Iced Earth

I used to love Iced Earth. I saw them at least 6-7 times over the years, including once with Ripper and once during the Barlow reunion. They used to be powerful, magical, and a hell of a band, but I just don't think Schaefer has it in him anymore.

After some unspectacular albums, he managed to get Barlow back in the band and the music was practically stillborn. Now that Barlow is really gone, I can't say as though I care anymore. I still think Burnt Offerings through Horrow Show are amazing, but beyond that I'm done.

Don't get me wrong, I like Stu and I think he has potential, but Schaefer has reached his songwriting limit. This is a band in serious need of stepping outside the box and taking some musical risks.
 
Agreed, but Stormrider is good too. That was before Burnt Offerings wasn't it? But yea, those are pretty much my thoughts. That last album they did with Barlow pretty much proved that even he can't save that band anymore.
 
Yeah, Stormrider is a few years before Burnt Offerings, as is the s/t. I honestly cannot listen to those first two albums, though, the singing drives me crazy. The Barlow compilation Days of Purgatory is incredible, and is something I wish Maiden would do with the Di'Anno and Blaze eras, ft. Bruce.

To be truthful, I really don't like Burnt Offerings, but most Iced Earth fans would sacrifice me for such an opinion.
 
If I want to listen to something from Stormrider, I go for AiA. Vocals are awesome on that and they cover all the good songs.

Burnt Offerings is my 2nd favorite album by them. It took awhile to get into (and honestly, Barlow doesn't sound great) but I love it now. The sound is darker, moodier, and more aggressive than their other stuff. You want a controversial opinion? In comparison to Burnt Offerings, I think the followup, Dark Saga, is a bit of a disappointment.
 
I think the singing from Greely suits the Stormrider album very very well. He varies his voice to suit the different types of passages and emotions (although I'm a Stormrider fanboy so...). Although I don't like Adam too much from the first album, I can really only listen to When The Night Falls and even that song has annoying vocals.
 
I don't think that's too controversial among IE fans. I prefer Dark Saga, but that's only because I feel the songwriting on BO is quite unrefined and occasionally sloppy.

But Alive in Athens is definitely the best of the best.
 
It's bearable, the whole album has a raw quality that sets it apart from the rest. I don't mind Greely's singing, but I don't think it's very good.

AiA and Days Of Purgatory made me realize that the vocals and production are the least of the debut's problems. The music just isn't good. WTNF being the obvious exception.
 
MrKnickerbocker said:
I don't think that's too controversial among IE fans. I prefer Dark Saga, but that's only because I feel the songwriting on BO is quite unrefined and occasionally sloppy.
But Alive in Athens is definitely the best of the best.
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I dunno, lots of people put DS as their best album. I think it's middle of the road, at best. Definitely the worst of the classics. Interestingly enough, I prefer BO because the songwriting and overall sound on DS is too refined, pretty, and just way too polished. Pretty much the opposite of your criticisms of Burnt Offerings.
 
Mosh said:
It's bearable, the whole album has a raw quality that sets it apart from the rest. I don't mind Greely's singing, but I don't think it's very good.

AiA and Days Of Purgatory made me realize that the vocals and production are the least of the debut's problems. The music just isn't good. WTNF being the obvious exception.
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There's some good stuff on the debut in the music sense imo, WTNF is brilliant, Iced Earth is really good and Written on the Walls and Colours are pretty good too. But yes that's only half the album. The worst part is EASILY the vocals though.

Dark Saga is a different beast though, simpler riffs, more polished production when compared to Burnt Offerings before it. Both are sort of at extremes to each other although I still have both albums at the bottom of the "classics" pile (although still very good). Also, I've already been stoned for this multiple times but I'll say it again. A Question of Heaven is not THAT good! :P
 
AQOH culminates pretty much every problem I have with DS as a whole, so I agree with you there. Some good moments though.
 
Mosh said:
I dunno, lots of people put DS as their best album. I think it's middle of the road, at best. Definitely the worst of the classics. Interestingly enough, I prefer BO because the songwriting and overall sound on DS is too refined, pretty, and just way too polished. Pretty much the opposite of your criticisms of Burnt Offerings.
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You know, it's really refreshing to have musical discussions with someone who has a completely different taste, and not have it devolve into mindless slogging and bitching. I like this forum.

Back to the subject, though, I agree DS is not the best. Personally, I think Something Wicked and (I know I'm in the minority) Horror Show represent Iced Earth at their best from a songwriting perspective. They both have great production, a good level of refinement, and yet still remain unpolished and raw at times (especially the latter). I'd say DS is my third favorite by them.

I think there are some great songs on the first two albums that are simply destroyed by the vocals. Angel's Holocaust, Pure Evil, WTNF, and my favorite, Travel in Stygian. I enjoy Days of Purgatory more than either of the first two albums or anything post-HS.
 
Actually, Horror Show is my favorite Iced Earth album. SWTWC is #3, though my top 3 could easily be interchangeable, they are IE at their best.The Phantom Opera Ghost would probably be my favorite song. Damien is also fucking epic and really slayed live.

I'm glad they put together Days Of Purgatory and AiA, it makes the lackluster quality of the early albums forgivable. I only wish that BO was better represented. Unfortunately, Jon doesn't seem to like that album a lot.
 
Damien and Dracula were the absolute highlights for me back in the day, they played them at a lot of shows. A few shows I went to had both those tracks and the Something Wicked trilogy...perfection.

I doubt this, but do you know if they've ever played Phantom Opera Ghost live?
 
Haven't seen Drac or the SW trilogy, but that's okay, Damien is the best out of all of those imo.

They've never played POG live, which is a crime against humanity.
 
Probably, it does seem hard for them to pull off live though. They aren't the most talented group of musicians out there.
 
Mosh said:
They aren't the most talented group of musicians out there.
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It turns out that Iced Earth are supporting Volbeat in Europe in Autumn, which includes a show in Glasgow in October. It's a bit annoying that I won't get to see them headline again but a show is a show and this goes s little bit towards making up for not being in Birmingham to see them in January. I'll decide on whether I'll go to this gig in Glasgow in September.
 
They supported Volbeat in the US not too long ago, I wanted to go but I missed. Setlist was awesome though, despite being an opening act.
 
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