Iced Earth - Discography 1991-2008 [Mp3 V0][TechUK][H33T]

Iced Earth - Discography 1991-2008 [Mp3 V0][14 CDs]

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Iced Earth - Iced Earth [Reissue] (1991)

  

   

Artist: Iced Earth

Album: Iced Earth [Reissue]

Rating: 2 Stars

Release Date: 1991

Label: Century Media Records

Time: 43:53

Genre: Power Metal

  

AMG Album ID: R     9728





   

Review    by Eduardo Rivadavia



By the time they recorded their eponymous debut, heavy metal traditionalists Iced Earth were seasoned veterans, having gradually climbed their way to the surface of a Florida club scene swimming with hundreds of death metal bands. And it shows, for despite a few production kinks, their sound (combining a tremendous Iron Maiden influence with a few thrash metal tricks, namely double kick drums) was almost fully developed. Led by rhythm guitarist Jon Schaffer, the group storm their way through a series of galloping anthems filled with guitar harmonies, complex time changes, and admirable musical chops, especially from lead guitarist Randall Shawver. "Written on the Walls," "Colors," "The Funeral," and "When the Night Falls" are only a few of the highlights -- most of which were later re-recorded with new players for 1997's Days of Purgatory compilation. Purists may prefer the raw original versions.







Tracks    Title     Time

   

1     Iced Earth     5:22

2     Written on the Walls     6:03

3     Colors     4:49

4     Curse the Sky     4:39

5     Life and Death     6:04

6     Solitude [instrumental]     1:43

7     The Funeral [instrumental]     6:14

8     When the Night Falls [instrumental]     8:59



Enjoy! TechUK



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Iced Earth - Night of the Stormrider (1992)

   





Artist: Iced Earth

Album: Night of the Stormrider

Rating: 2.5 Stars

Release Date: 1992

Label: Century Media Records

Time: 46:01

Genre: Power Metal

 

AMG Album ID: R   175530





   

Review    by Eduardo Rivadavia



Florida's Iced Earth were swimming against the tide in 1992. At a time when alternative rock was wiping the rock & roll slate clean and putting hundreds of heavy metal bands out of business, seemingly overnight, the band's uncompromising blend of classic metaland thrash (think Iron Maiden meets Slayer) was about as unfashionable as it got. And, to make matters worse, their sophomore effort, Night of the Stormrider, was a full-blown concept album about a man's fall from grace and subsequent questioning of organized religion. Guitarist and principal songwriter Jon Shaffer went to great lengths to diversify the band's already complex sonic palette, adding acoustic guitar passages and atmospheric keyboards to outstanding cuts like "Angel's Holocaust," "Before the Vision," "Pure Evil," and the awesome "Desert Rain." New vocalist John Greely has a good set of lungs and usually manages to keep up with the manic pace, but is clearly the weak link in the band's equation and would not return after this album. All in all, Night of the Stormrider was a solid effort which simply arrived at the wrong time, and, after assessing the general public's indifference, Shaffer would place Iced Earth on ice for almost three years.







Tracks    Title     Time

   

1     Angels Holocaust          4:52

2     Stormrider         4:47

3     The Path I Choose         5:52

4     Before the Vision          1:35

5     Mystical End          4:44

6     Desert Rain          6:56

7     Pure Evil          6:33

8     Reaching the End          1:11

9     Travel in Stygian          9:31



Enjoy! TechUK



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Iced Earth - Burnt Offerings [Reissue] (1995)

   





Artist: Iced Earth

Album: Burnt Offerings [Reissue]

Rating: 4 Stars

Release Date: Apr 18, 1995

Label: Century Media Records

Genre: Power Metal

   

AMG Album ID: R   268718





   

Review    by Eduardo Rivadavia



After a four-year absence, which, in retrospect, actually spared them from the abuse suffered by most metal bands during the peak years of alternative rock, Iced Earth returned to action with 1995's Burnt Offerings. Known for their uncompromising defense of epic classic metal, the band gets right back to work with the elaborate title track's surprising mix of soft piano tinklings, chorused vocals, double kick drums, and crushing guitars. Remarkably, it all seems to work, and while his ultra-dramatic vocal style occasionally verges on the absurd, resourceful new vocalist Matthew Barlow ultimately carries the day on such standout tracks as "Creator Failure" and "Brainwashed." Then, just when you thought things couldn't get any more grandiose, the band embarks upon the ponderous, 16-minute trilogy (something which would become a tradition for concluding subsequent releases) that is "Dante's Inferno" — a piece of daunting complexity that will no doubt terrify as many as it delights. Still, classic metal has often been about pomp anyway, and this is what Iced Earth is all about, take it or leave it.







