(Rated this album with 10 out of 10) Reviewed by
Kinga
Whe I first bought this album, I really had no idea as to what I expected. I'd been introduced to the band by listening to various mp3s on the net, mostly from later LPs like Something Wicked or the follow-up, the Dark Saga. I bought this record because most of the older Iced Earth fans swear by it. And upon listening to it, its not hard to see why. From the haunting intro to the title track up to the very minute the fiery blaze that is Dante's Inferno fades away, this record never fails to disappoint. Blending stormy trash, classic metal, a ton of acoustic interludes and a riffing style Shaffer can safely call his own, the record is a dark, brooding journey through the human psyche. Citing murder, melancholia, suicide, and other such cheery topics, the lyrics are rather good. However, whats really stunning is the execution of the music. Shaffer's riffing is just phenomenal. But while he was arguably more impressive in earlier albums like Iced Earth and Stormrider, the songs themselves are mostly midtempo, and thus the riffs are suited to them. The rest of the band plays well, especially lead guitarist Shawver, who remains quite low key on most songs, but cuts loose with mind-numbing intensity on some, particularly on Dante's Inferno and the title track. The final ingredient that makes this album work is vocalist Matthew Barlow. Armed with a jaw dropping vocal range and a fierce disposition, he grunts, soars and screams his way though the entire record, performing each with remarkable power and conviction. The screams at the end of Creator Failure and Burning Oasis still give me chills. Of course, the most impressive song on the album is Dante's Inferno, Iced Earths 16 minute plus tour-de-force. I have read Dante's Divine Comedy and the lyrics of the song are an apt summary of Dante's journey through hell. Of course the music also paints an impressive picture. In other words, a terrific record. A must for any metal fan.
