ICED EARTH „The Glorious Burden”

This is a special treat for me as well as for everyone reading this review for this disc is not to be released till January of 2004 and we get a sneak preview good and early. Lets get this review started by saying that ICED EARTH has had of a face lift by adding a new guitarist and a new singer. The two new kids to the block are Ralph Santolla (ex DEATH & MILLENIUM) guitarist as well as Tim Owens (ex WINTERSBANE & JUDAS PRIEST) on vocals. Yes that is right I did say Tim Owens from JUDAS PRIEST. Tim was asked to come in and lay down the vocals on the disc when long time singer Mathew Barlow decided due to personal conviction within his heart it was time to step down from the mic. Mathew Barlow WILL BE MISSED but have no fear the vocal spot has been filled with a great voice that will take ICED EARTH to the next level. Tim delivers a vocal performance that brings back memories of his early years with WINTERS BANE to his most recent work with JUDAS PRIEST. I do believe that this is where Tim was to be all along. This disc was written straight from Jon Shaffer’s heart as well as his love for his country and history. Jon has put forth a lot of effort and work over the years to build ICED EARTH into the beast that it is today and he has nothing to be ashamed of with this disc for it shows that Jon is more then just a metal head. He is a proud American as well as a talented musician and a very talented writer. The disc covers many eras of history from our national anthem, Attila the Hun, to the great battle at Valley Forge. Also included on this disc is Jon’s touching tribute to the disaster of 9/11/01 with the song WHEN THE EAGLE CRIES. There are two versions of this song on the disc (electric as well as the touching acoustic version). There is only one weak spot on the disc and it is the song HOLLOW MAN. The song was written at the time of the HORROR SHOW CD but was never included on the disc. My thoughts are that the song HOLLOW MAN should have been included on the HORROR SHOW CD and the song GHOST OF FREEDOM from HORROR SHOW should have been on this disc. Over all this is the most mature disc to date for the band. I am not saying that the typical ICED EARTH fan will not like the disc but it is one of those cud’s that has to be heard a couple of times to be understood and to be able to pull all the depth of the disc out. By the third listen a true fan will be in awe of the incredible writing as well as the textured and well layered music that has been written for this chapter in the bands history. To close out the disc Jon has penned a trilogy of three songs that go under the heading GETTYSBURG 1863. Always being a huge fan of the song DANTE’S INFERNO from the CD BURNT OFFERINGS I thought I had heard Jon at his song writing best but I stand corrected. I myself live just twenty miles from the GETTYSBURG battle fields and am surrounded by the history of this history rich piece of earth. This trilogy gave me a new viewpoint to the area and has lead me to view Jon’s song writing in a whole new light. By far this has to be the best writing Jon has ever done in my opinion. This disc will make you take a whole new look at history and it will also make you take a whole new look at ICED EARTH. Let all ICED EARTH fans old and new usher in the new ear of the band. This is a great CD with only one area that I would change but you cant please all the people all the time but by far this is a must have disc.

note: 9 out of 10

Tracklist

1. STAR SPANGLED BANNER
2. DECLARATION DAY
3. WHEN THE EAGLE CRIES
4. THE RECONING (DON’T TREAD ON ME)
5. GREEN FACE
6. ATTILA
7. RED BARON / BLUE MAX
8. HOLLOW MAN
9. VALLY FORGE
10. WATERLOO
11. WHEN THE EAGLE CRIES (ACOUSTIC)
12. GETTYSBURG 1863
PART 1- THE DEVIL TO PAY
PART2- HOLD AT ALL COST
PART3- HIGH WATER MARK