ICED EARTH: "Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked Pt.1)

ultmetal wrote:

I gotta say, while I like Ripper, I can understand why people complain. Sure, he's a great metal singer, but he's so radically different from Barlow he gives the band a whole different sound. Like it or not, without Barlow Iced Earth are a whole different animal. It's almost like Aerosmith without Tyler, Zeppelin without Plant, Hirax without Katon, etc. Barlow really had a unique, charismatic voice that gave the band some of their distinction and Owens is radically different.

My Ripper-related-thoughts exactly.

Anyway, I'm waiting for my copy from Newbury comics. Yes, I ordered from America so I can have it signed by Mr Shaffer.

ultmetal wrote:

I gotta say, while I like Ripper, I can understand why people complain. Sure, he's a great metal singer, but he's so radically different from Barlow he gives the band a whole different sound. Like it or not, without Barlow Iced Earth are a whole different animal. It's almost like Aerosmith without Tyler, Zeppelin without Plant, Hirax without Katon, etc. Barlow really had a unique, charismatic voice that gave the band some of their distinction and Owens is radically different.

I can understand this. But I also hear people complaining about Owens that'll tell you Gene Adam and John Greely were better than Barlow. It just seems too often that people are using Owens as the scapegoat for them to just whine. Yeah, Owens is very different than Barlow, gives the music a different sound, but I also think this is largely due to Schaffer's music. He's definitely evolving as a songwriter. From Horror Show to The Glorious Burden is like walking into a different room. Same house, but things are just different.

ultmetal wrote:

I gotta say, while I like Ripper, I can understand why people complain. Sure, he's a great metal singer, but he's so radically different from Barlow he gives the band a whole different sound. Like it or not, without Barlow Iced Earth are a whole different animal. It's almost like Aerosmith without Tyler, Zeppelin without Plant, Hirax without Katon, etc. Barlow really had a unique, charismatic voice that gave the band some of their distinction and Owens is radically different.

I agree. ditto.

I have listened to the album now a couple of times. So my 2 cents is this. I also liked The Glorious Burden, but a friend of mine heard the CD without knowing who it was and hated it. That, said because Ripper makes Iced Earth into somewhat of a brand new band. Personally, I like both versions of the band, and I am really enjoying Framing the Armageddon, while not being completely familiar with all of Iced Earth's catalog, I think that it is one of their best.

Finally received my signed CD today. Giving it a listen right now. I've already heard the promo before, so I know what to expect but it is definitely a lot better without Jon Schaffer telling me it's a promo copy.

Okay, given it a full listen. I'm not going to lie, it's a bit boring to start off with. It's decent but sort of fades in to the background. It's not really until about half way through where things really kick off and it becomes awesome. Definitely strikes me as a grower, as well.

I didn't like it at first, but it has defiantly grown on me.

the song , Framing Armageddon is amazing

Smindas wrote:

Okay, given it a full listen. I'm not going to lie, it's a bit boring to start off with. It's decent but sort of fades in to the background. It's not really until about half way through where things really kick off and it becomes awesome. Definitely strikes me as a grower, as well.

I think it's gonna be a grower as well. Doesn't quite hit you between the eyes like "Something Wicked" or "Dark Saga". Seems Schaffer is following in the footsteps of his Blind Guardian buddy.

ultmetal wrote:

Smindas wrote:

Okay, given it a full listen. I'm not going to lie, it's a bit boring to start off with. It's decent but sort of fades in to the background. It's not really until about half way through where things really kick off and it becomes awesome. Definitely strikes me as a grower, as well.

I think it's gonna be a grower as well. Doesn't quite hit you between the eyes like "Something Wicked" or "Dark Saga". Seems Schaffer is following in the footsteps of his Blind Guardian buddy.

I just picked it up yesterday and only listened through once so far. I have to admit that nothing is sticking. I'll be giving it more spins today in work, but I'm feeling a little let down. Like Ult said, Schaffer seems to be getting too "orchestral" for my tastes. He might need to strip it back a bit.

LET'S SEE ANOTHER BURNT OFFERINGS OR STORMRIDER !!!!!!

