(Rated this album with 10 out of 10) Reviewed by
mysanthropyk_overlord
from USA
Why does Iced Earth produce a cover album worth every penny of its price when the more popular (or, should I say, overrated?) Metallica produces one that's barely above cutout-bin level? Simple - Iced Earth is true to metal; they are one of the last bands that plays metal in its true, pure form. No programming, no special effects, just pure instrumental mastery and vocal supremacy. How do you choose a favorite amongst so many classics? I'd personally say that the two Iron Maiden covers simply blow everything else out of the water (particularly "Hallowed Be Thy Name"), but the covers of Alice Cooper's "Dead Babies", KISS's "God of Thunder," and Blue Oyster Cult's "Burnin' For You" (one of the only good songs BOC ever made) are up there as well. I don't like "Screaming For Vengeance," but I've never been much of a Judas Priest fan. The AC/DC covers sound a little awkward in Iced Earth style compared to their original format, but this band is able to do things with them so that they still sound good, even if different from the originals. The Black Sabbath cover is pretty good as well. As I said, there aren't any bad tracks, it's just that some are better than others. Jon Schaffer and company pay a brilliant tribute to their biggest inspirations with this masterpiece of a metal album.
