Matt Barlow leaves Iced Earth... again.

Ripper is the most suitable to fill this vacancy

MetalGuy71 wrote:

I enjoyed The Glorious Burden with Tim, but by Framing Armaggedon, the orchestration was getting too much for me. That, combined with my general disinterest in most modern day power metal, left me with a sense of "I think I'm done with these guys". I never bothered with The Crucible of Man. Too much other music out there I wanted to hear.

I am that way too. IE was just trying to be too fancy. I enjoyed TGB because it was a metal album plain and simple.

Hoping this revitalizes them and they get back to good, solid metal.

I welcomed Jon back in IE as the "missing piece" I thought he was. After they released Crucible of Man I missed Ripper again...... His albums with IE are probably some of my favorites now.

The will certainly get the hardcore fans to buy tickets for the upcoming tour though. Last time to see Matt in IE!

I hate to say this but.....

I think Barlow's best vocal performance ever was Pyramaze's Immortal. Just my opinion.

I loved Barlow in Iced Earth the first time around but the stuff he's sung on since rejoining has just done nothing for me. I don't think Barlow is at fault; I think it's Jon's self-indulgent songwriting at this point.

bassman wrote:

I hate to say this but.....

I think Barlow's best vocal performance ever was Pyramaze's Immortal. Just my opinion.

Sounded like the same Barlow to me.

Glorious Burden was my last frequent IE listener. I initially loved the Framing sequals (and I still love some of the songs-I think Eyesore had it right on cutting some of the fat). If I'm in an IE mood, I usually go for Stormrider through Glorious Burden. I too really liked The Sons Of Liberty album.

BTW, if I wasn't just starting my automotive career, I'd be happy to lend my services to IE. Just kidding of course, while I can do the lower to mid range fairly well, I can't get those high notes and the grit on the clean parts.

I just hope John finds a permanent replacement and doesn't go the singer-for-hire route on every IE album from here on.

That would be nice. I think it's a little daunting to fill those two guys shoes.

It may be a little intimidating to fill those shoes, but I don't think it's impossible. In fact, I think someone like Greg Wagner (Archetype, Shatter Messiah, H.A.T.E.) or Scott Oliva (Wind Wraith) would do a great job in Iced Earth.

Good call! Yeah, those two guys would be good.

I still think this guy would be a good fit.

Never heard that band but his voice would be great in Iced Earth.

TheNazgul wrote:

Never heard that band but his voice would be great in Iced Earth.

They were awesome! Those songs came from a demo EP called Winter is Coming. They had one full-length, The Veil of Summer, after that, which was even better.

They're no more, though. The singer is now in Lorenguard (http://www.myspace.com/lorenguard). He's probably too young for them, though. Like mid-twenties too young, you know.

Eyesore wrote:

bassman wrote:

I hate to say this but.....

I think Barlow's best vocal performance ever was Pyramaze's Immortal. Just my opinion.

Sounded like the same Barlow to me.

Like I said, just my opinion. I liked the songwriting style better for sure.

I know. I wasn't telling you you were wrong.

Eyesore wrote:

I know. I wasn't telling you you were wrong.

Sorry, didn't mean to get defensive. The Winterfell guy would be a great fit for IE, he even has some of the same vocal phrasing style as Barlow.

I've never actually really listened to IE

Eyesore wrote:

I still think this guy would be a good fit.

I agree

I dont know if it really matters until they come out some interesting music. Vocals are important but given the last album, the music is still key.

exact33 wrote:

I dont know if it really matters until they come out some interesting music. Vocals are important but given the last album, the music is still key.

True enough in most cases, but a stellar vocalist CAN make some mediocre tunes soar.......take a listen some of the Judas Priest stuff. I love JP but without Rob's vocals some of those songs would be rather dull. I still think Ripper could have made that last IE album listenable.

Vocals can save mediocre music but it's difficult.

Eyesore wrote:

I still think this guy would be a good fit.

Does he have the range Barlow had? I think that's important.

Just curious is Matt gonna record the new cd and then leave or leave before? I'd like to see him record the new cd before he left.

Wargod51