Iced Earth - Plagues of Babylon

Aw yeah!

Quote :

North American metallers ICED EARTH will release their new album, "Plagues Of Babylon", for a January 2014 via Century Media Records. The cover artwork was created and illustrated by Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, ATHEIST, SIGH, ANACRUSIS, GWAR).

Says ICED EARTH vocalist/guitarist Jon Schaffer: "This is a seriously heavy album with a seriously brutal album cover. I'm sure it will go down as a classic in the epic ICED EARTH catalog."

"Plagues Of Babylon" track listing:

01. Plagues Of Babylon
02. Democide
03. The Culling
04. Among The Living Dead
05. Resistance
06. The End?
07. If I Could See You
08. Cthulhu
09. Peacemaker
10. Parasite
11. Spirit Of The Times
12. Highwayman

Speaking to Metal4 magazine at the Rockharz open-air festival in Germany in July, Schaffer said about the upcoming CD: "It's a bit of a different thing for us, because it's half of a concept and the other half is [standalone] tracks. Musically, I think it's just another step in the right direction. It's really heavy, it's very melodic. It has a really epic feeling. Even though there isn't, like, a monster, long epic track, the overall feel of the songs is very epic. I mean, there's no 'Dante's Inferno' or 'Gettysburg' or the 'Something Wicked' trilogy or something like that on here, but I'm really happy with it."

ICED EARTH recently parted ways with drummer Brent Smedley for "personal family reasons." He has since been replaced by Raphael Saini (CHAOSWAVE).

ICED EARTH has been hitting it relentlessly, with the recent studio album, "Dystopia", being the most toured album in the band's illustrious history.

One of the many highlights of the "World Dystopia Tour", a headline show at the historic Kourion Amphitheatre in Cyprus, was recently released on Blu-ray, DVD and in many other formats under the title "Live In Ancient Kourion".

"Dystopia" was released in October 2011 via Century Media Records. The CD marked the band's recording debut with singer Stu Block (INTO ETERNITY), who joined ICED EARTH in March 2011 following the departure of Matt Barlow.

The cover is a bit of a garbled mess, but whatever. Really looking forward to this one. =)

I also love this comment from Jon: ""It's a bit of a different thing for us, because it's half of a concept and the other half is [standalone] tracks."

A different thing? Really? Something Wicked This Way Comes had multiple tracks that were part of a concept, as did The Glorious Burden. Or is he being very literal, meaning six tracks are part of the concept and six aren't?

Either way, whether it's six tracks or less, it's not what I'd call "a different thing."

I'll get this just bcuz their last album was great and a sort of return to their older more traditional form IMO.. I don't know about anyone else, but when I pull an Iced Earth album out, it's never the newer stuff. It's always the same two.. Something Wicked and The Dark Saga...

i agree MG. IE seems to have put it back together since a few really lackluster albums.

MetalRob331 wrote:

I'll get this just bcuz their last album was great and a sort of return to their older more traditional form IMO..  I don't know about anyone else, but when I pull an Iced Earth album out, it's never the newer stuff.  It's always the same two.. Something Wicked and The Dark Saga...

The Dark Saga was my intro to the band, particularly the song "I Died for You." So that album holds a special place in my heart, you know, but I really enjoy all their albums. Even the two Something Wicked follow-ups.

I am so fricking tired of zombies on metal album covers.

On the flip side, I don't f*cking care! A new Iced Earth album? Hell yeah!

Eyesore wrote:

The Dark Saga was my intro to the band, particularly the song "I Died for You." So that album holds a special place in my heart...

Ha! Same story here! I think I bought the album sometime in 98/99 because of that song.

My intro to the band was NotSR, but I've not been a fan like I was since after The Dark Saga. Just a few songs here & there off each album afterwards. I hope this is the album that brings me back to the fold.

mc666 wrote:

My intro to the band was NotSR, but I've not been a fan like I was since after The Dark Saga. Just a few songs here & there off each album afterwards. I hope this is the album that brings me back to the fold.

Doubt it will be. Jon's a different songwriter these days.

I'm into more heavy, albeit straightforward stuff these days. If you play power metal... play it as heavy as possible. I'll be on board.

I stumbled upon this band in my late teens bcuz their album covers blew me away. I inserted the disc and Dark Saga started playing and I was blown away. Then Matt opened his mouth and my jaw hit the floor Haha...Dark Saga, Swtwc, Days of Purgatory,and Horrorshow, still get listened to daily..

I hope it is as good as Dystopia, which made me become a fan of the band.

I admire Eliran Kantor for his strategy and determination to build an impressive portfolio by offering selected bands artworks for free. I only wish he would not pick so many fav bands of mine, *sigh*...

Stu Block really fits in the band well and Dystopia was a fantastic album. It makes me want to get this new one on the day of release. Looking forward to it !

Iced Earth used to be the bee's knees for me. They just don't do it for me much any more. Even the old albums that I used to listen to religiously.

The Glorious Burden was the last album I bought, but I've at least sampled stuff from every album since. Just can't really get into it any more.

Though now I am itching to listen to Horror Show. We'll see how it goes.

I will say though, despite the assinine lyrics, I did think the Sons of Liberty "Brush Fires of the Mind" album was pretty enjoyable.

I will be picking this up - last one was a great album

Dystopia was a bad-ass album and a nice return to form. I'm in.

Fat Freddy wrote:

Dystopia was a bad-ass album and a nice return to form. I'm in.

Ditto. My interest in the band took a nose-dive right around the Ripper-era and all the orchestral stuff Jon was adding in. Dystopia was a pleasant surprise and if this new one follows in that direction, count me in.

One thing about Iced Earth, I am still amazed all these years later how deep, emotional and personal a record JS could craft in the form of The Dark Saga, while being based on one of the most mediocre comic book stories ever.

Don't get me wrong. I bought Spawn. I was young and compelled by the flashy art and dark, grittiness. I still have a little nostalgia for Todd's art too. But overall, that story is just so nothing. But The Dark Saga is pretty brilliant. Inspirate can come from weird places I guess (though I know JS was a Spawn fan).

I'll get this. I discovered the band around Glorious Burden and have been a fan ever since. I like the older stuff a bit more, but since I'm a new fan I find all the releases to be good, just different.

I can't decide between TGB and Something Wicked as my fave though I probably lean towards TGB and was pleasantly surprised by Dystopia so hopefully this holds up.

I think I'm one of the few who didn't like TGB...Some good songs but copmared to what I was used to.. It didn't hold up well...

Eyesore wrote:

MetalRob331 wrote:

I'll get this just bcuz their last album was great and a sort of return to their older more traditional form IMO..  I don't know about anyone else, but when I pull an Iced Earth album out, it's never the newer stuff.  It's always the same two.. Something Wicked and The Dark Saga...

The Dark Saga was my intro to the band, particularly the song "I Died for You." So that album holds a special place in my heart, you know, but I really enjoy all their albums. Even the two Something Wicked follow-ups.

I agree The Dark Saga was my intro to the band as well! Either way I'll be getting this.

Metalwargod

I really like the last one and Sons of Liberty, Both albums were really good.