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ICED EARTH: Overture Of The Wicked (MCD)

Release

Style

Last years it was fairly quiet around the eminent heavy metal band Iced Earth. Jon Schaffer came more in the news with back problems and his huge interest and knowledge of the American history, than we were able to listen to some new work of the band. But something wi… eh… huge is coming our way. Jon Schaffer has worked out the complete ‘Something Wicked’ theme, which once started on ‘Something Wicked This Way Comes’ in 1998. This extensive fantasy story will be spread on two albums. ‘Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked part 1)’ will be released in September 2007, for part two we have to wait until early 2008.

But first we have this single that kicks off with a new song ‘Ten Thousand Strong’. It is an exclusive version, for it will appear on the album in a different mix. It is an energetic, tight song with the familiar high-shriek vocals of Tim Owens. A promise for what’s to come! The rest of this single is filled with the re-recorded version of the Something Wicked trilogy. The difference is mainly notable in the rhythm section (more double bass drums) and vocals, because Tim Owens has more venomous power in his typical metal throat than Matthew Barlow with his emotional, melancholic voice. The original trilogy is just a summary of this tragic, apocalyptic fantasy story which starts twelve thousand years ago and leads us to now. The tight guitar riffs, some atmospheric parts and marvellous guitar soloing determinate the global sound of these three songs. There are a bit more oriental influences, but in ‘The Coming Curse’ these vocals are more chaotic than enriching. This would-be Tool-alike interlude is not that superb. But that is the only weak fragment on these re-recordings. I longingly look forward to the majestic epic that will start in autumn!

Musicians

Tim Owens: vocals
Jon Schaffer: rhythm guitars and bass
Tom Mills: lead guitars
Brent Smedley: drums

Ten Thousand Strong (3:53)
Prophecy (5:59)
Birth Of The Wicked (4:30)
The Coming Curse (8:00)

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Last updated: 07/06/2007 .
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