Iced Earth's Reviews

The Glorious Burden

I love this album

I would also like to add that barlow is/was a vocal god and I miss him. I would gladly trade owens for him and if for some reason barlow did come back, I wouldn't complain. But Tim Owens is the perfect replacement for barlow. I can't imagine anyone else singing this album (not even barlow) and I don't see how Jon could have found anyone better to replace matthew barlow. in short, ownes rules and I'm looking foward to iced earth's future albums and accomplishments more than ever, even when barlow was at the helm.

This cd has the most guitar solos of any iced earth cd and they are dang fine too. There are only two songs on the first disk without solos and those are the reckoning and atilla. Both these songs show that IE are more than solos and don't need them.

I hardly ever do a song by song review but i will since i really like this album (obviously).

1. Star Spangled Banner - Well, the title says it all. Nicely done but they didn't add anything speical to it. It's a good straight cover of it. I like how it lead nicley into track 2. now about track 2...

2. Declaration Day - One of the many songs on this album that ends up being one of IE's best. The chorus is one of IE's best. I like the thrashy riff and solo that comes in at 2:08. Owens high pitched singing at 3:05 just plain rules.

3. When The Eagle Cries - I don't see how the lyrics are corny, I think they are very good. Another one of IE's best and probably their best ballad, imo. I love the chorus and the guitar solo RULES. And i like it when Owens is screaming and yelling his ass off towards the end. A classic.

4. The Reckoning - Very thrashy, good main riff and i like the chorus that sounds like, well, a chorus of people. At 2:14 is the best part of the song. It's got a cool bass in it and I like how the melodic guitar part slowly creeps in to go in front of the bass.

5. Greenface - Another thrashy song. The lyrics are sorta cheesy but this isn't the first time iced earth (or any other metal or power metal band) has done chessy lyrics. A really good rocker with an AWESOME guitar solo. Will be killer live.

6. Atilla - Another one of IE's best songs. A good mini epic. The chorus is classic and the song is pretty thrashy too with that chug chug riff that IE is so famous for. the vocals at 2:38 are so great. This song doesn't have a solo and it shows that IE don't need them.

7. Red Baron/Blue Max - Oh my. The best song on the cd for me. Instant IE classic (this cd is full of them if you can't tell) and it just may be my favorite IE song of all time. Again, another thrash esque song. The thrashy part that starts at 1:31 is just plain crushing.

8. Hollow Man - yet another one of IE's best songs. A feel it is underrated and ihear they have been playing it live, glad to hear that. Good guitar during the whole song. The guitar solos rule. There is one toward the end of the song and then some smaller ones at the end. The part that starts at 2:38 and ends at 3:12 is just one of iced earth's greatest moments. I love this song.

9. Valley Forge - Was my favorite until I heard red baron/blue max. This song is (you guessed it) one of iced earth's best songs. I love the chorus and it's good chuggy riff. Plus the regular stanzas feature good lyrics and excellent vocals from mr. owens. He rules and so does this song.

10. Waterloo - Ah, waterloo. You don't get this song if you get the single disk version. Your missing out if you don't have it. Simply put, one of IE's best songs (tired of hearing that yet? I can't help it that the cd rules) and worth paying the extra moola for. It's a non stop thrasy rocker that doesn't let up and it tells a good story about napolean wars and it's got very good lyrics. 3:40 is when the song just turns so cool that I don't know what to do about it.

11. When The Eagle Cries (acoustic version) - Another song you don't get if you just have the single disc version. Not essential. It's not as good as the original (track 3). The guitar solo is shorter and they don't put any more lead guitar towards the end like in the original. Plus owens does't do any screaming and high pitched yells in this one, except at the very end. Worth a listen though.

*The following song is the last song on the album, it's on disc 2.

Gettysburg - Ah yes, another IE CLASSIC! One of the greatest songs ever recorded. It's a 32 minute long song (yes it's one song) but it's divided up into 3 parts for your convienence and listening pleasure. My favorite part is track 2. Iced Earth are metal gods to the core. THe most interesting thing is that there are no solos on this one huge song, thus proving once more that iced earth is about the music more than about showing off. This song has a real symphony orchrestca deal on it, very good stuff.

track 3 at 6:51 from the very end is just...amazing to say the least. All of track 3 rules and so does the previous two parts.

all in all, I love this cd. iced earth forever. check out the otherness' reviews on this cd, he's a iced earth freak just like me.

Buy this album on Amazon at $20.99