Iced Earth's Reviews
Something Wicked This Way Comes (Average Rating: 8.94 out of 10)
Something Wicked Comes... (Rated this album with 10 out of 10)
Reviewed by
musicfan585
from Bronx, NY USA
Iced Earth decided to push all the boundaries and explore diverse styles, while still staying true to their melodic thrash metal roots, with their fifth album SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES (not based on the Ray Bradbury book of the same name). You get a little bit of everything from Iced Earth's classic metal sound on this release, from introspective ballads, to powerful thrash blasters, and even some progressive territory in the form of the magnificent three-part "Something Wicked" suite that closes the album. Although THE DARK SAGA and HORROR SHOW are infintely superior albums in my humble opinion, SOMETHING WICKED is a great album in its own right, even if it does take a few listens to fully appreciate."Burning Times" kicks things off with a meancing start, sounding like a lost Black Sabbath song with better vocals. The three ballads - "Melancholy (Holy Martyr)," "Watching Over Me," and "Blessed Are You" - are all very good and provide a nice change of pace. I'm still getting used to "Blessed Are You" however. I know it's a song for the fans, but the lyrics are kind of sappy and corny. Anyway, that's just me. "My Own Savior" is a riff-heavy monster filled with attitude and a clever, self-affacing chorus, and "Reaping Stone" just flat out rocks with a moody bassline and slinky guitar riff. "1776" is kind of like an Iron Maiden instrumental for the new millennium, and I love the little flute solo towards the end. It gives it a decidedly patriotic feel. The highlight of the record is the aforementioned "Something Wicked" trilogy, which perfectly showcases Jon Schaffer's creative songwriting abilities. Matt Barlow really shines on this epic, going from soft-spoken vocals, to ferocious growls, and high-pitched wails to really set the mood. "Prophecy," the first part, is very ominious and foreboding with some really excellent bass work from James MacDonough. "Birth of the Wicked" (part 2) is the best of the thrash songs, with a chorus that will rattle in your mind for days. The finale "Coming Curse" begins with a spooky piano intro before erupting into a full-on metal assault. I won't describe any details in the story, but it is very well-written, and Schaffer plans to continue the story on a new IE concept album due out in 2005. Can't wait for it now! SOMETHING WICKED is a killer metal album, and shows that IE have never failed to do no wrong. It's not my favorite IE album, but it's still good nonetheless.
Buy this album on Amazon at $14.99
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