Star Spangled Banner, which is just simply exactly that. They don't mess with it or toy with it one bit, which kind of goes to show how Jon Schaffer feels towards history (Afterall, he did write a whole frickin' album about it). Easily, easily the best songs on here are the Gettysburg trilogy. First off, they're all epics and who wouldn't like that. You can really feel the emotion in Tim's voice on every song, but for me, most notably on Hold at all Costs, which has a beautiful acoustic intro that portrays Confederate General General Lewis Armistead speaking of his best friend, Union General Winfield Scott Hancock who he would soon be going against in battle. It then goes into a heavy, driving beat with Jon's galloping guitar lines. The last and best song on the album, High Water Mark, starts off with Tim Owens, portraying General Robert E. Lee, talking to Jon Schaffer, portraying General James Longstreet, voicing his concerns with the upcoming battle- Day 3 of the Gettysburg battle, the last, most important day of the Gettysburg fight. At about 8:50 on this song, Tim gives maybe his most emotional, greatest sounding vocals I've ever heard from him. They end the album off on an extraordinary high mark with this song.

Now, for the non-Gettysburg trilogy songs, a favorite of mine would be When The Eagle Cries, which is mostly acoustic and about the terrors of the 911 terrorist attacks. Also, Declaration Day and Red Baron/ Blue Max, which is easily the heaviest song on the album and amazing high-pitched vocals from "Ripper" on the chorus. Although Matt Barlow is not singing on this album, before he left the band, he co-wrote one song on the album, Attila, which is excellent. He also helped out with the bonus track, Waterloo, which is also awesome and should have definitely been included on the original album. There is also an unplugged version of When The Eagle Cries. This is an excellent little extra. Jon Schaffer's backing vocals on the chorus are much more clean and emotional for that matter. Jon Schaffer really shows his love for history on here, and that is very comendable and respectable of him to put out an album like this in this day and age when most people could care less about this type of stuff.

If you're wondering to get this two-disc album or the one-disc, I would go with the two-disc if you have enough money. It has two cool bonus tracks- Waterloo and When The Eagle Cries(Unplugged). The Gettysburg trilogy is also put on the second disc, which is nice. Included is a nice, fully detailed booklet, explaining the battle of Gettysburg fully and two pages of notes from Mr. Schaffer. He really did a huge part in keeping metal alive and kickin' when it was almost dead in the 90's. This is not your average album, so do yourself a favor and pick this one up. Jon Schaffer/ Iced Earth, I salute you!

great album but i do miss barlowe.......2007-04-08

this is one of iced earth's most ambitious efforts put on disk i feel, especially the 30+ minute gettysburg trilogy. however it somewhat falls just short of true greatness. i dont know what it is, but im pretty sure its ripper owens. now dont get me wrong, hes a very talented singer, but i feel barlowe was the ultimate voice of iced earth. lets put it this way. its just like when blaze bailey took over for bruce dickinson. yes blaze was a talented singer, but the absense of bruce's greatness was very obvious non the less. however i did get used to blaze after awhile (untill bruce's return) so ill probably be used to ripper also. other than that, this album still rocks, killer riffs, great atmospheric epics, and everything else you want in a power metal band. give this album a shot if you havent done so yet.

Nice shot Mr john!.......2007-02-22

That album has a lot of amazing thing in!!!

God blessed on Iced earth!

Not a Burden, Just Glorious!.......2006-12-27

WHAT AN AMAZING ALBUM! Jon Schaffer has outdone himself, for sure! I can't get over how emotional and amazing this CD was!

FIRST OFF, for those who hate this cause Barlow isn't in it. Who cares? Barlow was AWESOME, I will not take anything from him, and I agree he's better than Tim for this band. But he left on his own and pursued another career. He was backing vocals and even helped write one of the songs.

I own both 1 disc album and 2 disc version with the Gettysburg trilogy and both are awesome. But get the 2 disc version, it's worth the money. The "Waterloo" song is most excellent and the unplugged version of "When the Eagle Cries" is more emotional than the plugged. Making this CD just freaking awesome.

It's fighting "Something Wicked This Way Comes" for first on my list. It's very tough choices, but "Something Wicked" might win only because I enjoyed the songs a little more overall.

