Schaffer/Barlow Project

ICED EARTH leader Jon Schaffer will reunite with the band's former singer, Matt Barlow, to celebrate the winter solstice as only they can. Under the SCHAFFER/BARLOW PROJECT banner, they will tackle Christmas classics on a new record called "Winter Nights".

Schaffer and Barlow's first collaborative recording since 2008 will feature the following songs:

01. We Three Kings
02. Silent Night
03. Do You Hear What I Hear?
04. Little Drummer Boy
05. I Died For You (Winter 2020)
06. Watching Over Me (Winter 2020)
07. Silent Night (Traditional)

Barlow said: "This is something that Jon and I had been talking about for many years. It just so happens that it's the right time. These are some Christmas classics that we've decided to do, and also add some re-imaginings of some ICED EARTH songs in there with it. So it's really gonna be pretty damn cool, man."

Schaffer added: "The idea, for whatever reason, popped in my head, and I called Matt. And I was in the middle of another production, so we had this short window of time; we couldn't bring you, really, a full-length album at this moment. But if you guys are into the idea, we definitely would like to do more of this in the future. There's other classic songs that we can rework from our past and from holiday songs and new originals and whatever. So, basically, everything's on the table; we just wanna see if you guys are into where we're going with this. And as weird as this year has been, hopefully it will give you guys some hope. So it's gonna be really awesome.

"We're taking some classic big holiday songs and doing our thing with it, making it very theatrical and epic sounding, and heavy in some parts and spooky in others, beautiful," he continued. "We have two versions of 'Silent Night', one more traditional and one very much something we would do, kind of what you would expect from us."

A Kickstarter page for the project has been launched.

I've sorta lost interest in more recent Iced Earth/Jon Schaffer projects, but I'd give this a listen for Barlow. Might be kinda cool.

I am curious to check it out.

I'll be passing on this one.

Nope, not gonna listen to one single song from this. Before opening this thread I was wondering, why not just call it an Iced Earth album. Now I'm thankful they didn't.

I’ll give it a listen... why not? I used to like Iced Earth with Barlow.

I'm not crazy about the theme, but it's Schaffer, so it's obvious instant purchase (OIP).

Christmas music is largely horrendous, especially the traditional stuff. Meh.

But those are my thoughts now. You know I'll buy the damn thing.

Might be interesting. It would be good to hear Barlow singing again.

The more recent Iced Earth stuff that I've heard hasn't interested me all that much, but I might pick this one up. Over the past few years I've got into the habit of buying a Christmas album per year (and then never listening to it again), so this could be 2020's.

I find the Stu Block era Iced Earth albums to be amazing.

Lari wrote:

I find the Stu Block era Iced Earth albums to be amazing.

Agreed. They're all fantastic releases.

Something Wicked and Horror Show are my two favorite IE albums. I never had any of the ones with Stuber.

Troublezone wrote:

Something Wicked and Horror Show are my two favorite IE albums. I never had any of the ones with Stuber.

I think Dystopia and Incorruptible have Horror Show beat. I never liked the layered vocals on Horror Show that much. But Jack, Wolf and Dragon's Child are great songs.

007 wrote:

Lari wrote:

I find the Stu Block era Iced Earth albums to be amazing.

Agreed. They're all fantastic releases.

I was about to post the same thing. Stu is one hell of a vocalist.

I lost track of I.E. quite a few albums ago but I'd give this a listen. Hey, if Halford can do the Metal Christmas thing (twice), why not Jon/Matt?

Schaffer's already sportin' a white beard anyway.

interesting. Last I knew, Shaffer was an atheist, but he picked some blatantly Christian songs here.

Arttie

Fat Freddy wrote:

I lost track of I.E. quite a few albums ago but I'd give this a listen. Hey, if Halford can do the Metal Christmas thing (twice), why not Jon/Matt?

Schaffer's already sportin' a white beard anyway.

The Stu albums are highly recommended:

First song released, with a lyric video:




Cover art for the EP:

Wow it's 30 dollars for the Ep:

https://icedearthmerch.com/120688/Schaffer-Barlow-Project-Winter-Nights-CD-DVD-SIGNED-Music

Now I have to reconsider getting this.

I’m not paying $30 for a EP.

They must be in very limited supply.

$30 is too much for a full length album , let alone an EP. Good luck with that.

On related news, ICED EARTH'S JON SCHAFFER PICKS 5 GREATEST DEBUT METAL ALBUMS

Zero surprises on that list.

Troublezone wrote:

I’m not paying $30 for a EP.

They must be in very limited supply.

That's what it says:

Only a handful of copies remain from the Schaffer/ Barlow Kickstarter campaign

I think I'll wait for 2nd pressing (and bonus songs).

Lari wrote:

I think I'll wait for 2nd pressing (and bonus songs).

Are you guessing here, or is this something they announced?

I was up late one night and ordered this stupid thing through Kickstarter. I don't even drink, but if it's late I order shit online like I'm hammered.