Metal Reviews

I think this is good news...I'm not a huge Iced Earth fan, but Alive in Athens has got to be one of my favorite albums, even though it's the only thing I have by them. But, Jon still has to write good stuff for the next album to be really great, I think.

I'm glad that Barlow is still in Pyramaze, though. I'm just as anxious to see how that turns out as the next Iced Earth.

The timing couldn't be worse.

Right before a tour, right smack dab in the middle of a concept album series.

Matt WANTED to leave. If you all remember, he didn't have the heart to go through with the band. And Jon called Matt? Sounds like he begged him to come back, perhaps because Ripper wasn't what Jon wanted him to be.

I never wanted Matt to leave IE in the first place, but Matt made that decision to leave.

And remember the heaps of praise Jon laid on Ripper, that he had the perfect voice for the band, the "voice Jon could mold", so to speak?

I'm glad to see Matt back, but it should NOT have happened until AFTER the concept albums were done. Or even better, use a method like 3 Inches of Blood and utilize BOTH singers in the band for a truly unique sound.

I felt Ripper made Framing Armageddon a great album. I really feel like Iced Earth is once again shooting themselves in the foot.

You know what the worst part is? This is coming from a HUGE fan of the band, that compares this bands exploits to that of Iron Maiden, seeing they could easily become the next big thing in metal if it weren't for mistakes like the one that happened today. Horrible timing. If this had to be done, do it after the tour and after the concept series. Or USE BOTH OF THEM! I repeat, 3 Inches of Blood uses two singers and it's an awesome effect.

And to Jons comment that Iced Earth is back? Thanks to Ripper, Iced Earth never left.

This is why I think Tim had more to do with this than Jon. Jon isn't a stupid man. Why would he decide to get two different vocalist to do the second album here? I mean, this is a guy that waited years to do this concept, not wanting to release it on Century Media. It seems a stupid thing for him to make this choice. The more I think about it, the more I think Jon had no choice but to find a new singer.

Lawlz @ Ripper.

Pointless...like that space between your lower lip and neck.

So says the idiot who just made a pointless post.

And no, I don't mean myself.

I was once a pretty big fan of the band but once Matt left I kind of went to.Still own all their shit but the new stuff doesn't "do it" for me.Not like Matt's era did.I keep Days of Purgatory next me all the time.I'm glad the man's back,though I hope there is more songwriting like on the original SW,the concept cd 1 is too goofy for me.I'll also ignore the gossip and speculation,its their lives.

I made a funny, though. That makes it okay.

HELL YEAH!!!!Best news ever i am totally psyched and i hope the new album doesn't take too long!And if they visit this side of the world...oh damn!

I agree up to a point, Iced Earth with Tim was a different story, a great band, but not close to the feeling they had with Barlow.

This could be a great thing, but it could turn out to be a failure....
And two singers - i don't agree. Those two are too powerful and charismatic to sing together. This is not Allen - Lande sort of band... The real question is: will this work after all the years and tensions?

I don't like this. I was really looking forward to part II with Ripper, the man's performance on part I is maybe the best this year, and much better then his previous work with Beyond Fear and Winter's Bane. This announcement doesn't make much sense to me, we'll see what Ripper has to say about it.

Anyway, does this mean Barlow quit being a policeman?

This is great news. Barlow probably has the most rock/metal voice in the business. Frankly, I love IE, but I don't listen much to their stuff. I prefer to listen to IE's covers, 'Burnt Offerings'. Barlow really impressed me on KISS's 'God of Thunder', BOC's 'Burnin for You' and many more.

On the whole, it's great to have him back.

Yeah, I'm not sure about this either. Ripper did a great job with Framing Armagedddon, seems a bit odd to leave now.

Happy days. Can't say i'm to bothered about the ripper leaving. He wasn't bad, he just wasn't matt barlow.

This seems too good to be true, honestly. For me, IE just isn't the same without Barlow. However, I really hope people don't now start disregarding the Tim Owens era the way they do the Blaze Baley era with Iron Maiden and the also Tim Owens era with Judas Priest. The Glorious Burden and Framing Armageddon Part 1 were excellent albums. And deserving of every IE fan's respect.

Hmm... Ripper was in Priest for a few years and Rob returns. He was in Iced Earth for a few years and Matt returns. I have listened to just one track from IE, "The Hunter". Who is the vocalist in that one?

Every since I heard that the Barlow was getting invovled with Pryamaze , it was only going to be a matter of time that Barlow made his way back to IE. It makes for great marketing ..The return of Barlow...I say that's was every metal fan's dream of the return of Barlow to IE....

This is huge news!! Never thought I would see this happen. I am one of those who much prefer Barlow and think he has one of the best voices ever in metal! But unlike many on the Barlow side I thought Tim did a pretty good job in IE too.

Now I did not care for the Ripper albums much but that was due to Jon's poor songwritting not Tim's singing.

Also, as some have mentioned, Jon did rip Barlow's on his way out the door and that really pissed me off. I lost a lot of respect for Jon after that because Matt is a class guy and to rip one of the best ever voices in metal is just ignorant.

Hopefully Jon has learned from all of this!

Welcome back Matt!!!!!!!!

Matt back again with Iced Earth?
I have never doubt it, but this is further proof that:
THERE IS A GOD

Agreeing with both of you. I am now extremely apprehensive about how Framing 2 is going to turn out. Ripper made that album what is is, and as much as I like Matt Barlow, Ripper did things on that album that Matt just can't do. That's not a slam on Barlow, it's just Ripper has an unbelievable amount of range. They are completely different types of singers. I'm afraid that it's not going to sound as epic as Part 1 sounded with Matt behind the mike. If Ripper left on his own, then of course Jon had no choice, but Tim really should be the guy singing on Framing Part 2.