Matt Barlow rejoins Iced Earth!

Fat Freddy wrote:

I wonder where this leaves Barlow's law-enforcement career? Is he giving it up??

Maybe he got shot at while he was out on patrol one night and thought, "Hmm, y'know, maybe that heavy metal gig wasn't as bad as I thought it was."

That was funny.

I KNEW IT! IT HAS TO HAPPEN!

For some selfish reason i love the fact that Matt is back. Ripper in my eyes changed the whole way Jon went about writing material. With Matt at the healm IE made some of the best cds to date. I was used to Dark Saga and Something this way Comes being so awesome then i heard The Great Burden and it was 2 different bands. I'm so glad Matt is back and i hope Jon goes back to writing those traditional riffs and just letting Matts voice mesmerize us...

I don't think Owens had anything to do with Jon's writing style. The Glorious Burden was written with Matt in the band, remember? And while Something Wicked part 1 is a different kind of album, if you strip away all the orchestration and stuff, it's the same writing style.

And if you wonder if Matt can pull off the Owens material:

Quote :

For some selfish reason i love the fact that Matt is back.

I'm kinda feeling this way as well. As much as I like Owens in every band he's sang (sung? singed?) with, something about Barlow being back with Iced Earth just seems right. I guess it's because Matt really defined the sound of Iced Earth. Just like Bruce with Maiden and Rob with Priest. It just sounds right and noone else can fill those shoes no matter how talented they may be.

Eyesore wrote:

And if you wonder if Matt can pull off the Owens material:

I am confused. Travel in Stygian is a Tim Owens'-era song?

mc666 wrote:

meh, Jon should join up with Scott & Charlie from Anthrax & just share a singer. maybe Messiah Marcolin. that way all of the difficult divas would be together in one single band.

That's pretty funny ! Seriously though, I can't see how this will all work out. I missed the other thread about Winter's Bane and Owens, but he's going to do them and Beyond Fear and Barlow will be in Iced Earth,Pyramaze and still be a cop ? Sounds like a full plate for both singers. I'd like to see them pull it off (and I still need to get Framing Armageddon!)If it would get re-recorded, I'm not sure which version I'd get.

romeolimagolf wrote:

Eyesore wrote:

And if you wonder if Matt can pull off the Owens material:

I am confused. Travel in Stygian is a Tim Owens'-era song?

Did you listen to the song? Did you listen to how he sang the song? There is no LOL here, my friend.

ICED EARTH - Barlow In, North American Tour Out
Posted on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at 19:54:38 EST


Untold number of fans were ecstatic to learn that vocalist Matt Barlow would be re-joining ICED EARTH, following a four-year absence. Given the sudden, and admittedly out-of-the-blue, revelation, BW&BK scribe Mark Gromen put in a call to founder/guitarist Jon Schaffer. Fresh from England and Europe, where the band opened for HEAVEN AND HELL, as well as a short headlining stint, Schaffer is busy writing the second instalment of the Something Wicked story-line, Revelation Abomination. Most of the conversation will remain private (at Schaffer's request), to be publicly disseminated when he does official press, sometime after the holidays. What can be confirmed is that the timing of recording and release will be affected by Tim 'Ripper' Owens (BEYOND FEAR, ex-JUDAS PRIEST) being replaced by Barlow, namely down to the birth of Barlow's child (his wife going into labor earlier today December 12th). A family man himself, Schaffer understands the commitment, keeping Barlow out of the studio until late February. "I'm behind anyway," admits Schaffer, "I'm writing the lyrics/vocal melodies and starting the vocal arrangements now. I have three songs done. We should have be doing master vocal takes the second week of January and mixing in early February, but that's changed now."

Needless to say, a delayed trip to the studio means the planned (?) spring tour is off and all future dates will have to be co-ordinated around Barlow's career. Expect to see a full statement from Matt Barlow within the next day or so, posted on IcedEarth.com.

I want to hear Owens press release.

Eyesore wrote:

I want to hear Owens press release.

I was thinking the exact same thing eyesore! It will be interesting reading to contrast the 2 press releases.

Alex

Wow, this is getting very interesting. Almost like watching a movie or sumthin'.

blackieboy wrote:

Wow, this is getting very interesting. Almost like watching a movie or sumthin'.

