Iced Earth's Reviews
Tribute to the Gods (Average Rating: 9.20 out of 10)
Killer Covers (Rated this album with 10 out of 10)
Reviewed by
musicfan585
from Bronx, NY USA
As a special treat, Iced Earth recorded an all-covers album called TRIBUTE TO THE GODS as a part of their limited 5-CD box set DARK GENESIS early last year. By the end of the year, TRIBUTE was released seperately. Of course, the box set was too expensive, so I was fortunate that the band released this as a seperate album. Although IE's original music is pretty serious and intense for the most part, TRIBUTE TO THE GODS shows us another side of the band: they actually have fun. Yes, you heard right. That's not to say their music isn't energetic (which it most certainly is), but TttG shows the band laying back a bit and giving a heartfelt dedication to the metal forbearers who shaped their own sound. Usually covers albums are hit or miss, but Iced Earth has the chops and the energy to pull it off.All 11 covers on this album are performed excellently, and some even better than the original versions. Most notably, on the AC/DC, Blue Oyster Cult, and KISS covers, Jon Schaffer and Larry Tarnowski (who recently left the band) up the heaviness and tempos on the guitars, making them even more slashing than ever, and it sounds awesome. Matt Barlow still proves he's one of metal's top vocalists with yet another versatile performance - definitely moreso here because the songs jump from all different kinds of rock and metal. Like I said, I love every song on here, but my favorites would have to be the following: "Highway to Hell" (AC/DC), "Burnin' for You" and "Cities on Flame" (Blue Oyster Cult), "God of Thunder" (KISS), "Screaming for Vengeance" (Judas Priest), "Dead Babies" (Alice Cooper), and "Hallowed Be Thy Name" (Iron Maiden). "Hallowed" is the undeniable high point of the record. It's gotta be the most perfect cover I've ever heard. I recently heard Cradle of Filth's cover of the song, and IE's version puts it to shame. Not since Spock's Beard's SNOW have I had this much fun listening to an album so far this year. TRIBUTE TO THE GODS is an incredible metal history lesson from today's greatest metal band.
Buy this album on Amazon at $15.98
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