Metal Reviews

Now, I'd like to consider myself a fairly big Owens fan, first hearing him in Framing Armageddon, then from there I started downloading/buying his albums with Priest, Winters Bane, and Beyond Fear. Most of which is excellent, but he didn't fit too well with Priest although I loved Demolition.

I think I have to consider my favorite Owens album Winters Bane's Heart of a Killer. The music really fits well with his voice and he just sounds so young. Same with Beyond Fear, the music just matches great. Iced Earth it was written for Barlow but Owens still managed to do an excellent job following after the star of the show (Not including Glorious Burden). He also mixed very well with Malmsteen's show boating, Perpetual Flame was a fairly good album.

I also heard he did a demo way back when in a band called Brainicide, but I can't seem to find anything more than just a mention on his resume. And has there been any news on his supposed solo-album that isn't Beyond Fear?

He's an awesome singer. Shame he left IE but that's the music business he's used to it by now anyway.

I haven't heard any new news from his solo stuff yet. I'm hoping it's as good as his stuff he did with Beyond Fear.

Great singer indeed. I liked him on Glorious Burden, nyah.

Does anybody else here feel a little bad for Tim Owens? He's a great vocalist, but he never seems to get the respect he deserves. Neither with Judas Priest nor with Iced Earth (though Something Wicked Part 1 is one of my least favorite IE's).

Yeah, poor guy. He deserves a lot more kudos than he gets.

Iced Earth ~ Gettysburg = Ripper's finest moment

Well, I think Yngwie & Tim form a great tandem... Perpetual flame is a great album, the first great Yngwie album since Odyssey.

No. It's his own fault. He needs to quit joining these bands and stick with his own, do his own thing. We knew he would be leaving IE long before it was announced. When you're the singer in a band, who just put out part one of a concept album, you should be able to discuss the storyline. But every time he was asked a question about IE, he always blew it off and referred the answer to Jon, even if the dude wasn't present.

He's his own worst enemy. He has the mentality of a hired hand, and that's why he can't land a long-lasting gig. He needs to do his own thing, whether it's Beyond Fear or whatever. This upcoming solo album isn't it. It wasn't his idea to do it; it was the label's idea. Again, hired hand. It's like he has no confidence in himself as an artist, so he views himself as just a singer.

So no. I don't feel bad for the guy.

I agree . But still, I feel bad for him. He's an amazing vocalist.

+1000

I'd really like to see him find a permanent home in a band that can take advantage of his vocal talents, but set him aside from the bands he's performed in.

Great vocalist, loved him in Priest.

I think he's a fantastic singer, but not really the great of a songwriter - the Beyond Fear debut was just ok, and the better songs were the ones co-written with John Comprix.

He's also had the misfortune of joining two very big bands when they were at something of a low point. His work with Iced Earth is very underrated, but still a step down from their best work. The less said about his time in Priest the better.

I'm looking forward to this new solo album because of all the co-writers and superb musicians he is working with.

Actually I find the two albums he did with JP to be extremely underrated.

I wasn't a fan of Demolition but Jugulator was pretty awesome especially Catherdral Spires.

Tim Ripper Owens-Play My Game

http://www.myspace.com/timtheripperowens

http://www.timripperowens.com/index.html



Tracklist

01.Starting Over
02.Believe
03.The Cover Up
04.Pick Yourself Up
05.It is Me
06.No Good Goodbyes
07.To Live Again
08.The World is Blind
09.The Light
10.Play My Game
11.Death Race
12.The Shadows Are Alive

Cathedral Spires, the tough-guy vocal bits aside, is a great song, Burn in Hell is pretty good too. There's some awful shite on there though - Brain Dead, yech. The rest is just prettymuch below average, forgettable attempts at fitting in with the style of the time in my opinions.

Silly me for expecting something original.

Not bad for what it is, though.

Jugulator was a hard album to digest, but I've now come to see it as an awesome album. It has a unique sound and showcases a different side of aggression for Priest. I have to mention Bullet Train. That song is intense!

Totally agree. Those three tunes are fucking epic. I love how if you read along in the booklets, the whole scene just comes to life. Not sure I've ever encountered any concept album or trilogy of songs that create such a visual experience.

I guess you'd need to know a bit about the subject matter, but if you do, that whole package is simply awesome.

The ending of High Water Mark when Owens goes into falsetto singing "it's all my fault the blood is on my hands" like he was General Lee sent a chill down my spine that was a perfect falsetto.