Iced Earth - Plagues of Babylon

Eyesore wrote:

Man, this is kind of different for the band. The mix sounds weaker than the previous song released. Hope it's just the YouTube version. Either way, I really like this, but it doesn't sound like an Iced Earth song to me. Not a bad thing, of course, but not what I expected.

Yea I'm with you that this doesn't sound like an IE song. The riffs in this song sound terrible hahah!!! For some reason it reminded me of King Diamond? Wasn't bad but?

I dig the song. I've listened to it a bunch of times now and it's sitting better with me. But yeah, it's different. I'm okay with that.

I'm...hearing Iced Earth. And I dig it.

corplhicks wrote:

I'm...hearing Iced Earth. And I dig it.

Yea, sounds like Iced Earth to me.  

It's a little different, almost darker? I like it though.

It sounds like IE bcuz it is IE, what I think we're saying is stylistically it's a little bit different.. Not a bad song and the more I listen the more I like it..

Yeah, it is Iced Earth and it sounds like Iced Earth because bands typically sound like themselves, but musically it's not typical Iced Earth. There are different flavors present.

Yeah that sounds pretty good. I like it.

I preordered the album (CD+DVD version) today. I haven't listened to the youtube clips or anything, so I'll get a pure first listen experience when it ships   

So this one is out there on the Internet. Pretty kick-ass album. I have a few tunes to get through, but it's been great. This one, however, I played about 12 times in a row.



Jon has always written great ballad-like songs, and this one might be the best yet. Fans looking for straight metal will hate it, probably, but I absolutely love anthemic songs like this.

Oh yeah, amazing song.

Eyesore wrote:

So this one is out there on the Internet. Pretty kick-ass album. I have a few tunes to get through, but it's been great. This one, however, I played about 12 times in a row.



Jon has always written great ballad-like songs, and this one might be the best yet. Fans looking for straight metal will hate it, probably, but I absolutely love anthemic songs like this.

Songs like Watching Over Me, I Died For You, Melancholy, A Question of Heaven, and Blessed Are You, are why I fell in love with Iced Earth.. This song is killer...

Side note: If you use Spotify, this album is on there and it's exceptional..

MetalRob331 wrote:

Side note:  If you use Spotify, this album is on there and it's exceptional..

Just came here to say this. Gonna blast this one on the way to work on Mon. I love what I'm hearing so far.

I'm gonna hold off on listening to anymore of this. I'll wait til it comes out.

That song is good... I have not liked any IE since the Dark Saga, maybe i`ll give this one a listen.....

Olafsto wrote:

That song is good... I have not liked any IE since the Dark Saga, maybe i`ll give this one a listen.....

That's a pretty rough statement, and I guess if you can't get yourself to like Something Wicked This Way Comes or Dystopia, I wouldn't have my hopes up for the new one either. Those two are awesome.

I've been playing Dystopia in anticipating of "Babylon", and it's still magical.

I never understood all the hype around Something Wicked. I find it one of their most boring albums. Dark Saga kills it, IMO.

They're both excellent.

Stormrider is their best though.

MetallicSeminarian wrote:

I never understood all the hype around Something Wicked. I find it one of their most boring albums. Dark Saga kills it, IMO.

I find them both pretty equal.

As far as Plagues goes, it blows away Dystopia IMO. I liked Dystopia but it wasn't something I went back to a lot. Plagues I have listened to countless times already.

Something Wicked is brilliant, as is The Dark Saga. I'd choose the latter over the former as that was my intro to the band and holds a special place in my heart, but if I were able to rationally judge the two, I'd say Something Wicked is the stronger album.

What the new album lacks, unfortunately, is a barn-burner. There are no really fast songs. And Stu does that tough-guy macho vocal at times, like he did on "Days of Rage," which I find a bit annoying. It just comes off very forced and unnatural. Shame.

Still, it's a great album.

MetalRob331 wrote:

MetallicSeminarian wrote:

I never understood all the hype around Something Wicked. I find it one of their most boring albums. Dark Saga kills it, IMO.

I find them both pretty equal.  

As far as Plagues goes, it blows away Dystopia IMO.  I liked Dystopia but it wasn't something I went back to a lot.  Plagues I have listened to countless times already.

Not sure about that. I think this one is a step down from Dystopia. That's not to say it isn't quite good, but I don't know.

I'll refrain from making final judgment until I buy the album in January.

I was disappointed on the first 2 listens. I was hoping for something faster. I haven't wrote it off yet, but so far it comes across as the same mid paced melometal they've been doing since 96. Which is why I haven't been totally on board since Burnt Offerings.

I was always the opposite on the Dark Saga. I find it rather lifeless compared to other albums in their catalog. It's not terrible, it's just their weakest, I think.

Lari wrote:

They're both excellent.

Stormrider is their best though.

^^ What he sez.