in retrospect, what did u fink of 'ripper era' iced earth?

I loved the Ripper era and thought it was way to short. I liked the GB more than FA. It is a shame there is not going to be another ripper cd...

Alex

ultmetal wrote:

Fat Freddy wrote:

DallasBlack wrote:

IMO the signiture Iced Earth sound was still there.

I dunno, on FRAMING ARMAGEDDON it sounded more like the signature Blind Guardian sound to me. I was like "Dude, Jon, maybe you've been hanging around with Hansi a little TOO much!"

That's what I thought too.

I think I know what you guys mean now. It's the layered vocals isn't it? That is the only connection I could assertain from comparing them (two nights ago I shuffled Iced Earth's last two albums and Blind Guardian's last two albums together). I always believed Iced Earth's signature sound was Shaffer's rhythm guitar (the sound of his rhythm playing is fairly unique to Iced Earth-I'm 90% sure I could pick it out of a line up). In the same token I always believed Blind Guardian's signature sound was found in the lead guitars (the sound is extremely unique to Blind Guardian-I'm 100% sure I could pick it out of a line up). So I believe we're both right (the layered vocals are definatly a staple of BG's music and are used a LOT in the last two Iced Earth albums-Framing Armegeddon moreso than GB but Shaffer's signature rhythm guitar is still there). Also speaking as one who listens to many symphonic metal bands, the symphonic elements in FA are not that noticable (except in the interludes-which I skip over-I barely notice it in the songs).

The Ripper Era is over? Boy have *I* been out of the loop.

I loved the first, but haven't gotten the second. I prefer Barlow but liked the Ripper as well.

I didn't like either album and not entirely because of Ripper. As others have said, it has as much to do with the songwriting as anything. The Blind Guardian comparisons are spot on. I haven't liked their last two either.