A Matter of Ice and Earth

Which of their two latest albums do you like the most ?

  • Framing Armageddon: Something Wicked Part 1

    Votes: 7 70.0%

  • The Crucible of Man: Something Wicked Part 2

    Votes: 3 30.0%
  • Total voters
    10
____no5

____no5

Free Man
I'm a big fan of Iced Earth like pretty much everyone here.
When Crucible of Man released, I was simply wowed, after I gave to Framing Armageddon some more listens,
and been charmed by the later! This went on and on for a few months.

I love enormously from both albums, and usually I listen to them in-a-row, (and usually more than once)
and find it unbelievable that after 20 years of carreer they still can write such a powerfull music, so fresh, so inspired.

I wanted to know which of those two albums you like the most, as of me it's very difficult to decide; so let's say for today, The Crucible Of Man wins
 
I actually had a chat with an IE fan today, but he confessed he hasn't really listened to them since Barlow left. I admitted to the fact that I haven't given the wicked saga a listen either. So I have nothing constructive to say! :D Just found it odd that I was talking about this very topic today haha.
 
I think he meant to say that he hadn't listened to the recent albums.
 
Whoops, I thought "them" had to do with the band.
Because it's impossible to listen to these albums in the period before they were released (which is "since Barlow left").
 
I just did. I am afraid the explanation isn't going to be very long. I just think there are more memorable moments on part 2 than on part 1.
 
I like part 1 better. 

Although part 2 has better production and Barlow, it plods for way too long.  There are very few memorable moments, only 2 solos, and only one song (Come What May) with an atypical structure.  The first 6 or so songs all blur together, and it's only till the latter half of the album that the songs pull up above mediocre.

Also, part 2 has no blinding fast songs.  There's no "Ten Thousand Strong", no "Framing Armageddon".  There's nothing as good as "The Clouding", and there's nothing as fist-pumping as "A Charge to Keep".  Part 1 is just better songwise, and Ripper puts in an unreal performance.  Also, he's singing lines that were meant for him, a problem with the vocals on both The Glorious Burden and The Crucible of Man.
 
GuineaPig, you've basically said everything I want to say. I mean, when I first listened to part 2, I turned it off after half the album. I thought "meh". Then I listened to the album again, the whole album. I still thought "meh". That never happened with Framing Armageddon. Though I think that both albums suffer a bit (part 2 a lot more) from Jon Schaffer's recent lack of memorable riffs. I mean, where's the "Burning Times" main riff. Where is that pounding, simple yet brilliant riff from "Dark Saga"? Framing Armageddon has a lot of good riffs, but not many brilliant. In my book, Jon Schaffer, one of my favourite songwriters is declining.
 
GuineaPig, very good analysis !  :ok:
I didn't know that Glorious Burden was initially written for Barlow, but I find that he's doing an excellent job in The Crucible
 
Space Station said:
GuineaPig, very good analysis !  :ok:
I didn't know that Glorious Burden was initially written for Barlow, but I find that he's doing an excellent job in The Crucible
Click to expand...
Ripper and Schaffer did however rewrite some of the vocal melodies.
 
Interesting views by Yax -GuineaPig,
yet the only album of IE that I clearly find better than SW pt I& II is ....Something Wicked (1998)
I hugely appreciate also Horror Show & of course Burnt Offerings, but less than these two
 
Both albums are almost tied for me. Songwriting, atmosphere and theme are equally brilliant, so the only factor where I can actually decide is preference of vocals... and that trophy has to go to Barlow. I like Ripper's work on Framing Armageddon, but the songs wouldn't suffer if Barlow sang them, as can be heard on Setian Massacre and The Clouding on the I Walk Among You single. Sorry, Yax. ;)
 
This is so easy. Part two contains the breathtaking "Crown of the Fallen"  & "The Dimension Gauntlet".

Apart from that, part one has a lot of little skip fillers. 
 
Forostar said:
This is so easy. Part two contains the breathtaking "Crown of the Fallen"  & "The Dimension Gauntlet".
Click to expand...

:o
Pt I contains : Something Wicked Pt.I, Setian Massacre, 10.000 Strong, Order of the Rose,
The Clouding, The Domino Decree, Framing Armageddon & more  :blink:

Forostar said:
Apart from that, part one has a lot of little skip fillers.   
Click to expand...

The only filler is A Charge To Keep, really
 
A Charge To Keep is one of my favourite songs from those albums.
 
Perun said:
Both albums are almost tied for me. Songwriting, atmosphere and theme are equally brilliant, so the only factor where I can actually decide is preference of vocals... and that trophy has to go to Barlow. I like Ripper's work on Framing Armageddon, but the songs wouldn't suffer if Barlow sang them, as can be heard on Setian Massacre and The Clouding on the I Walk Among You single. Sorry, Yax. ;)
Click to expand...
I hate The Clouding with Barlow.  :P
 
Setian Massacre is the most repetitive song IE has ever made. All the time the same.   :yawn:

Framing Armageddon is very good though. More than the half of the other tracks on pt. 1 don't reach that level. Don't misunderstand me, there are some good tracks on pt. 1, but too many weaker ones to call it as good as pt. 2.
 
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