Iced Earth - Plagues of Babylon

The ending to the Spirit of the Times brings up memories of the trilogy at the end of Dark Saga.

I don't hate the cover song either. It sounds good to me.

I think Highwaymen starts off rather weak or shaky, but it quickly gets better as it goes on. I like it.

My only problem is Owens. He's a great vocalist, really, but he's boring. The dude has range but nothing unique, and comes across as silly at times. But I just shrug it off; the music is merciless and powerful. I feel the same way with Framing Armageddon. wrote:

I don't find it boring but he is over the top at times. Don't mind it though, he is swimming in the waters so many are that Halford first cut the channel in.

Dark Horseman wrote:

I don't find it boring but he is over the top at times. Don't mind it though, he is swimming in the waters so many are that Halford first cut the channel in.

Well said.

Anyone else curious about the lack of bonus tracks? I'm planning to pick this up at Best Buy, which has the cheapest price, but part of me wants to hold off and just listen to the download for now. It's very possible the band didn't record any extra tracks, but I'm wondering if a special edition is coming. I f*cking hate when labels do this. Winery Dogs just did, which is highly annoying.

So do I wait? Sucks. =(

Eyesore wrote:

Anyone else curious about the lack of bonus tracks? I'm planning to pick this up at Best Buy, which has the cheapest price, but part of me wants to hold off and just listen to the download for now. It's very possible the band didn't record any extra tracks, but I'm wondering if a special edition is coming. I f*cking hate when labels do this. Winery Dogs just did, which is highly annoying.

So do I wait? Sucks. =(

I was a bit surprised by this as well. It's become so common-place to expect "special editions" now, that just a plain release seems boring. I picked up the single disc, no dvd copy last night at FYE for $9.99. I was supposed to get a free set of IE pins with purchase, but the kid behind the counter couldn't find them. They took my number and said they'll call if and when they find them. We'll see.

Same thing happened when I purchased Motorhead's Aftershock. Big sign right next to the cd. "FREE MOTORHEAD PATCH WITH PURCHASE". So I go up to the counter and they can't find them. They did call though the next day. Had to make a special trip back to the mall to pick it up, so that was a little annoying.

I rarely wait and if there are bonus tracks later I listen and dl if I like them.

Eyesore wrote:

And then that stupid outro is the most pointless thing the band has ever down. Why it's even included as a track is beyond me.

Just heard it. WTF was the point of that? That was sooooooo stupid.

Onto my 2nd spin, while nothing is jumping out at me from a single song stand point, I think it's a decent IE album so far. Sounds like what you'd expect from them I guess. Jon has a sound and formula and he's sticking with it. Nothing wrong with that.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Eyesore wrote:

And then that stupid outro is the most pointless thing the band has ever down. Why it's even included as a track is beyond me.

Just heard it. WTF was the point of that? That was sooooooo stupid.

Onto my 2nd spin, while nothing is jumping out at me from a single song stand point, I think it's a decent IE album so far. Sounds like what you'd expect from them I guess. Jon has a sound and formula and he's sticking with it. Nothing wrong with that.

At least on the official release it's not a listed track. All the downloads had it listed as "Outro," so I thought it was dumb. It's still dumb, but I guess it's better as an unlisted or hidden track.

But yeah, white people doing Dave Chappelle is annoying as hell. Haha.

Eyesore wrote:

But yeah, white people doing Dave Chappelle is annoying as hell. Haha.[/

Especially when they don't have the balls to say it the real way it was done.   

When I saw Iced Earth/Symphony X back on the Dystopia tour, they all sang Happy Birthday to Michael Romeo and Russell Allen kept saying "F**k yo couch!"....it was funny at first but then got kinda annoying. HA!

Since I'm not seeing much thread bumping now that the album is out, I'm gonna say what everyone must be thinking. This album is kinda dull, isn't it?

I've been spinning it quite a bit since getting it the week of release but I'm just not finding much to hold my interest. I want to like it, but it's another one of those albums that sounds all well and good while it's on, then immediately forgotten when it's over.

Anyone agree or disagree?

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Since I'm not seeing much thread bumping now that the album is out, I'm gonna say what everyone must be thinking. This album is kinda dull, isn't it?

I've been spinning it quite a bit since getting it the week of release but I'm just not finding much to hold my interest. I want to like it, but it's another one of those albums that sounds all well and good while it's on, then immediately forgotten when it's over.

Anyone agree or disagree?

This is how I'm feeling lately about most Iced Earth. I used to really like these guys, but lately I find myself bored with them. Maybe in a few months or so they'll click with me again. Until (and if) that happens, I have no plans on picking up the new one.

i'm liking it, not as much Dystopia but it's strong in my book.

I am just getting into it slow.

The opening track is awesome. Reminds me of Dante's Inferno in a way. "The End?" is a good one, too. Ctulhu is probably my favourite track so far.

I'm avoiding listening to it in the car or somewhere where I'm not paying as much attention.

Bought it over the weekend. I am really enjoying it. Love their version of Highwayman.

I've been spinning it quite a bit during work trips, actually. It's almost Dystopia's equal, but stumbles with the last few tracks. Peacemaker is growing on me slowly. The slower spots aren't bad songs, I've just grown tired of Iced Earth ballads is all--not necessarily a criticism. Highwayman is horrible; it's just an awkward fit, maybe better as a bonus track. The outro is pretty lame but I just stop it before it gets there. Otherwise, the opener, The Culling, Cthulhu, Parasite, Democide--all as intense as the Dystopia material.

I love it, but since I downloaded it prior to release, I've done all my talking about it. Haha. It's definitely not gonna go down as a classic metal album, but it's far from dull.

This is worth watching:

Picked this up about a fortnight ago and have been really enjoying it. It's as good as, if not slightly better than, Dystopia to my ears. It's generally very solid, if occasionally slightly phoned in at a couple of points, but tracks like 'Peacemaker' have become favourites for me. I also think 'If I Could See You' is a nice addition to Iced Earth's overly cheesy metal ballad collection (no one does those quite like them). Controversially though, my favourite thing about the album is the utterly nonsensical cover of 'The Highwayman'. A brilliant song delivered in perhaps the most ludicrously overblown way possible - it's kind of amazing. If any bonus tracks do surface, I hope they're all inappropriate covers of country songs.

I finally picked this up today and I'm on my second spin.

First impressions were disappointing if I'm honest.  

I thought dystopia was a fantastic album and a real shot in the arm for iced earth after a couple of what I'd describe as mediocre albums. I love Stu's vocals and think he's a great fit for iced earth and I hope he stays around for a while. I just found the music on this new album a tad under whelming and forgettable.  I did like the end, peacemaker and cthulha but nothing really jumped out at me. The albums not bad but after Dystopia I was expecting something a bit more. Can't put my finger on it really.

Having said all that I'm typing this as the album is playing and the second time round I cranked it loud through my home cinema set up and the tittle track does sound a lot more memorable this tine round :)listening to democide now and this is a nice speedy track but has a lack of soloing for me. I think thats something I've noticed on this album. Some tracks have some cracking solos but a lot of the tracks seem to go into a breakdown where a ripping solo would sound awesome yet it doesn't happen.

Overall a 6/10 on first listen however its sounding a lot better on second listen pumping out of my surround sound system in the living room. Could be a grower.

Growers are good.

I still prefer Plagues, over Dystopia.

I'm not too fond of the song Resistance. Sounds forced and the melody for the chorus is underwhelming. I tend to skip it.

I think dystopia is better. I still tend to return to this one.