Iced Earth - The Crucible Of Man (Something Wicked Part II)
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Free Music Notes for The Crucible Of Man (Something Wicked Part II)
Free Music Review: Prelude to a Box Set?
Hit: 5 Stars
Okay, so the initial responses to the release of this are mixed. Ripper's gone, boo-hoo, Part 1 was thrashier, so what, too much focus on story, etc. etc. In my opinion, they are all a bunch of uneducated whiners and/or failed musicians that have a very limited ear. So stay home and listen to/write a review on something else - maybe the next metal band of the moment will give you "thrashier" or should I say trashier. The fact is, this album is completely amazing. Schaffer, Seele, Smedley and Barlow nailed just about everything on this one. Yes, Ripper is gone. He put on an solid performance on part 1. No doubt about his abilities as a vocalist, but Barlow is still the voice that gave (and now returns) the full sound of this band. I'm sure Ripper would have liked to have been on this one, but even he would have to agree that it is awesome to hear Barlow back in the fold. If I were a betting man, I would guess that the majority of the reviewers that supposedly do not like this one will be the first ones to buy the next Iced Earth album and look back on the Ripper Era as a peculiar time in the band's history.
Metal gossip aside, the songs and production are top notch here. I agree with Schaffer that the low-end on his guitar is more pronounced in part 2. I actually really like the idea that the interlude segments are limited to an intro/outro on this album. It helps the album stand on its own rather than make it purely an accent in a larger set of albums. Jim Morris' contributions continue to help Schaffer/Iced Earth progress as songwriters and musicians. Just about every track is completely worthwhile, but highlights for me include Behold the Wicked Child, Harbinger of Fate, Crucify the King, I Walk Alone, Divide Devour, Come what May. Seconds into Divide Devour, It felt like I was hearing Stormrider or Burnt Offerings again for the first time. Come what May, while slower, is possible one of Iced Earth's best songs ever. Even though I Walk Alone has been released as a single, I was just as excited to hear it in the midst of the album. Part 2 kicks things up into full throttle power metal.
If there is anything negative that could have been said, it is only that the different vocalists from each album would stand in the way of continuity of storyline. We all knew that was a potential problem the day we heard that Matt Barlow was returning to Iced Earth. However, due in part to the response of most Iced Earth fans, a re-recording of vocals by Matt will be done on part 1, and that the entire package will be released in a boxset format. In addition to the remixed and remastered part 1, there will be some additional interludes mixed into part 2 as part of the "complete" package. And I'll bet Schaffer and Co. will have some additional surprises in store for us as more details emerge.
So for now, The Crucible of Man gives us a Matt Barlow sung prelude to the eventual total package/conclusion of this storyline. A story line that I might remind everyone started with the voice of Matt Barlow who will now rightfully sing this entire amazing story.
Bottom Line - If this album (on it's own) isn't considered one of the best overall metal albums this year, than the complete something wicked package will surely be the beast of 2009.
Free Music Review: A true statement from John Schaffer.
Hit: 5 Stars
Iced Earth, what can be said about this band. One of the most creative metal bands out there and they are finally being recognized for nearly two decades of amazing storying telling and musical craftsmanship. After a year of waiting Iced Earth finally relased the conclusion of the Something Wicked tale with 'The Crucible of Man'. After listening to it there is much to be said.
First off the biggest treat for me was the fact that two of Iced Earth prime line-up returned. Brent Smedly and of course the true voice of Iced Earth Matt Barrlow! Yes I did feel a little upset that Tim Owens couldn't finish the project after a supurb job on 'Framing Armageddon'. Eventhough I love Matt Barrlow and I love the atmosphere he brought to this band in past releases. I was just a bit scared that the whole story musically was going to change. I loved the passion and emotion that 'Framing Armageddon' had and how the telling of the story allowed Tim Owens to climb new heights in his vocal talent, I was afraid I wouldn't get that with Matt Barrlows return. I did, I had never heard Matts voice used to such scales with amazing new directions, John Schaffer kept the atmosphere alive and when I listen to the story as a whole it kind of made sense to make the switch because in this new album the story is being told by an entirley new character who was not brought into the story until the very last track on the previous record. The second thing I noticed was this album was more musically driven. There are only 15 tracks as opposed to 19 tracks. This chapter of the story is alot less visual because there is alot more happening in the very begining. Now the pieces have been put in place and the whole purpose of the story is now in full force that character is Set and it is about this character knowing his mission and watching his prey as they live out their lives. The songs grip you with much detail and emotions of this unfortunate creature who had to carry this burden through time and he is willing to throw it all away because he sees redemption in the human race. You don't need breaks in the song with sound effects to shape this part of the story and again another great accomplishment by Iced Earth. Finally this is not the best album Iced Earth has ever released though it is no where near so so or terrible.