But this album has a lot of ups and very little downs. And the fact that Barlow isn't the lead vocals anymore should NOT turn you off to this band or this album.

Good stuff.......2006-11-09

Yeah people will probably not praise this album as much as all the other ones, but that's because you've been listening to Matt Barlow for the past 10 years or so. Matt will be missed, but he's off doing something great for his country. Iced Earth has always been able to offer up something new, and on this concept album, they offer us a new lead singer in Ripper Owens. What you have now is a singer who can stand out in front of the guitar work. Matt was a great vocalist, but I feel he was drowned out by Jon's shredding. Matt was a great compliment to that type of music, but I don't feel he ever really stood out. Blame Jon for that. Or can you?? Like with Demons & Wizards, the one thing that stands out the most to me is Hansi's vocals. The music is great and Hansi's harmony compliments it beautifully. What you get with Ripper is more or less the same as what you get on Demons & Wizards. Ripper's letting you know he's there as if he's competing with Jon for your attention...LOL

Average customer rating:

Metal is ALIVE IN ATHENS and in New York
Can anyone say Perfect?
Definite Live Collection!
Athens is Alive!!!
The only thing from Iced Earth you'll ever Need

Alive in Athens
Iced Earth
Manufacturer: Century Media
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Thrash & Speed Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Progressive | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The Dark Saga
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Days of Purgatory
Burnt Offerings
Horror Show

ASIN: B00000JKFY
Release Date: 1999-08-10

Tracks:

Burning Times
Vengeance Is Mine
Pure Evil
My Own Savior
Melancholy (Holy Martyr)
Dante's Inferno
The Hunter
Travel In Stygian
Slave To The Dark
A Question Of Heaven

Tracks:

Dark Saga
Last Laugh
Last December
Watching Over Me
Angels' Holocaust
Stormrider
Path I Choose
I Died For You
Prophecy
Birth Of The Wicked
The Coming Curse
Iced Earth

Album Description

1999 two disc live set recorded at a soccer stadium in Greece over two nights and featuring nearly three hours of music from one of the U.S.'s top dark metal groups. 22 tracks. Double slimline jewel case.

Customer Reviews:

Metal is ALIVE IN ATHENS and in New York.......2006-11-11

This is the cd that got me into this band, I was on the internet in a Heavy Metal chatroom and some kid around 17 ( I'm 2x that ) Told me about Iced Earth and sent me a sample of mp3..I was instantly interested, he told me to get this cd becuase it had alot of songs from their catalog of cd's. The production is excellent I must say, and the amount of music you get is well worth every penny. I love Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and "OLD" Metallica ( pre Black album) and this band has all aspects of those bands.
some of the highlights for me are "Melancholy, the 16 min Masterpiece "Dantes Inferno" Something wicked trilogy songs, etc.

If you love Tradtional Heavy Metal...buy this cd....NOW!!

Can anyone say Perfect?.......2006-10-04

I'm not going to babble on and on about this CD for many have already babbled. What i'm going to say is that this album is a great live album. Instead of getting 1 studio album or getting a best of collection, just get this album (similar to Iron Maiden((Live After Death))). Amazing. Only Iced Earth has the bravery of playing a 16+ minute song! More amazing riffs, half or whole ballads, long epics, short shredding solos to longer more melodic ones, this is a perfect album in all aspects. A Must have for any not just metal fan, but music lovers in general. Get This album NOW!!! Quit out of Amazon and look online for your closest music stores info! SEE IF THEY HAVE THIS. ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL

Definite Live Collection!.......2006-08-08

Iced Earth never fails to please me. This is THE live album, the live album that ranks up there with Decade of Aggression, Live After Death, and Live Scenes from New York. Everything about it is energetic and intense, and Iced Earth are one of those rare bands that sound just as good live as they do in the studio. No studio overdubs here, folks, just all out unadulterated metal.

Anyone new to Iced Earth should start here, just dont drool on the amazing artwork.

Athens is Alive!!!.......2004-09-02

Here we have it. We have here, one of the most awesome live albums in metal history. Rock in Rio can't even hold a candle to Alive in Athens, in my opinion. Almost everything about this album is completely mind-blowing. Most of the time, I'd rather listen to a studio version of a song rather than a live version, but not with Alive in Athens.

