This CD was originally one of the 5 discs in the 'Dark Genesis' box set. Luckily Century Media decided to release it as a single CD also. Iced Earth are one of today's metal bands that still holds the classic metal banner up high. So getting a disc of songs that were influential to them has to be a treat. I think they have done a great job covering their favorite tracks. It's also cool that they have not just thrown in the tracks that have already appeared on other releases, but as far as I can see, they have only put out newly recorded songs. The opening track is the best one in my opinion. I've heard on the internet how people have been saying how much Matt sounds like Paul Stanley, and here is the proof! I also like the 2 Iron Maiden tracks a lot, but Matt comes a little short on the last of them. He's no Bruce Dickinson, that's for sure. (Funny, I always heard more similarities to the English one in his voice, rather than the face painted American!?!) Anyway, this is yet another stellar tribute album, ranking alongside those that Metallica and Powergod released, and far better than the crap Helloween produced.

Killer tracks: Creatures Of The Night, The Number Of The Beast, Highway To Hell, Screaming For Vengeance, Dead Babies, Black Sabbath, Hallowed Be Thy Name

'The Glorious Burden' line-up.

THE GLORIOUS BURDEN (2004) SPV/STEAMHAMMER (2CD, digipak)

We're barely writing 2004, and one of the most anticipated album for this year is already out. And the hype everyone is talking about is of course how Tim "Ripper" Owens makes Iced Earth sound. Long before the album, and even before the EP, was out, the rumor was that he sounded amazing. But the question still remained, would he be a worthy inheritor to the vocal-throne. After all, fans of this band all agreed that Matt Barlow was highly responsible for Iced Earth's appeal, due to his strong and unique voice. Here I can only speak for myself. And my answer is both yes and no. There is no denying that Tim does an outstanding job here. He also has a strong voice, and he is even more varied than Matt ever was. Anyone familiar with his former, pre-Judas Priest, band, Winter's Bane, knows that the man is capable of much more than copying Rob Halford. On the other hand, I really do miss Matt on some places throughout the album. Especially the slower, more somber parts, practically screams for the melancholic style of Mr. Barlow. You do get to hear his voice in the background though. He is very easy to spot on the track "When The Eagle Cries". All in all, I don't think they could have found a better replacement for Matt. Still, Tim makes the band sound less original, in my opinion. What about the music then? Well, that is another thing altogether. The music is simply outstanding! If they had left out "The Star-Spangled Banner", there would not be one single dead spot on the entire album. One killer track follows the other, making 'The Glorious Burden' an instant Iced Earth favorite of mine. I know some people have complained about the nationalistic themes on the album, but that doesn't bother me one bit. Maybe that is because I rarely take notice of secular bands lyrics. Songs like "Declaration Day" and "Valley Forge" will easily become part of the Iced Earth hall of fame. I even dare to say that the epic "Gettysburg (1863)" is the weakest track on the album. And anyone who has heard that mighty composition knows what a compliment that is to the rest of the platter. I believe that this has to become a top 3 contester for the album of the year in 2004. So what are you waiting for? GO BUY!!!!!!!

Killer tracks: Save for the opener; ALL OF THEM!!

FRAMING ARMAGEDDON - SOMETHING WICKED PART 1 (2007) SPV/STEAMHAMMER (Digipak)

