Iced Earth - Plagues of Babylon

007 wrote:

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.

When I owned 'The Dark Saga' it was probably the worst metal album in my collection.

mc666 wrote:

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.

That style is what I fell in love with about IE... I'm not a fan of speed metal as it starts all sounding too similar. Don't get me wrong, when done right it's amazing but the midpaced songs with those great hooks i.e. The Culling, Peacemaker, and Spirit of the Times, all have me coming back for another listen.

I love their faster songs like Violate and Disciples of the Lie, or Days of Rage from Dystopia.

If anyone's interested, here (click) is the lost Iced Earth discography thread that I saved from Google cache as a zip-file.

EDIT: I have a few others, like Maiden, Priest, Savatage, KISS, in case anyone is interested.

Streaming it now. It's giving me goosebumps. That's a good sign, yeah?

It arrived in the mail today. I'll give it a listen tonight after work.

I haven't heard anything off it yet. I've been pretty hyped up about it, but I've kept myself from listening to samples.

Did anyone watch the DVD yet?

Any information on different versions of this album being released, ie deluxe editions with bonus tracks or Best Buy exclusives? Anything like that?

The options I saw were regular CD, CD+DVD or double vinyl. No bonus tracks.

Lari wrote:

The options I saw were regular CD, CD+DVD or double vinyl. No bonus tracks.

Bummer. Oh well, I probably just grab the plain cd then and skip the dvd.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Lari wrote:

The options I saw were regular CD, CD+DVD or double vinyl. No bonus tracks.

Bummer. Oh well, I probably just grab the plain cd then and skip the dvd.

That's what I'm planning. No sense in paying extra for something I might watch once.

007 wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Lari wrote:

The options I saw were regular CD, CD+DVD or double vinyl. No bonus tracks.

Bummer. Oh well, I probably just grab the plain cd then and skip the dvd.

That's what I'm planning. No sense in paying extra for something I might watch once.

Yup, same here. Of the very, very few that I've even bothered to watch once, I can't think of any that have gotten a 2nd viewing from me.

I am so over the bonus tracks/different editions thing now that I am intentionally buying the standard version of albums. Except in rare instances (Alice Cooper mianly), I can live without owning every song a band I like puts out.

I do not want to fuel this ridiculous fire any more.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

007 wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Lari wrote:

The options I saw were regular CD, CD+DVD or double vinyl. No bonus tracks.

Bummer. Oh well, I probably just grab the plain cd then and skip the dvd.

That's what I'm planning. No sense in paying extra for something I might watch once.

Yup, same here. Of the very, very few that I've even bothered to watch once, I can't think of any that have gotten a 2nd viewing from me.

Ditto. Hell, I bought the Best Buy version of the new Motorhead (w/bonus DVD) three months ago now and I still haven't gotten around to watching the DVD that came with it.

I usually put those on when i'm on the exercise bike but I never make it through the whole video.

Listening online a few times now and The Culling is the standout track and I really enjoy Peacemaker with the change of pace and vocals styling to start it. The cover of Highwayman is cool with the different vocalists.

Dark Horseman wrote:

Listening online a few times now and The Culling is the standout track and I really enjoy Peacemaker with the change of pace and vocals styling to start it. The cover of Highwayman is cool with the different vocalists.

When I first downloaded it, "Highwayman" wasn't included in the download. I got it recently...and I think it's HORRIBLE. Just a complete mess. Maybe it'll grow on me, but I thought it was dreadful. 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.

Ha, I haven't listened to the outro. I never understand why bands do that.

Three listens now. I think I'm disagreeing with the majority here on the highlights of the album. To me, Democide and Ctulhu are the best and the ones that rock the most. Ctulhu could have been on Dystopia. A great track. Democide has a nice combination of speed and aggression and that Iced Earth sensitivity.

Well after saying I won't get the edition with the dvd I ended up getting that one. It was only a dollar more and was the version available for pickup at Best Buy. Plus I has reward zone points used toward it and it only cost me $3.17. I'll be picking it up later today.

I listened on Spotify. I thought it sounded fine, but I'm just not into this band like I used to be.

The last record I bought was Glorious Burden, but I've checked out every album since. As I've gotten older, Iced Earth just has been a band I've sort of "grown out of". Although, who knows what will happen one day, as I used to think I'd grown out of Pantera too, and then a couple years ago I all of a sudden could not get enough of them again.

I love the album. Getting it for my birthday. It's not quite Dystopia but it's far better than the Ripper albums. Cthulu is definitely the standout track for me. But seriously, this whole thing gives me goosebumps, and that never happens these days.

The Glorious Burden is my fave by IE.

I picked it up last week from a local store. Aside from a copule of songs I'm kind of disappointed. It's okay, but it won't get played as much as a lot of their other albums for me.

Dark Horseman wrote:

The Glorious Burden is my fave by IE.

I love Burden, especially the suite at the end. For one thing, with all the European history lessons going on in UK Power Metal, it's awesome that Schaffer elected to conceptualize a broad section of American history for his work, and he does it well (reminds me of Maiden's historical output that taught me so much as a kid). 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.

I'm listening to it now. First impression ? Pretty good so far.