With Alive in Athens, Iced Earth takes the studio to the audience and multiplies the awesomeness on all kinds of levels. This is the true poster boy of all live albums. There are no mistakes, no breaks, or anything stupid. All there is room for is the pure power of heavy metal. I know Jon Schaffer traditionally doesn't use BC Rich guitars, but he used one well on Alive in Athens.

The guitars have a very heavy crunch sound, as if you're being beaten into the ground with a sledgehammer. The solos stand out more than on the studio albums, even though some parts couldn't be harmonized it's still just as good. The thing I would have changed would have been to take out "Last Laugh" as well as "The Path I Choose," and replace them with something like "Burnt Offerings" and "Consequences," maybe. Dante's Inferno on Alive in Athens easily beats the Burnt Offerings studio version. The sound is so sweet, crushing, heavy, and melodic.

I was glad to hear Barlow do the Night of the Stormrider material, because I wasn't a fan of Greely's vocals at all. Matt totally nails the NOTS material with ease, which brings a smile to my face each time I listen to it. When I first bought the album it was in my CD player for over a few months. Yes, it's that good! This album completely pulverizes any live Iron Maiden or Judas Priest album with ease. This album is worth every penny and should be owned by all heavy metal fans.

The only thing from Iced Earth you'll ever Need.......2004-08-23

This is probably the only thing from Iced Earth you'll ever need. The sound quality is almost studio perfection, very crisp and clear sounding, right up there with Slayer's Decade of Aggression or Exodus's Another Lesson in Violence or Metallica's S&M. Listening to this album makes me wish I was there, hearing the crowd chanting "Iced Earth, Iced Earth" just makes me want to chant along with them as they wait for the next bone crushing song. The highlights of this album for me are Burning Times, Pure Evil, Dante's Inferno, Stormrider, Dark Saga, and Iced Earth, all of these songs seem to have the energy that was needed in their studio albums, even the speed up version of Burning Times is very cool, the attitude of the song performance is quite overwhelming. This is again a very powerful album and a great introduction to Iced Earth, I will provide you with the tracklisting of the third disc of the set that I got so you can see that the three disc set is much better, and well worth the money.

Disc 3:
1. Stand Alone
2. Cast in Stone
3. Desert Rain
4. Brainwashed
5. Desciples of the Lie
6. When the Night Falls
7. Diary
8. Blessed are You
9. Violate

Average customer rating:

Iced earth owns
Iced Earth In Flames
Don't bother
Kings of 90s Metal

The Blessed and the Damned
Iced Earth
Manufacturer: Century Media
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Thrash & Speed Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Glorious Burden
Horror Show
Something Wicked This Way Comes
The Dark Saga
Days of Purgatory

ASIN: B0002IQAUY
Release Date: 2004-08-10

Tracks:

Burning Times
Wolf
The Hunter
Curse The Sky
Melancholy (Holy Martyr)
Stormrider
Burnt Offerings
Travel In Stygian (live)
Dark Saga
Written On The Walls
Damien

Tracks:

Angels Holocaust
Desert Rain
Last December
Watching Over Me
Pure Evil (live)
The Path I Choose
I Died For You
Disciples Of The Lie
When The Night Falls
Jack
Iced Earth
Violate (live)

Album Description

First-ever greatest hits collection from the leaders of the metal resurgence in North America. Over 2 hours of music on two CDs, 23 tracks, carefully remastered. 20- page booklet with foil-stamped cover with liner notes for each song from Iced Earth mastermind Jon Schaffer and a complete discography. An excellent retrospective for newly introduced fans as well as must-have for collectors and rabid fans. Take note this album has an alternate cover not pictured here.

Customer Reviews:

Iced earth owns.......2006-05-21

Okay a greatest hits album seems a good place to start for new fans no Iced earth is not a band that only makes good singles but they make killer Albums so instead buy their albums many of favorite Iced Earth songs are not featured but instead buy their records the level of passion that Matt Barlow puts in his voice touches me that may sound cheesy but they do OWN DEADTH TO FALSE METAL EMO POP!!