When Jon announced that he was going to expand on the "Something Wicked (Trilogy)", and create at least 2 albums worth of material continuing this story, pretty much every Iced Earth fan on the planet started frolicking! Soon the debate whether or not new singer Tim Owens could pull it off or not began. I say this is basically up to each and every listener/fan. If you like Tim's work, you'll love 'Framing Armageddon', if you don't, well..... you're loss! This is one monster of an album. Words like epic, monumental, bombastic and masterpiece must be used when describing it. Jon has created another diverse album, and I have always loved how he writes some of the most dynamic metal albums in this day and age. The songs can be heavy and fast, like "Something Wicked Part 1" and the fabulous "Ten Thousand Strong" (one of the best songs in the bands entire career!). But he can also mellow it all down, without sounding wimpy, like in "A Charge To Keep" and "Order Of The Rose". He is also capable of doing both! Just check out "The Clouding". Tim is delivering the performance of his lifetime. And to anyone who still is missing Matt (myself included), I truly believe that this album would not have been the same without Tim. It was written for him, and Matt would not have pulled it off in the same manner. The only real downer to this record must be all the instrumental tracks. Now, they don't bother me that much, and they are not as prevalent as the ones on Manowar's "Gods Of War". But they are there, people are gonna complain, and the album would have been just as good without them. 'Framing Armageddon' contains everything you've ever loved about Iced Earth. And to me it sounds like a logical step in the bands journey. It's nothing particularly groundbreaking here, but it is what this band does best. and that is all we as fans can ask for. And as long as the material is as memorable as this, I will continue to call myself a fan. I can't wait for the second chapter in this saga, due out in 2008! 'Framing Armageddon' will sure appear in a top spot on my best releases of 2007 list.

Killer tracks: All of them!!

2008 touring line-up.

Left to Right: Troy Seele, Freddie Vidales, Jon Schaffer, Matt Barlow, Brent Smedley
 

CRUCIBLE OF MAN - SOMETHING WICKED PART 2 (2008) SPV/STEAMHAMMER (Digipak)

Jon has always done things his own way. After all, Iced Earth is his child! So even though he was in the midst of creating his life long dream, the "Something Wicked" saga, he still decides to alter the line-up once again. Tim Owens is out, and finally we get Matt Barlow back. Jon was made aware of the fact that Matt was once again doing metal, now with Pyramaze, so he decided to ask him to return to the fold, so to speak. I quickly adapted to Tim's role in Iced Earth, and after seeing them live on the last tour I was more then content with having him as their front man. But apparently Jon felt otherwise, and his suspicions were fueled by what the fans told him on that tour: they wanted Matt back. So here he is!

'Crucible Of Man' took me a lot longer to get into than 'Framing Armageddon'. The songs sounded samey, and there weren't any obvious highlights. Jon's riff aren't the most inventive, so you always get the feeling that you've heard it all before. But rest assure, repeated listening often remedies "bad" first impressions. And now I absolutely love this CD! It's as majestic and epic as could be expected, and everything I wrote about Part 1 of this saga is also true for Part 2. Save for the parts about the interludes, that is. Because 'Crucible Of Man' contains real songs with vocals. And only the intro and outro are not full songs. Matt sounds great, as always, and Iced Earth suddenly sounds "right" again. He doesn't do much if himself, perhaps, and he is certainly not as versatile a singer as Tim. But he has 100% more charisma and charm.

It's also quite easy to follow the story line this time. Maybe I wasn't paying that much attention to it on Part 1, but I totally get the story of the the demonic messianic leader, Set Abominae. Here we follow him from his birth, through his transformation, and up to this day and age. It's easy to see that this is the story of an Anti-Christ. And as such it follows along the same lines and subjects that Jon always has written.

Fans should know what to expect from 'Crucible Of Man', and I can't see how any long time fan of Iced Earth can be disappointed by this album. I know I am playing the crap out of "Behold The Wicked Child", "A Gift Or A Curse?" (with Jon doing the lead vocals once again!), "I Walk Alone" and "Harbinger Of Fate" to mention some highlights. Jon and Matt are apparently in the process of re-recording 'Framing Armageddon'. So soon we'll get a box set with the entire "Something Wicked" saga with Matt on vocals.

Killer tracks: I like them all.

Jon Schaffer and yours truly. Picture taken at their gig in Oslo 10/22/2007.

Ti m "Ripper" Owens guest appearances:

Avantasia - 'The Wicked Symphony'

Ralph Santolla guest appearances:

Jorn - 'Starfire'

Jon Oliva's Pain - 'Global Warning'

Bobby Jarzombek guest appearances:

Rob Rock - 'Garden Of Chaos'

Related artists:

Demons & Wizards, Control Denied, Judas Priest, Winters Bane, Beyond Fear, Death, Testament, James Murphy, Rob Rock, Riot, Halford, Millenium, Yngwie Malmsteen, Pyramaze