The Official Iced Earth Thread v. "Tastes Like Treason!"

[MiracleSleeper]

One of my favorite bands right herrr. I'm probably one of the few who loves Stu Block's vocals just as much as Matt Barlow's. Dystopia was a phenomenal album. As for Plagues of Babylon... I'm still 'trying' to get into it. I think it will grow on me though.

Favorite albums (no order):
-Horror Show
-Dystopia
-Something Wicked This Way Comes
-Framing Armageddon
-The Glorious Burden
-The Crucible of Man

[wolfking]

One of my favorite bands right herrr. I'm probably one of the few who loves Stu Block's vocals just as much as Matt Barlow's. Dystopia was a phenomenal album. As for Plagues of Babylon... I'm still 'trying' to get into it. I think it will grow on me though.

Can't quite agree with this.  IMO Dystopia was pretty terrible, but Babylon was quite a good comeback. 

[Zook]

One of my favorite bands right herrr. I'm probably one of the few who loves Stu Block's vocals just as much as Matt Barlow's. Dystopia was a phenomenal album. As for Plagues of Babylon... I'm still 'trying' to get into it. I think it will grow on me though.

Can't quite agree with this.  IMO Dystopia was pretty terrible, but Babylon was quite a good comeback. 

Agreed.

Also, no Stormrider?  o_O

[wolfking]

One of my favorite bands right herrr. I'm probably one of the few who loves Stu Block's vocals just as much as Matt Barlow's. Dystopia was a phenomenal album. As for Plagues of Babylon... I'm still 'trying' to get into it. I think it will grow on me though.

Favorite albums (no order):
-Horror Show
-Dystopia
-Something Wicked This Way Comes
-Framing Armageddon
-The Glorious Burden
-The Crucible of Man

Just noticed Crucible on your list too.  Interesting, that one IMO is by far the weakest IE album.

[TAC]

It's not that I thought Dystopia was terrible. I actually think it's pretty good. But I honestly haven't listened to it more that 2 or three times.  I just could not part with any money for Plagues. I figured it'd be very similar.

[wolfking]

It's not that I thought Dystopia was terrible. I actually think it's pretty good. But I honestly haven't listened to it more that 2 or three times.  I just could not part with any money for Plagues. I figured it'd be very similar.

Not at all.  It is a big improvement.

[TAC]

It's not that I thought Dystopia was terrible. I actually think it's pretty good. But I honestly haven't listened to it more that 2 or three times.  I just could not part with any money for Plagues. I figured it'd be very similar.

Not at all.  It is a big improvement.

OK. I'll consider it. It's not that I don't like Iced earth. I do, but I feel like I keep buying the same album over and over again.

[Mister Gold]

It's not that I thought Dystopia was terrible. I actually think it's pretty good. But I honestly haven't listened to it more that 2 or three times.  I just could not part with any money for Plagues. I figured it'd be very similar.

Not at all.  It is a big improvement.

OK. I'll consider it. It's not that I don't like Iced earth. I do, but I feel like I keep buying the same album over and over again.

If that's the case, I doubt Plagues of Babylon will change your opinion of them. The band is pretty damn repetitive. The general idea of their sound is a blending of Iron Maiden and Metallica.

It's a formula that works, but I personally think, and Zook will probably agree on this, that it worked best on their earlier albums like Night of the Stormrider or Burnt Offerings. If you somehow haven't heard those albums yet, I'd suggest checking them out instead of Plagues.

[TAC]

It's a formula that works, but I personally think, and Zook will probably agree on this, that it worked best on their earlier albums like Night of the Stormrider or Burnt Offerings. If you somehow haven't heard those albums yet, I'd suggest checking them out instead of Plagues.

I have both. Burnt Offerings is terrible IMO. Stormrider is good, but the Athens versions of the Stormrider songs basically turned that album into a coaster.

[Mister Gold]

It's a formula that works, but I personally think, and Zook will probably agree on this, that it worked best on their earlier albums like Night of the Stormrider or Burnt Offerings. If you somehow haven't heard those albums yet, I'd suggest checking them out instead of Plagues.

I have both. Burnt Offerings is terrible IMO. Stormrider is good, but the Athens versions of the Stormrider songs basically turned that album into a coaster.

Huh. Well, in that case, I'd look into the middle range albums from The Dark Saga to Horror Show or The Glorious Burden.

[wolfking]

It's a formula that works, but I personally think, and Zook will probably agree on this, that it worked best on their earlier albums like Night of the Stormrider or Burnt Offerings. If you somehow haven't heard those albums yet, I'd suggest checking them out instead of Plagues.

I have both. Burnt Offerings is terrible IMO. Stormrider is good, but the Athens versions of the Stormrider songs basically turned that album into a coaster.

I probably wouldn't really bother with anything else IE related if I were you then.

[jjrock88]

Tim, I'm surprised you think Burnt Offerings is terrible.  I think its a great metal disc!!

My favorites from the band will still be Dark Saga, Horror Show and Glorious Burden.

I didn't even bother checking out Plagues; likely never will.

[TAC]

I HAVE all of the Iced Earth albums. I just feel like over the last few albums that I basically bought the same album. I am really struggling to part with any cash for it. I feel the same about the new Edguy, Ace Frehley, and Tesla albums.

I have not listened to Burnt Offerings in ages. The production is terrible and I think Barlow sounds like crap on it. Definitely took some time to find his "voice".  Dante's Inferno is fantastic, but for that I always go to Alive In Athens, which to me is the Frampton Comes Alive of heavy metal.