Iced Earth In Flames.......2006-03-22

The only reason I purchased this cd is because I had heard some of Iced Earth's stuff at a friends house. I liked the variety they add to their music and the stories they tell.

.......2005-09-06

A greatest hits package from Iced Earth is quite appropiate at this point in their career. Jon Schaffer's baby, technically, has seen its highs and lows throughout the years, from constant line up changes to rupturing one of his disks on his neck during a concert. Musically, they've always stayed on top, creating some of the most epic heavy metal, with an emphasis on the heaviness. Songs like "Disciples of the lies" and "Travel in Stygian" showcases just that, while tracks like "Melancholy" show how much power they can throw in a ballad and not sound overtly soft or poppy. This 2-CD package is packed with extensive linear notes from Jon himself in which you can see the tribulations he's gone through to keep his vision alive. Great visual presentation with stunning artwork complete this gem. If you're just getting into this band then this is the perfect vehicle to familiriaze better with them. You will see how they evolved from an early somewhat technical direction to a more straight-forward, stylized form of supreme heavy metal. I guess my only complaint is that many of my favorite songs were not included, but that's just a matter of taste. All hail Iced Earth!

Don't bother.......2005-07-01

This album was released shortly before Iced Earth moved to a new record label. This is, essentially, just one last cash in attempt by their older label. Not much of the track listing makes sense (like putting the song Damien on the disc titled The Blessed), but they did put most of the bands best songs on here. You would be much better off buying the three disc live album Alive in Athens, of Days of Purgatory.

Kings of 90s Metal.......2005-06-09

Finally, we get a proper collection of this great band's best work.

As the lone crusaders who kept the torch alive for heavy metal in that poorest of decades that was the 90s for real rock music, this compilation is a poignant showcase of the songwriting talent and tremendous courage of band leader Jon Schaffer.

Starting from the lowest of undergrounds and building their way through excellent records like "Night of the Stormrider", "Burnt Offerings", "The Dark Saga" and the extraordinary 1998 classic "Something Wicked this Way Comes", followed by the triple CD "Alive In Athens" (one of the greatest live albums of all time), we get here gem after gem in that journey.

'Burning Times', 'The Hunter', 'Melancholy', 'Stormrider', 'Disciples of the Lie', plus the murderous live versions of 'Pure Evil' and 'Violate' (this one fittingly ending with The Trooper's riff), are some of the highlights.

The artwork and huge booklet are just gorgeous, and the only thing keeping this from being a 5 star album are the glaring omissions of "Dante's inferno" and "A Question of heaven" (easily two of the Top 5 IE songs ever) and the lack of any kind of rarities for fans.

Jon is simply peerless as a metal rhythm guitar player and Mathew Barlow, the beloved and definitive Iced Earth's vocalist, sings with an emotion, power and range that not even Tim Owens could match in this decade.

After the 'Athens' glorious peak, the band decayed with two average releases, "Horror Show" (of which the most worthy tunes are included) and "Tribute to the Gods" (a covers album which luckily is not represented).

After that the band left Century Media (so ends the period chronicled here), poised for a big time that did not arrive, since Jon's health problems, Barlow's sudden departure and further band disintegration almost stopped IE on its tracks; with the arrival of Tim Owens and the release of a better new album ("The Glorious Burden") being the only rays of light.

But on the years chronicled here, discovering Iced Earth was like entering a parallel music world in which Metallica never stopped playing metal, Iron Maiden never lost its edge and Judas Priest never lost its sense of adventure.

And for that they'll always be remembered.

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

Recommended Music:

Unbearable Candies [Import]

Complete Sonatas 9

Gliere: Duets for violin & cello

Music: Mozart - Le nozze di Figaro / Gens · Ciofi · Kirchsch

Great Movie Love Themes: Five Star Collection

Disciples Of The 36 Chambers [Enhanced] [Explicit Lyrics] [Live]

Desire [Original recording remastered]

Future Fashion

Chocho Hasshi [Import]

Classic Film Scores of Henry Mancini Arranged by Gregg Nestor

Dig [Import]

Ecos Punzantes del Ayer

Det Loser Sej [CD-single] [Import]

Rumble in London

The Best of Kool & the Gang 1979-1987