Iced Earth

Wikipedia:

Iced Earth is an American heavy metal band from Tampa, Florida. Originally formed under the name "Purgatory" in 1985, Iced Earth has released a total of ten studio albums, one live album and three EPs, compilations and boxsets. Their first album, simply titled Iced Earth, was released in 1990 and their latest release, Dystopia, was released on October 17, 2011. They are currently working on an eleventh studio album, which is due for release in 2013.

Iced Earth is well known for having an ever-changing line-up, with band founder and rhythm guitarist Jon Schaffer staying the only constant member throughout the group's over 25-year existence. Besides Schaffer, the longest-running musician in the group was singer Matt Barlow. Barlow originally joined for their 1995 album, Burnt Offerings, and stayed until 2003, when he became a police officer. After Barlow, the band was fronted by Tim "Ripper" Owens for two albums, until Barlow returned in late 2007. He left once again in 2011, this time citing family reasons and the band's tour schedule. Currently the band is fronted by Stu Block from Into Eternity.

History

Formation and debut (1984-'91)

The central figure of Iced Earth is, and has been, guitarist Jon Schaffer, who formed the band on January 20, 1985, in Tampa, Florida. Schaffer's original vision for the band started under the moniker "The Rose" in 1984. The group was very short-lived, after which Jon formed a band called "Purgatory". Members often changed in the band, with Jon staying as the only constant member, but the band did record its first demo in 1985, titled Psychotic Dreams.

In 1988, Purgatory changed its name to "Iced Earth". According to Jon, a friend of his who died in a motorcycle accident prior to Jon moving to Florida was responsible for the name "Iced Earth". In 1989, the band, now known as Iced Earth, recorded another demo called Enter the Realm, with the line-up of Gene Adam on vocals, Randy Shawver on lead guitar, Dave Abell on bass, Greg Seymour on drums and Jon Schaffer on rhythm guitar and vocals. All of the songs on Enter the Realm would later appear on the band's debut album, with the exception of "Nightmares" and the title track.

After getting signed to Century Media Records, the band, now with Mike McGill on drums, started work on their first album. The album was recorded at Morrisound Recording with Tom Morris and Jon acting as producers. The album was originally released in November, 1990 in Europe and on February 25, 1991 in the US.

Night of the Stormrider (1991-'93)

After the group's first album, they quickly began work on their second record. Gene Adam, who originally sang on the band's debut, was also supposed to sing on the group's sophomore release, but after he refused to take singing lessons, Schaffer fired him.

The album, now with John Greely on lead vocals and Richey Secchiari on drums, was the group's first stab at a concept record. The album tells the story of a man who is betrayed by religion and turns away from it in anger. After this, the dark forces of nature reach out to him and use him as their vessel to bring death and destruction to Earth. Through it all, he feels no remorse for his deeds, and when we reach the end of the story, he numbly accepts his fate of eternity in Hell.

Once again recorded at Morrisound, with Schaffer and Morris as producers, the album was released in Europe on November 11, 1991. In the US the album's release was delayed until April 1992, so it wouldn't compete with the group's debut album.

Matt Barlow joins and Burnt Offerings (1994-'95)

After a two year layoff following the release of Night of the Stormrider, the group resurfaced in 1994, now with lead vocalist Matt Barlow and drummer Rodney Beasley. The group started work on a new album, once again with Tom Morris. Released April Fool's Day, 1995, Burnt Offerings was the group's heaviest album yet.

The title track touches upon the band's troubles during the last three years, during which they almost broke-up, while the over sixteen minute -long closer, "Dante's Inferno," is based on the Inferno -segment of Dante Alighieri's epic poem the Divine Comedy, where the main character, Dante, travels through the nine circles of Hell. The album's cover is also based on Lucifer from the Divine Comedy. The picture was painted by Gustave Doré in the 19th century.

The Dark Saga and Days of Purgatory (1996-'97)

In January, 1996, the group started work on their fourth studio album, this time with Tom Morris' brother Jim Morris acting as co-producer along with Jon Schaffer. Since then, Jim Morris has co-produced on every Iced Earth -studio album. The album also included a new drummer, this time Mark Prator. The album would also become the last to feature longtime bassist Dave Abell, who left the group after finishing the album. While he was credited for playing bass on the album, bassist Keith Menser appears on the back cover, because Century Media demanded the touring line-up to appear on the cover. Coincidentally, Keith Menser was fired after he didn't learn any of the band's songs for the tour, so he was soon replaced by James MacDonough. Mark Prator was also replaced by Brent Smedley on the drums.