You said it brotha.

poor tim he always seems to get ousted from the bands hes in. first priest and now iced earth. its good to hear barlows back though

how is he gonna balance iced earth, pyramaze and being a police officer all at the same time. theres a lot on his plate

caniplaywithmadness? wrote:

how is he gonna balance iced earth, pyramaze and being a police officer all at the same time. theres a lot on his plate

Robocop.

spectrefate wrote:

caniplaywithmadness? wrote:

how is he gonna balance iced earth, pyramaze and being a police officer all at the same time. theres a lot on his plate

Robocop.

BACK ON LINE. BACK ON DUTY.

Totally unrelated note, "RoboCop" is the greatest movie ever made.

Fat Freddy wrote:

spectrefate wrote:

caniplaywithmadness? wrote:

how is he gonna balance iced earth, pyramaze and being a police officer all at the same time. theres a lot on his plate

Robocop.

BACK ON LINE. BACK ON DUTY.

Totally unrelated note, "RoboCop" is the greatest movie ever made.

the FIRST one is great. i'll leave it at that tho

caniplaywithmadness? wrote:

Fat Freddy wrote:

spectrefate wrote:

caniplaywithmadness? wrote:

how is he gonna balance iced earth, pyramaze and being a police officer all at the same time. theres a lot on his plate

Robocop.

BACK ON LINE. BACK ON DUTY.

Totally unrelated note, "RoboCop" is the greatest movie ever made.

the FIRST one is great. i'll leave it at that tho

I'm a Robo-Geek so I'll go as far as the 2nd one. "R3" was for kids, and the TV series sucked. Thankfully the rumored remake of "RoboCop" has been shot down, last I heard, at least for now.

Now see what you did, SpectreFate? You made me go off topic again. I'm gonna get a demerit for this, I just KNOW it.

I was wondering how I would get off topic in an Iced Earth thread as I know just about zilch about them, but I am triumphant once again!

I get the impression that Matt does not intend on giving up his law enforcement career. From the statements left on the Pyramaze forum, it sounds like Matt will still be a part of that band as well. There is only one way I can see Matt being able to be in both bands and still be a cop - Iced Earth is no longer a touring band, it is just a studio band. They may do a few festivals shows, but I don't see how they can do a world tour and Matt keep his job. With John recently becoming a father, it would not suprise me if he wanted to reduce Iced Earth's touring shedule, and that may have even been a necessessary condition for Barlows return.

romeolimagolf wrote:

I get the impression that Matt does not intend on giving up his law enforcement career. From the statements left on the Pyramaze forum, it sounds like Matt will still be a part of that band as well. There is only one way I can see Matt being able to be in both bands and still be a cop - Iced Earth is no longer a touring band, it is just a studio band. They may do a few festivals shows, but I don't see how they can do a world tour and Matt keep his job. With John recently becoming a father, it would not suprise me if he wanted to reduce Iced Earth's touring shedule, and that may have even been a necessessary condition for Barlows return.

Jon's had health issues of his own (back problems) for the past couple of years so he may have wanted to cut back on Iced Earths' touring anyway.

Fat Freddy wrote:

romeolimagolf wrote:

I get the impression that Matt does not intend on giving up his law enforcement career. From the statements left on the Pyramaze forum, it sounds like Matt will still be a part of that band as well. There is only one way I can see Matt being able to be in both bands and still be a cop - Iced Earth is no longer a touring band, it is just a studio band. They may do a few festivals shows, but I don't see how they can do a world tour and Matt keep his job. With John recently becoming a father, it would not suprise me if he wanted to reduce Iced Earth's touring shedule, and that may have even been a necessessary condition for Barlows return.

Jon's had health issues of his own (back problems) for the past couple of years so he may have wanted to cut back on Iced Earths' touring anyway.

If that is true then I will forever regret not being able to see Iced Earth live seeing as I doubt they'd come to Texas if all they end up playing is festivals (but this is still all speculation so I have not given up hope).

i saw them with ripper supporting heaven and hell. cool show. hopefully they'll tour with barlow

I saw'em with Barlow on the HORROR SHOW in 2002, phenomenal show!!