[wolfking]

Dante's Inferno is fantastic, but for that I always go to Alive In Athens, which to me is the Frampton Comes Alive of heavy metal.

That's a legit statement.

[Zook]

I HAVE all of the Iced Earth albums. I just feel like over the last few albums that I basically bought the same album. I am really struggling to part with any cash for it. I feel the same about the new Edguy, Ace Frehley, and Tesla albums.

I have not listened to Burnt Offerings in ages. The production is terrible and I think Barlow sounds like crap on it. Definitely took some time to find his "voice".  Dante's Inferno is fantastic, but for that I always go to Alive In Athens, which to me is the Frampton Comes Alive of heavy metal.

You likely have the original. Get the remixed and remastered version. The original indeed sounds like ass, and the drummer for that album was horrid. It's all cleaned up on the remaster.

Tim, I'm surprised you think Burnt Offerings is terrible.  I think its a great metal disc!!

My favorites from the band will still be Dark Saga, Horror Show and Glorious Burden.

I didn't even bother checking out Plagues; likely never will.

At least listen to Plagues once. It really is a step up from Dystopia and Crucible.

And yeah, MOST of the Athens Stormrider songs put the originals to shame, but Night of the Stormrider is still my all time favorite album and an underrated Thrash Metal album in general. Greely is no Barlow, but he definitely isn't Gene Adam either. Aparently the guy drives through Arizona all the time. One day I hope we can meet up so he can sign my ten different copies of Stormrider. 

Dante's Inferno is fantastic, but for that I always go to Alive In Athens, which to me is the Frampton Comes Alive of heavy metal.

That's a legit statement.

I actually prefer the studio version of Dante's Inferno, but yeah, Alive in Athens is my favorite live album. The live version of A Question of Heaven is an emotional eargasm.

[wolfking]

I find a lot of the AIA versions better than the studio versions, especially Dante and Heaven.

[Zook]

I find a lot of the AIA versions better than the studio versions, especially Dante and Heaven.

Yeah, but the lyrical flub in Dante's Inferno kills it for me. Nah, just kidding. Definitely a great version, I just prefer the studio's atmosphere more. And the live version of A Question of Heaven is my all time favorite Iced Earth song.

Larry mucked up some of the solos on the other Stormrider songs so I can't lump those in with the musical blissful awesomeness of the live "Stormrider Trilogy", and I also prefer the studio Something Wicked Trilogy.

[wolfking]

Matt at the end of AQOH on AIA is one of the best vocal moments ever.

[Zook]

Matt at the end of AQOH on AIA is one of the best vocal moments ever.

Like I said, emotional eargasm. Accompanied with the guitar lead, it's the perfect ending to a song.

[wolfking]

Yes.

[TAC]

Great version. Phenominal!

[Zook]

What sucks though, is that Matt (possibly by Jon's influence) changed the way he sang the final part after this concert. The new way sucked, and wasn't near as moving. Stu stayed true to the studio version, but his voice didn't fit. I would have loved to have been there in person to see that song in it's perfect form, but considering it wasn't on the DVD, I fear it may have been heavily tinkered with, but then again, The Killing Hand from Live at the Marquee has a complete vocal overdub, and I still love it.

[wolfking]

I would have liked to hear Tim sing AQOH.

[TAC]

but considering it wasn't on the DVD, I fear it may have been heavily tinkered with,

Like the rest of that DVD wasn't?

[Zook]

but considering it wasn't on the DVD, I fear it may have been heavily tinkered with,

Like the rest of that DVD wasn't?

No, I imagine it was, but Jon was nice enough to leave some things unpolished to give the illusion... like Larry's fudged up solos. Thanks Jon.

[Zook]

I would have liked to hear Tim sing AQOH.

Ehhh, I'll pass on that, but Travel in Stygian definitely.

[TAC]

Travel in Stygian 

Awesome tune. My first IE album was Athens and that was the first tune that hooked me.

[Zook]

I think it was Alive in Athens that got me into Barlow. Watching Over Me was my first Barlow IE song and I didn't like him at first. My introduction to IE was The Glorious Burden, so the drastic change in singers was very off putting.

[Zook]

https://www.jsrdirect.com/bands/icedearth/

 

[DerekTheater]

It's a formula that works, but I personally think, and Zook will probably agree on this, that it worked best on their earlier albums like Night of the Stormrider or Burnt Offerings. If you somehow haven't heard those albums yet, I'd suggest checking them out instead of Plagues.

I have both. Burnt Offerings is terrible IMO. Stormrider is good, but the Athens versions of the Stormrider songs basically turned that album into a coaster.

I probably wouldn't really bother with anything else IE related if I were you then.

Yeah, it's kind of like trying to get into DT even though you hate I&W and Awake.

[wolfking]

https://www.jsrdirect.com/bands/icedearth/

 

That hot chicks poop shirt is one of the most tasteless, tacky, awful and stupid shirts I've ever seen and coming from Iced Earth just blows my mind.  Why, fucking why?

Also, what's fuck yo couch?

[bl5150]

Please welcome Zakk Wylde as the new chief of merchandising for Iced Earth 

[Zook]

https://www.jsrdirect.com/bands/icedearth/

 

That hot chicks poop shirt is one of the most tasteless, tacky, awful and stupid shirts I've ever seen and coming from Iced Earth just blows my mind.  Why, fucking why?

Also, what's fuck yo couch?

It's from a Dave Chapelle skit. That's what they're saying at the end of Plagues of Babylon.

[wolfking]

Oh.

[jjrock88]

Kade is right, that shirt is horrific.  Who would not only pay money for that thing, but wear it in public.  Terrible.