The record, titled The Dark Saga, is another concept album, this time based on the comic book character "Spawn," who also appears on the front cover. The lyrics tell the story of "a man who sells his soul in order to return to his true love on Earth, but he soon discovers that she is married to his own best friend. He is left completely alone in the world, and although he has good inside, he is influenced by dark forces. Everything that he desires is denied, even his own death." Many of the villains in the Spawn -series also appear on the album, such as the Clown ("Violate"), Billy Kincaid ("Vengeance is Mine"), Angela ("The Hunter") and Malebolgia ("The Last Laugh").

Released on May 20, 1996, The Dark Saga also marked a change in the band's musical style, shifting the focus from long, heavy and technical songs into creating a complete story through sound and lyrics. Thus, the music is more dark, melodic and simple than other Iced Earth records.

On April 21, 1997, Iced Earth released the compilation Days of Purgatory, which featured songs from their first two albums as well as the Enter the Realm -demo, resung by Matt Barlow with new drums and bass on some tracks as well, by Brent Smedley and James MacDonough. The album also featured songs from Burnt Offerings remixed and remastered.

Something Wicked This Way Comes and Alive in Athens (1998-'99)

In March, 1998, the band began work on their fifth studio album, once again with Jim Morris as producer. Prior to the recording process, long-time guitarist Randy Shawver left the group. Guitarist Larry Tarnowski handled the lead guitar duties on the album, but wasn't credited as a full-time member of the band, but as a session musician. Drummer Brent Smedley also didn't play on the album, because of personal reasons, and he was replaced by previous drummer Mike Prator, who was also credited as a session member.

Released on June 17, 1998, Something Wicked This Way Comes featured many different styles to it. The ballad "Watching Over Me," talks about Jon Schaffer's friend Bill Blackmon, who originally inspired the name "Iced Earth," after he died in a motorcycle accident prior to Jon forming the band. But the centerpiece of the album were the last three songs, commonly known as the "Something Wicked" trilogy. The songs tell the story of a character created by Jon, called Set Abominae, who also appears on the album's front cover.

In 1999, the band released The Melancholy EP. Originally conceived as a radio only single in the US, the EP contained three previously released songs ("Melancholy (Holy Martyr)", "Watching Over Me" and "I Died for You"), as well as two new songs (cover versions of Bad Company's "Shooting Star" and Black Sabbath's "Electric Funeral"). Unfortunately the record company did not release the EP, so it was made available for fans as a limited 1500-copy special release. In January, 2001, The Melancholy EP was re-released with two new tracks (a cover of Judas Priest's "The Ripper" and a live version of "Colors," originally recorded for Alive in Athens)

While on the Something Wicked Tour, (with Brent Smedley back playing the drums and Rick Risberg playing the keyboards) the band recorded their first live album in Athens, Greece on January 23 and January 24, 1999. Titled Alive in Athens, the three CD set was recorded in front of a sold-out audience (both nights) at the Rodon Club. The album was released on July 19, 1999. This was also the group's second album to feature Set Abominae on the cover.

Horror Show and the departure of Matt Barlow (2001-'03)

In 2001, work began on the group's next studio album. This time the band delved into horror movies and literature. A theme album containing songs based on stories such as Dracula, The Phantom of the Opera and the Wolf Man, was already an idea the band had tinkered with, when they were still known as "Purgatory." In 1986, the band had released a demo called Horror Show, which also featured tracks called "Dracula" and "Jack,". The idea for releasing songs based on classic monsters was originally conceived by Jon Schaffer back in 1997, when he got the idea to release an EP, with five songs based on the Universal monsters and call it Monster. But this idea got shelved, after the band started work on the Days of Purgatory -album.

Released on June 25, 2001, Horror Show was the first album to feature veteran drummer Richard Christy, and the second studio album to feature guitarist Larry Tarnowski (now a full-time member). Originally Steve DiGiorgio played bass on the album, but left the group after the recording process. According to Jon Schaffer, DiGiorgio was required and agreed to go on tour, but left due to "prior commitments." He was replaced by James MacDonough. Horror Show was also the first Iced Earth -album to be partially recorded at Jon Schaffer's home studio "Schaffer Sound."

On November 26, 2001 (March 5, 2002 in America) the band released the boxset Dark Genesis, which featured the band's first three albums plus the Enter the Realm -demo, remastered and remixed with new cover art. The set also featured a new album. Titled Tribute to the Gods, the album was the group's first and only cover album, featuring covers from bands like Iron Maiden, Kiss and Blue Öyster Cult, among others.

After the events of 9/11, Matt Barlow wanted to contribute to the "real world." Barlow approached Schaffer with this in late 2002, but Schaffer convinced Barlow to stay with the band. When the band was recording their next studio album, Schaffer realized that Barlow's vocals were not what he desired; he felt they lacked the passion and quality, so he decided to let Barlow go after all. Barlow became a police officer in the Georgetown Police Dept. in Georgetown, Delaware. He also continued as a vocalist, singing for the "First State Force Band," which is composed of law enforcement members from different departments throughout Delaware.