I have seen the reviews that some people have posted on this site about the new Iced Earth release. I feel that people always expect too much from any band. John Schaffer finally did what he wanted to do for so long and that was to tell a story that he wrote...HIS WAY! He is such an admerable person because he is driven by his passion projects and doesn't care about money or fame. Being noticed however is something he does want and I don't blame because he is a true artist and those are so hard to come by in music today. I feel this project has brough his band one step closer to his goals because they are now touring more are getting bigger stages. With Barllow back who knows how much further they can go? Perhaps if things keep moving forward more familiar faces will return and that will only give Iced Earth more incentive to do what we fans love most about them... Bring us more heavy metal!!!
Free Music Review: A Band Thats Back From The Dead
Hit: 5 Stars
Iced Earth is a band I've followed since "Something Wicked" was released in 1998. I became a fan almost immediately, hooked on the songwriting, riffs and rhythm guitar playing of Jon Schaffer. But more importantly, I was hooked on the emotional, powerful vocals from frontman Matt Barlow.
After Barlow left the band, my interest just began to wane. "Glorious Burden was decent (check my review of it, 3 stars) but 2007's "Framing Armageddon" just completely underwhelmed me. To use an old line, there just wasn't a lot of wind blowing through that CD. Or the band for that matter.
So hearing of Matt Barlow's return to Iced Earth was some of the best music news I heard this year. The storyline and songs he began in the "Something Wicked" trilogy could be completed by the same voice.
And listening to "Crucible Of Man", it feels like there's a new current of energy running throughout the music. The songs feel more focused than in Part 1, the riffs and song structure seem tighter and more high-energy. I came away (once again) impressed by Jon Schaffer's guitar playing, probably the best rhythm guitar player out there right now. The rest of the band performs admirably, with Matt Barlow's vocals being the expected spotlight. His voice just adds a dimension of emotion and weight to the lyrics that propel the songs.
Highlights of the CD are many, there aren't a lot of weak points. Songs like "Sacrificial Kingdoms", "Crown Of The Fallen", and "The Revealing" all deliver satisfying guitar riffs. The high point is the penultimate track, "Come What May", which has a great vocal melody and chorus that sticks in your head as the album closes. A great mid-tempo rock song.
A strong 4.5 stars for a very good album and a renewed excitement coming from Iced Earth's corner of the metal world.
Free Music Review: The most UNDERATED album of the year!
Hit: 5 Stars
I have read many reviews about how this album is a disappointment, but its so far from it, that I have to try to explain. I bought it the day it came out, listened to it, and thought it was decent but then I read along with the lyrics and looked at the booklet pictures as I did with "Horror Show", "The Glorious Burden", and "Framing Armageddon" and the full picture of "The Wicked Sage" is insane. Jon Shaffer songwriting is amazing and Barlow's signature delivery is just as powerful.
It takes about 2-3 listens to get the full impact of this amazing album, becuase its not your "AVERAGE" Iced Earth album. The songs are more mid-tempo for intricate storyline purposes. Shaffer wants us to listen and take in the story, which is not an easy story to understand at first, but once you do the artistry will overwhelm you as it did me.
I read reviews that the album "wasn't as aggressive" and "generic", but then I listen to songs like, "The Revealing", "The Dimension Gauntlet", "Sacrificial Kingdoms", and "Divide and Devour" and wonder if these guys are really listening to the album! The mid-tempo songs are vocally so heavy and powerfully delivered that the music does not need to be. Songs like "I Walk Alone" and "Harbinger of Fate" get my adrenaline pumping like classic Iced Earth! "Come What May" is epic Iced Earth, with perfection throughout the entire song! It holds the magic of classic Iced Earth songs like "Blessed Are You", and "A Question of Heaven". I even feel like their whole sound changed since "A Glorious Burden" and they have been morphing to this band of epic proportions. Definitely buy this album, but make sure u get an understanding of the story from "Something Wicked This Way Comes" and "Framing Armageddon."
Free Music Review: A Superior Iced Earth Album
Hit: 5 Stars
I'm not going to waste time with arguing whether Barlow is a better vocalist than Owens. Neither of them is "the voice of Iced Earth," seeing as this band has had four different vocalists. And Owens is talented in his own right.
This album does not sound like anything the band has done previously. It doesn't sound like Framing Armageddon for obvious reasons. I didn't much care for Framing, and it wasn't that Owens was a terrible singer. It was that I couldn't tell the chorus from the verse. The singing was bombastic all the way through, which ended up detracting from the album.
This album is a very nice combination of Owens-style choruses and Barlow-style verses. Those who were hoping for a straight Barlow album will be disappointed, but those who want to be treated with something different from one of the best metal bands in history should pick up this album.
Some reviewers have called this album "boring." It is true that there isn't a huge variety between the songs like you would find on Something Wicked This Way Comes. This album is a concept album, and is meant to sound epic. It is loud, it is ferocious, and it is solid. It does not sound like some last minute effort the band threw together because Barlow came back. It sounds like Barlow simply took over for Owens and sang the songs his way, and managed to do a terrific job.
In short, this is a must-have album for any metalhead.