INVADERS wrote:

LET'S SEE ANOTHER BURNT OFFERINGS OR STORMRIDER !!!!!!

Ain't gonna happen. We've got at least one more album in this style coming.

INVADERS wrote:

LET'S SEE ANOTHER BURNT OFFERINGS OR STORMRIDER !!!!!!

I'm with you on the Stormrider. That is clearly their peak in my view.

Didn't like Burnt Offerings though.

If I remember correctly, Jon Schaffer doesn't like Burnt Offerings and is unlikely to replicate it any time soon. Something to do with it being too much of a product of anger. It's a shame as Burnt Offerings is one of my favourites.

Just picked up the new I.E. disc today... at a Wal-Mart of all places! First time I've ever seen anything so, er, "specialized" in the Wal-Mart CD department. That was a pleasant surprise. I was all set to pick up the new Scorpions but decided to go with the I.E. instead. (Besides, I hear that if I get the new Scorps at Best Buy it has an exclusive track on it)...

Anyway, haven't had time to get past track #3 of FRAMING ARMAGEDDON thus far but once I've had time to give it a full spin I'll post my thoughts.

Yep, Best Buy is where you should buy the new Scorps album. The bonus track is great.

Heard it once, and another time falling asleep. I'm liking it very much, i just can't turn down IE....even though it's kind of sounding like Manowar.

I have nothing but good things to say about Framing.... an awesome addition to Iced Earth's catalog. Not better than the days of Barlow, just different.

I don't know. With over 70 minutes of music, I am finding this CD to be very hard to listen to in one sitting. I've heard it all the way through several times now. The entire focus of the songwriting here is basically geared much more towards the epic and atmospheric. Of course Iced Earth have always written epic length songs, but something is different here. The story and how the lyrics are worked into the songs seem to have become more of a priority than on past epics. Also, between each song there are interludes that I suppose are suppose to help build the story. These might help the story, but don't really help the overall enjoyment of the music. Personally I find some of these to be incredibly boring. However, there are some good songs mixed into all this. Frankly, however, I find myself getting bored with this CD. The good songs are intermixed with far too much story line and the overall atmosphere of the CD just doesn't hold up well for a listen that is around 70 minutes long.

I feel like I'm forcing myself to listen to this over and over again in hopes that it will grow on me. After I hear it , I hit play again, thinking "Maybe I missed something". Not a good sign.

Unlike the new Fueled by Fire, which I'm hitting repeat because I'm having a moshing fit.

I generally tend to skip the interludes. Whilst I don't mind them, and will listen to them on occasion, it's the actual songs that make the album shine.

It also seems that Jon has learnt to emulate his friends in Blind Guardian. Vocal layers... everywhere.

Woo! For better or worse I just snagged this one on ebay for $8.95 free shipping....I liked The Glorious Burden so I'm pretty sure this will do well for me as well.....

scottmitchell74 wrote:

Woo! For better or worse I just snagged this one on ebay for $8.95 free shipping....I liked The Glorious Burden so I'm pretty sure this will do well for me as well.....

I liked the Glorious Burden as well, but that album was more song oriented, this one is more story oriented IMO.

awesome cd

ultmetal wrote:

scottmitchell74 wrote:

Woo! For better or worse I just snagged this one on ebay for $8.95 free shipping....I liked The Glorious Burden so I'm pretty sure this will do well for me as well.....

I liked the Glorious Burden as well, but that album was more song oriented, this one is more story oriented IMO.

Try ripping the CD and making a CDR of all the songs but the the interludes (though I'd include a few still, like "Execution" and "Motivation Of Man"). Also, maybe it's the pacing of the album you're not getting. Try listening on shuffle. Of course, you may simply not like it, but these are some of the things I do when an album won't click, but seems like it should.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

I feel like I'm forcing myself to listen to this over and over again in hopes that it will grow on me. After I hear it , I hit play again, thinking "Maybe I missed something". Not a good sign.

I'm feeling the same way. I've spun the album a dozen or so times now and still the only songs that jump out at me are "Setian Massacre" and "The Clouding." I really WANT to love this album because I.E. are one of my all time favorites but it's really starting to feel like WORK trying to get into this one whole hog.