Iced Earth - The Crucible of Man (Something Wicked Pt. 2)

That's a sweet cover! New album title, right? What was is supposed to be called originally?

I'm listening to this in another window right now. I've got to say, as much as I like Ripper, it is great to hear that voice back in Iced Earth again! We'll see if the full release holds up to the Barlow back catalogue, but it sure sounds good on first listen! Here's hoping Ripper focuses on Beyond Fear. Their first album was promising!

Bad azz cover I am so stocked for the new IE!

Wargod48

Quote :

Bad azz cover I am so stocked for the new IE!

Is this a grocer reference?

QuothTheRaven wrote:

I'm listening to this in another window right now. I've got to say, as much as I like Ripper, it is great to hear that voice back in Iced Earth again! We'll see if the full release holds up to the Barlow back catalogue, but it sure sounds good on first listen! Here's hoping Ripper focuses on Beyond Fear. Their first album was promising!

The entire album leaked? Or are you listening to the single released today?

I think he is listening to the single "I Walk Among You".

Wargod48

I checked for it and no new stuff!

Nice cover!

This one is a no-brainer! (I'm itching for a Owens/Barlow thread, though. Don't think we've had a good one at the HoM.)

scottmitchell74 wrote:

(I'm itching for a Owens/Barlow thread, though. Don't think we've had a good one at the HoM.)

scottmitchell74 wrote:

This one is a no-brainer! (I'm itching for a Owens/Barlow thread, though. Don't think we've had a good one at the HoM.)

You better check first to make sure or "you know who" will get you!

tohostudios wrote:

scottmitchell74 wrote:

This one is a no-brainer! (I'm itching for a Owens/Barlow thread, though. Don't think we've had a good one at the HoM.)

You better check first to make sure or "you know who" will get you!

Says the dude that has a man with breast implants as his avatar.

Eyesore wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

scottmitchell74 wrote:

This one is a no-brainer! (I'm itching for a Owens/Barlow thread, though. Don't think we've had a good one at the HoM.)

You better check first to make sure or "you know who" will get you!

Says the dude that has a man with breast implants as his avatar.

You're just jealous that she's got a bigger weiner than you.

Anyhow, while I like the idea of Barlow being back, I was really disappointed with that last Iced Earth album, so I'm not getting my hopes up on this one. Cool cover though.

It was originally supposed to be called Revelation Abomination (something wicked Part II).
I really hope it's better than the first one. that one didn't grab me as much as their other releases

Eyesore wrote:

QuothTheRaven wrote:

I'm listening to this in another window right now. I've got to say, as much as I like Ripper, it is great to hear that voice back in Iced Earth again! We'll see if the full release holds up to the Barlow back catalogue, but it sure sounds good on first listen! Here's hoping Ripper focuses on Beyond Fear. Their first album was promising!

The entire album leaked? Or are you listening to the single released today?

Sorry if I was unclear. The single that was released was streamed off of IE's website. That is what I was listening to. The Framing Armageddon stuff sounds great with Barlow, btw!

So as expected, this is a very different kind of album. Much in line with Framing Armageddon. The true gem here is Barlow. He just makes Schaffer's songs sound so much better, there's so much more life to them. As much as I like Owens, Barlow just blows him away when it comes to Iced Earth's music.

Anyone looking for that old school Iced Earth shouldn't even bother with this album (though I'm sure you and your tiny penis will drop in to say it sucks). Either way, it's a fantastic album! Like Framing Armageddon, it's more mid-paced than anything else, but that at least falls in line with the overall concept. And aside from the first and last track, there are no instrumentals or symphonic interludes. So it flows much better as an album as oppossed to a audio story, like the first one.

Barlow is so awesome on this album, though. It's almost like he realized he was capable of so much more after doing the Pyramaze album. Awesome stuff. And he seriously blows Owens away on this one.

It's leaked? *goes in immediate search*

Smindas wrote:

It's leaked? *goes in immediate search*

Yup. This is one of a few bands that I won't wait for. If it's out there, I'll download. A word of advice: listen twice before making up your mind. It took about half the album for me to settle down and accept this new style with Matt singing. On a second run through, it all sounded much more natural. "Behold The Wicked Child," the first true song, has a lot going on, so it's a bit distracting at first.

Maybe it was just me, though, my expectations taking hold of what I thought Matt with Iced Earth would be like. This is not that kind of album.

No, I completely agree with you. I've just about finished my first listen and I'm finding it a bit hard to get used to. There are some great tunes, undeniably, but not what I expect of Iced Earth with Matt, you know? It seems enjoyable though, just a bit weird. Definitely a grower, much like the one before. It can't be denied that Matt's performance is fantastic, mind.

Also, I'm sure there's someone else singing alongside Matt in the verses to 'A Gift Or A Curse', and I'm pretty sure it's not Jon, seeing as he usually sounds pretty close to Matt.

I'm on my 5th listen and this is absolutely killer, I love A Gift Or A Curse song 5 that song gives me chills. I do agree Matt does the vocals much better than Ripper did and I liked Ripper. But Iced Earth was made for Barlow and Schaffers song writting on this should be commended this is outstanding.
Each song follow intune with one another to me the best IE in a long time!

Wargod48

"A Gift Or A Curse" is all Matt. I'm telling you, the dude has stepped up on this album and is utilizing those new styles he brought out on the Pyramaze album. In fact, it's almost like he wanted to outdo Owens on this one, because he's outdone himself, I think. Maybe the songwriting isn't as good as some of the classic stuff, but this easily the best vocal performance of Matt's career. And it's funny, because I think Framing Armageddon was Owens's best performance of his career. For that, I think Schaffer deserves a lot of credit.

For those that haven't downloaded—or won't—check out this song:

CRUCIFY THE KING

Owens can't even touch that. Matt sounds so damn mean! And that scream in the middle...whooo! Goose bumps!

You're right; Owens couldn't sing that song on his best day.

Maybe 'A Gift Or A Curse' is all Matt, but that's nuts. He means his vocals are more flexible than ever. He was working as a police officer these last few years, where did he find time to flex his vocal cords!

2nd listen through, I'm enjoying it more. I think I'd have to agree with the 'best Matt performance' comments, his voice is ridiculously good. I think in a few more listens, I'll love this album. The same happened with Framing Armmageddon.

Also, 'Divide and Devour'. What a song, possibly my favourite so far.

That cover is godly, the cover was the whole reason I picked up Framing Armageddon.

No interludes? thank god that was the only thing I didn't like about Framing.

That song is OK. I'm speaking blasphemy here I know, but Barlow just doens't "do it" for me. It's a "me" thing, though....I like the high(er) pitched screamers.