Tim "Ripper" Owens joins and The Glorious Burden (2003-'04)

After Barlow's departure, Iced Earth continued work on their next album, and, eventually, Jon Schaffer got Tim "Ripper" Owens, from Judas Priest, to sing on the record as a favor. Owens, who was still in Judas Priest when he recorded the album, was originally supposed to be credited as a guest musician, but after singer Rob Halford rejoined Judas Priest, Owens joined Iced Earth fulltime. Also, prior to the recording process, Larry Tarnowski was let go from the band, so the lead guitar parts on the album were played by producer Jim Morris and session guitarist Ralph Santolla.

Another so-called "theme album," The Glorious Burden featured songs inspired by history and historical events, such as the American Revolution, World War I and Atilla the Hun, among others. The center-piece of the album was the 32-minute long, three part "Gettysburg (1863)" -track, which is based on the American Civil War. It is no surprise that Jon Schaffer wanted to do an album based on history, as he enjoys studying history and some his favorite movies are historical war films, such as The Patriot and Gettysburg.

Prior to the albums release, the band released The Reckoning EP. The EP contained four songs off the new album the band felt were likely to get radio airplay. The Glorious Burden was released on January 12, 2004 in Europe and on January 13, in the United States, and this was the group's first album with their new record company SPV.

After the supporting tour, James MacDonough left the band to join Megadeth.

Framing Armageddon: Something Wicked Part 1 and Matt Barlow rejoins (2005-'07)

After The Glorious Burden, work began on the group's next album, which would be an expanded concept album on the "Something Wicked" -story from Something Wicked This Way Comes. Jon Schaffer had originally planned to release the album in 2005, but according to Tim "Ripper" Owens, Jon "wanted to wait for the right time. He knew that Century Media wasn't the right label to put it out on, and we signed to SPV, which is why we did The Glorious Burden first. He just knew it was the right time."

Prior to starting work on the album, the band was faced with multiple line-up changes. In July, 2006, Ernie Carletti was named as the group's new lead guitar player, but after facing rape and kidnapping charges, he was replaced by Tim Mills. But Tim Mills was forced to leave to concentrate on his business "Bare Knuckle Pickups." In October, 2006, Brent Smedley once again rejoined the group, taking the place of Richard Christy.

Due to the lack of a second guitarist and a bassist, Jon Schaffer ended up playing most of the lead guitar and bass parts on the album, but producer Jim Morris, guitarist Troy Seele, and bassist Dennis Hayes were featured playing on some tracks. Troy Steele was later announced as a permanent member of the band, as was Dennis Hayes.

Prior to releasing the album, the band released the EP Overture of the Wicked, which featured re-recorded versions of the original "Something Wicked Trilogy" as well as a brand new track, titled "Ten Thousand Strong." This was also the only Iced Earth -recording to feature guitarist Tim Mills.

The album, titled Framing Armageddon: Something Wicked Part 1, was released on September 7, 2007 in Germany, September 10, in the rest of Europe and on September 11, in the United States.

In December, 2007, it was announced that Matt Barlow would be returning to Iced Earth, after five years apart.

The Crucible of Man: Something Wicked Part 2 (2008-'10)

After Barlow's return work continued on Iced Earth's next album, originally titled Revelation Abomination: Something Wicked Part 2.

All of the music, except some guitar parts and the vocals, were record at the same time as Framing Armageddon and originally Schaffer had planned to finish the album after the end of 2007. But after Matt rejoined the group, who still had prior commitments to his other band Pyramaze, work on the album had to be pushed back. In early 2008, the band announced Freddie Vidales as the groups new bass player, replacing former bassist Dennis Hayes.

Before releasing the full-length album, the group released the single I Walk Among You on June 13, 2008. The single contained a new song from the forthcoming album, as well as two song from Framing Armageddon, with Matt Barlow on vocals.

After being retitled The Crucible of Man: Something Wicked Part 2, the album was released on September 5, 2008 in [Germany, Austria and Switzerland, September 8, in rest of Europe and on September 9, in the United States and Canada. After The Crucible of Man, the band released the boxset, Box of the Wicked, in early 2010. The boxset contained Framing Armageddon: Something Wicked Part 1, The Crucible Of Man: Something Wicked Part 2, the Overture Of The Wicked EP and the I Walk Among You single, as well as a bonus CD with one song from Framing Armageddon, now with Matt Barlow on lead vocals, and three previously unreleased live tracks from the Graspop Metal Meeting -festival in 2008, also featuring Barlow on vocals. The boxset also included a poster and a booklet.

