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I recently bought Iced Earth`s new CD " THE GLORIOUS BURDEN", partly on a few positive reviews in magazines and also because they now feature ex Judas Priest vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens.
What a pleasant surprise!
The album rocks!
The band are like a mixture of Maiden/Priest/Metallica, a sorta traditional metal band who have learned from the thrash era, all mixed up in contempary production.
If you have heard Halford`s CDs, then it`s not a million miles away.
The album has a loose concept, all the songs pertain to battles in history (which is not as bad as it sounds), with band leader/songwriter Jon Schaffer`s lyrics being Steve Harris styled history lessons which, if nothing else, would give you an edge in any pub quiz questions about Waterloo or Valley Forge.
The highlight of the album is the 32 minute epic Gettysburg (1863).
Split into three sections, this is arguably the greatest conceptual metal song since "Rime of the ancient mariner". Orchestras, cannons, dualling metal guitars and screaming vocals mesh in an awesome piece of songwriting and arranging that NEVER gets boring.
Tim Owens also gets a fair shake, as when he was in Priest it was always "Bring back Rob Halford!".
Here he is judged on his own merits and his singing is awesome, almost enough to make you think that maybe the arguement that he is a better singer than Halford does hold water.
Iced Earth have arrived at true greatness.
I am as stuck in my ways as are many of us "traditional" metal fans, if you want to hear the best new thing going, I recommend this.
You cannot go wrong.
What a pleasant surprise!
The album rocks!
The band are like a mixture of Maiden/Priest/Metallica, a sorta traditional metal band who have learned from the thrash era, all mixed up in contempary production.
If you have heard Halford`s CDs, then it`s not a million miles away.
The album has a loose concept, all the songs pertain to battles in history (which is not as bad as it sounds), with band leader/songwriter Jon Schaffer`s lyrics being Steve Harris styled history lessons which, if nothing else, would give you an edge in any pub quiz questions about Waterloo or Valley Forge.
The highlight of the album is the 32 minute epic Gettysburg (1863).
Split into three sections, this is arguably the greatest conceptual metal song since "Rime of the ancient mariner". Orchestras, cannons, dualling metal guitars and screaming vocals mesh in an awesome piece of songwriting and arranging that NEVER gets boring.
Tim Owens also gets a fair shake, as when he was in Priest it was always "Bring back Rob Halford!".
Here he is judged on his own merits and his singing is awesome, almost enough to make you think that maybe the arguement that he is a better singer than Halford does hold water.
Iced Earth have arrived at true greatness.
I am as stuck in my ways as are many of us "traditional" metal fans, if you want to hear the best new thing going, I recommend this.
You cannot go wrong.
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