Metal Reviews

No i think that was Horror Show.

Horror Show kicked ass. Just as good as Something Wicked

Horror Show came out first?

Actually Jon Schaffer had announced when Something Wicked was first released that at some point Iced Earth would be doing a continuation of the Set Abominae story line, so I wouldnt call this a sign of the well running dry (all though there are reasons to say that it is running dry, The Glorius Burden being one of them, in my opinion).



Tribute to the Gods first came out with the Dark Genesis boxed set which also included remasters of the first three Iced Earth albums and a cd version of the demo "Enter the Realm" which supposedly got Iced Earth their first record deal. The boxed set came out I believe just a few months after Horrow Show was released, and then Tribute to the Gods was made an individual release a year or so after that. And yes, for the most part, its really filler stuff, but I think the cover of Hallowed be Thy Name is awesome.

Hmmmm, Iced Earth's going Queensryche. Anyway, the Something Wicked concept album has been in limbo already since 1998. Actually, Horror Show was originally going to be a 4 song EP and IE's real next album was going to be a continuation of Something Wicked, but due to some creative decisions and contractual obligations, Horror Show became a full-blown album and Jon put the whole Something Wicked continuation on hold. And then came The Glorious Burden which is actually a great album. Tim Owens is a really good vocalist, and I like how he has his own distinct sound (closest to Halford) rather than just trying to imitate Matt Barlow.

And as I said in another thread, Tribute To The Gods is a good covers album when put into the context of what it's intended to be: A simple novelty. It isn't supposed to be anything really mindblowing or original. Just a nice "extra" for the Dark Genesis Box Set and hardcore IE fans like myself. The covers of Highway To Hell, Hollowed Be Thy Name, God of Thunder, Screaming For Vengeance and Cities In Flames are awesome.

Speaking of Hardcore Iced Earth fans, anyone else got the Melancholy EP?? Mines number 556, Its like my prize possession!

According to Archives:
"An unlimited version was released in 2001 including the 2 bonus tracks."

So, no point to owning it other than sheer fanboyism.

Dam fucking right!!!

I dont think Owens ever wanted to imitate Barlow, and he hasnt which is great. I dont think Owens even imitated Rob Halford. Owens is a vocalists with such a unique voice, people should choose to imitate him.

I never thought Owens was a Halford clone, never thought they sounded similar, apart from being top screamers. If i were to compared someone to Halford, i'd give that to D.C. Cooper of Silent Force.

I just hope these 2 new albums work. I've seen bands return to the thing which made them big, or try to re-create their best album/efforts...and its never been the same. Its either not worked well or just a decent effort.

I am hopeful that this will work as he is basing the whole 2 albums on the trilogy of songs from one album, instead of trying to repeat a whole album...he has plenty to work with, creativity is open wide

Get out! I have 313 of 1,500. I had bought two when it came out, then sold the other for $50 of eBay! =) And the 2001 version is irrelevant as it came out 2 years after the original.

A Queensryche? What does that mean? Just because they're continuing a story? I don't think it's even closely similar. Queensryche have changed into a completely different band since the original Mindcrime album, Iced Earth have not, save for the very different new vocalist. Personally, I think it would very cool for Jon to release, prior to the next two Something Wicked albums, an EP with the original three Something Wicked tracks re-recorded with Tim on vocals. That way the continuity is there, you know?


I agree. As a novelty it's not bad, but if you're looking for something mindblowing look elsewhere. I still feel it lacks passion. I wish each song was like their cover of "Electric Funeral." Now THAT cover is fucking awesome! Barlow is seething with passion!

Well, there's no denying the similarities. I mean, aside from the scream he can sound exactly like Halford at times. I agree that he has more uniqueness than he's given credit for, but if you've never thought they sounded similar you have wax build-up! Kidding aside, he's a tremendous vocalist and he's definitely right up there with the greats of past generations, something you can't very well say about many other vocalists.

Ripper is one of the most underrated vocalists in metal. If you ask me, there are very few people who could have filled Halford's shoes, but he is one of them. If only Tipton and Downing had kept up the songwriting part of the bargain. A similar problem on The Glorious Burden; great performance by Ripper, but some boring songwriting throughout a lot of the album.

I agree he is indeed an underrated vocalist.And I wish people would get off of his back about replacing Barlow.Hey I liked Barlow a lot and he was very good with IE but he's gone get over it.I think Tim fits very well with Iced Earth.

And Eyesore that would be so damn cool if Jon did a remake of the Something Wicked trilogy with Owens on vox.I would pay a lot of money to hear that.

Who knows him? Pass this idea along. He doesn't even need to re-do the music, he can just have Tim sing over the masters like Matt did for the Days Of Purgatory album.

That would be a good idea; when I saw them live, they did the Something Wicked Trilogy and Ripper sounded awesome on it.

Given my personal distaste for Ripper's vocals (it has nothing to do with Matt or Halford, I see Ripper as a unique vocalist whose style I just dont like) and since I really dont like the musical direction Jon Schaffer has taken lately (I can only tolerate two songs on the Glorius Burden and after a while, the new Demons & Wizards got dull for me), I think my overall response the complete Something Wicked works will be similar to my reaction to the Matrix releases rather than Queensryche's rehash of Operation Mindcrime:

First release, godly
Second release, one or two songs worth repeating
The third release I'll just probably want to smash against a wall

I love how everyone calls him "Ripper". It's like the lamest nickname ever. Even lamer than FrigidSymphony.

He calls himself Ripper! And yeah, I agree, FrigidSymphony is fucking gay!

so's power metal

but the fact that he calls himself Ripper is also kinda lame... i mean, it's ok onstage, but addressing him as Ripper in a press conference would really suck...