Metal Reviews

Schaffer has been quoted on saying he has begun writing on the new Iced Earth album, and that it will be the Something Wicked album. he has also been quoted as saying he wants it to be a double album.

I LOVE Iced Earth, and so far most every album they have come out with has been a great listen. The only problems I see right now is that Schaffer still needs to find a new guitar player, bass player, and drummer, and he has to work hard for the new album to live up to the original trilogy.

UNRELATED NOTE: Who got the Iced Earth Gettysburg DVD? I thought it was worth it for the interview and vids of The Reckoning and When the Eagle Cries. Gettysburg in 5.1 was a nice bonus, and the battlefield tour is interesting on a night when you want to relive an epic battle (rare night indeed, but it happened for me and I got into it a bit).

It seems strange to me that Jon wants to delve back into the past to relive a previous album's success. He's always looking towards the future and always looking to create something new.
If Iced Earth were to have another "trilogy" album, perhaps they should do something different than what they have done before. Either way, i'm damn sure i'll enjoy it

I'm sure whatever they do will be great. It's a good point about needing to find a bass player, guitar player, and drummer though.

This is no surprise about the SWTW II, he's been quoted in some interviews last year that it was a possibility, as for the guitar player etc, well i'm sure he'll find replacements, is frustrating though that bandmates keep leaving the band. It should be interesting though hearing Ripper on this album if it does get made, maybe it will change some perception that he's just another Halford clone and can't fit IE's style.

Few years ago, I think even before the Horror Show I remember reading that Jon wanted to make a concept album based on that Something Wicked Trilogy story, so maybe this is it.

Yeah, Jon has been talking about a full album based on the trilogy ever since the Something Wicked album came out. This is no attempt to cash in on the popularity of a previous album. He's wanted to do it ever since he wrote those three songs.

Personally, I could care less. I think anything he does will be great. He'll secure a band line-up. It's not like he needs bandmates to write songs, Jon is Iced Earth, he just needs people who can play and there are plenty of those people out there.

Looks like the year of the part IIs. First Keeper Of The Seven Keys II, then Operation Mindcrime II, now Something Wicked II. What next? Master Of Puppets II? That would be interesting. Or maybe Number Of The Beast II. But since Maiden is out to release a live album in August this year, looks like it will be Live After Death II ,which in my opinion, is one of the greatest live albums ever. I sincerely hope the album isn't promoted that way.

Keeper of The Seven Keys III.. II was in like 1989 I think.

Actually, the follow-up to Something Wicked was originally going to be a continuation of the Something Wicked Trilogy and Horror Show was just going to be an EP. Then it became a full-fledged album, and now the next Iced Earth will hopefully continue the Something Wicked trilogy. Please, Jon, get this album out within the next year! Also, good luck continuing where Matt left off, Owens.

That's something I never really agreed with. On Jugulator and Demolition, Ripper sounds nothing like Halford, he used his voice in totally different ways, and to different effect. Tipton and Downing really knew that they were doing when they chose Ripper, and so does Schaffer. He's one of the few singers that may actually have the ability to compete with Halford, but that doesn't mean he's a clone. I definitely regard him as a vocalist with his own style.

Oh yeah. Goofed up on that one.

He CAN sound like Halford, but he doesn't sound like him all the time. On "The Reckoning" he really shows his Halford side, but in general he only slightly resembles him vocally. He should definately be considered a unique singer in his own right.

sorry guys, but uh, i dont know about you but lately jon hasnt been up to par, im not too crazy about the glurious burden or crimson king but i have faith that he's still got it in him, im hopeing for the best but i keep thinking its ganna put wicked to shame

I don't know why anyone would think that. TGB was great and Crimson King is awesome! Especially the version with the bonus tracks!! "Spatial Architects" and "Lunar Lament" are two of the best songs on the album...why they're bonus tracks and "Immigrant Song" isn't is beyond me! I smell a shitty "label decision" there.

noone can replace barlow. ripper is a cool singer, but barlow kicked ass on swtwc. a classic...

I know some of you has said it,but let me add a little to it:

When Jon wrote the something wicked trilogy it was supoused to be a prelude to a conceptual album, i have a bootleg video live in montreal where barlow says the same thing before playing part one of the trilogy.
Jon was having troubles with century media(they werent paying him enough) so he decided that they didnt decerve the conceptual album so he kept a few songs from demons and wizards to himself, and then he released what would be his last album with century media, a somewhat conceptual album about monsters (Horror Show), and he must thought no one would ever noticed (altough it was a really good album).
Jon was now free of the century media contract so it was now time for the conceptual album about set abominae,but then 9-11 happened,and he tought that he had to write a record about it (Glorius Burden).
Now i really liked the glorius burden as a separete thing from the other albums, and i believe this next album its going to be great,just to say that something wicked its not my favorite iced earth album and that if you listen to the older iced earth albums you will find how much they change form disc to disc so its only natural that the next album will not sound too much a like to glorius burden.
As for the vocals tim ripper kicks ass,and jon should let him write more.

I like Ripper i think he has a unique voice, sure he can sound like halford alot , but like you guys said earlier, he doesnt do it all the time and I liked The GLorious Burden alot, i was referring to other fans out there who posed the question that he doesnt fit theyre style, i personally like him alot and i know that SWTCII is gonna kick ass whenever it comes out. :twisted:

Ripper is one of those vocalists who can fit any style of metal. With Priest, those two albums were never speedy ala Halford Priest, and Ripper was great with those mid-paced albums.
With Iced Earth we saw how he changed to suit the faster songs and only in one TGB song did he have simalarities with Halford (The Reckoning).
He has his own unique style and only his high pitched cries have people thinking of Halford. Apart from that, those two are very different.

I would be interested to hear this. I liked the first album as a whole alot. I love Ripper's voice and he can fit IE, it just has to be a good album. My main problem with TGB is, aside from the mighty trilogy, the rest of it just kinda fell flat. "Greenface" is one of the worst songs I've ever heard them do, and "When the Eagle Cries" is a little too sappy for my tastes. Schaffer also needs to be a little bit more original with his riffing. But, hopefully he'll get back on track with this one. He better not soil one of his best albums with a shitty sequel!

I don't have any problems with Jon's riffing. To me, he sounds like a combination of all his influences but like noen of them at the same time. He has certain aspects that pop in from time to time, most notably the gallop, but that's his style, and IE would sound weird without those trademarks.