Also in early 2010, Iced Earth signed a new recording deal with old company Century Media Records.

Barlow leaves again, Stu Block joins and Dystopia (2011-'12)

In March, 2011, Matt Barlow issued a statement on the band's official website, stating that he was retiring from the band, in order to spend more time with his family. Barlow was still going to take part in the bands upcoming festival shows during the summer, and he played his final show with Iced Earth on August 6, at the Wacken festival in Germany.

Shortly after announcing Barlow's departure from the band, Iced Earth announced that Into Eternity's frontman Stu Block had been chosen as the band's new lead vocalist. With Stu Block now on board, work began on the group's next studio album.

While not a concept album, many of the album's songs are inspired by dystopian themes and films such as V for Vendetta, Dark City, Soylent Green, and Equilibrium, very much like how Horror Show was largely inspired by horror movies and similar subjects. Two of the album's songs ("Dystopia" and "Tragedy and Triumph") also feature the return of the "Something Wicked" storyline.

This was also the first Iced Earth studio album to feature Troy Seele and Brent Smedley on all the tracks, as well as the first Iced Earth album to simply feature Freddie Vidales and Stu Block.

On June 27, 2011, the band released the DVD Festivals of the Wicked, which featured shows from Metal Camp Open Air 2008, Rock Hard Festival 2008 and Wacken Open Air 2007.

On September 7, 2011, the band released a new re-recording of the song "Dante's Inferno," from the album Burnt Offerings. This was the first Iced Earth song with vocalist Stu Block to be released to the public.

The band's new album, titled Dystopia was released on October 17, 2011 in Europe and October 18 in the United States. After the release, the band kicked off the supporting Dystopia World Tour, which was named "the most extensive world tour Iced Earth has ever undertaken" and that it would take the band "to countries it has never previously played." During the first American leg of the tour, the band co-headlined with Symphony X, and later on the tour, Iced Earth played their first shows in Australia and China.

On April 10, 2012, it was announced that Freddie Vidales had left the band. He was subsequently replaced by Luke Appleton from Fury UK for the remainder of the tour.

Next album

According to Jon Schaffer, Iced Earth expects to begin writing new material for an eleventh studio album in the fall of 2012.

Musical style

According to Schaffer, Iced Earth's musical style is influenced by many traditional heavy metal and NWOBHM groups such as Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, and Judas Priest. The most distinctive element of the band's sound is the stutter-like right-hand gallop of rhythm guitarist Jon Schaffer, which sounds something like the 'eighth-note, two-sixteenth-notes' gallop made famous by Iron Maiden's bass player/songwriter Steve Harris. "The music is heavy, melodic, dark, fast, and complex. Schaffer plays true rhythm guitar, giving the band its trademark sound. Iron Maiden's 'galloping' rhythm is quite evident."

Strong melodic hooks are typically laid over the top of this gallop, sometimes doubled by two guitars playing in harmony, such as in "The Reckoning." They often vary rhythms by using the two dotted eighth note followed by a quarter note or four dotted eighth notes followed by two quarter notes, known as the clave or chopped clave pattern. This is often used by Judas Priest.

During Barlow's period in the band, the vocals were often low-pitched but with occasional high-pitched screams. However, after Owens joined the band, the emphasis shifted to the higher-pitched spectrum. Common throughout since the release of Something Wicked This Way Comes was the practice of recording multiple vocal tracks to simulate the sound of a small choir. Schaffer claims that this is probably due to his work with Blind Guardian. A common element of the band's sound is the frequent usage of double-bass-drumming. Iced Earth's drum work is often highlighted by frequent use of drags and flams on the bass drum, usually intended to complement Schaffer's rhythm guitar.

Iced Earth lyrics tend to deal with theological issues such as punishment and sin, destiny, heaven and hell, the Antichrist and the apocalypse. Many of the band's recent albums have been concept albums written around a theme, e.g. the antihero Spawn (The Dark Saga), horror movies (Horror Show), and historical wars (The Glorious Burden). Jon Schaffer also created original stories for concept albums, most notably on Night of the Stormrider, Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked Part 1) and its sequel The Crucible of Man (Something Wicked Part 2). Much of Iced Earth's lyrics currently deal with Jon Schaffer's fictional character Set Abominae.

In some songs (such as "Dante's Inferno," "Angels Holocaust," "Damien," and "The Coming Curse") Iced Earth uses the technique of Gregorian chant. Multiple Iced Earth songs contain female vocals: "A Question of Heaven", "The Phantom Opera Ghost", "Melancholy", "Watching Over Me", "The Awakening", "In Sacred Flames", "Harbinger Of Fate", "Behold The Wicked Child", in addition to a remake of "Burnt Offerings" on the Days of Purgatory album.