Tracks    Title     Time    



1     Burnt Offerings          7:22

2     Last December          3:24

3     Diary          6:03

4     Brainwashed          5:22

5     Burning Oasis           5:59

6     Creator Failure          6:02

7     The Pierced Spirit           1:54

8     Dante's Inferno         16:29



Enjoy! TechUK



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Iced Earth - The Dark Saga (1996)

   





Artist: Iced Earth

Album: The Dark Saga

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Release Date: 1996

Recording Date: Jan 1996-Feb 1996

Label: Century (Japan)

Genre: Power Metal

  

AMG Album ID: R   247507





   

Review    by Eduardo Rivadavia



As the cover artwork would suggest, Iced Earth's fourth album, 1996's The Dark Saga, is a concept album based on the popular Todd MacFarlane comic book series Spawn. Though most of the album poses the band in an uncommonly laid-back, non-thrashy mood, the songwriting of leader and guitarist Jon Schaffer is at an all-time inspirational high. In fact the band knocks out both the title track and the excellent "I Died for You" before the furious "Violate" provides the first taste of a double kick drum. Versatile singer Matthew Barlow is impressive throughout but the remarkable interplay between Schaffer and lead guitarist Randall Shawver is the album's true highlight, most notably on the dual harmonies of "The Hunter." Some of the momentum is lost with "The Suffering," a three-song suite that tends to plod along at times, but overall this is a strong album, and one of the band's best.







Tracks    Title     Time    



1     Dark Saga          3:42

2     I Died for You          3:47

3     Violate          3:38

4     The Hunter          3:54

5     The Last Laugh          3:46

6     Depths of Hell          3:00

7     Vengeance Is Mine          4:22

8     The Suffering Scarred          5:53

9     Slave to the Dark          4:03

10     A Question of Heaven          7:40



Enjoy! TechUK



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Iced Earth - Days of Purgatory (1997)

   





Artist: Iced Earth

Album: Days of Purgatory [2 Disc]

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Release Date: Jun 6, 1997

Recording Date: 1986-1994

Label: Century Media Records

Type: Compilation

Genre: Power Metal

  

AMG Album ID: R   653309





   

Review    by Eduardo Rivadavia



A somewhat controversial release, Days of Purgatory contains re-recorded versions of 15 songs originally featured on Iced Earth's unevenly produced early albums -- the sort of thing that drives musical purists up the wall. However, because it also unearths a few long lost demos for studio resurrection, it also arguably offered the best starting point for those first discovering Iced Earth, until the release of 2004's nearly flawless The Blessed and the Damned greatest-hits set, that is. Now, if that information doesn't already have you immediately checking out The Blessed and the Damned, the fact remains that Days of Purgatory still serves its primary purpose: revamping that quality-challenged material with superior sound quality and musicianship, most notably from vocalist Matthew Barlow. All aspects of Iced Earth's songwriting are presented herein: energetic staccato riffing, dual-guitar harmonies, melodic acoustic passages, complex arrangements, and plenty of double kick drums. These are combined most effectively on "Colors," "When the Night Falls," and "Angel's Holocaust," but it's probably the outstanding "Desert Rain," with its atmospheric guitar intro, and the epic nine-minute "Travel in Stygian" that show Iced Earth at their inventive best. [Days of Purgatory was also made available in a two-disc, 20-track edition.]







Tracks    Title     Time    



1     Enter the Realm          :54

2     Colors          5:04

3     Angels Holocaust          5:45

4     Stormrider          3:55

5     Winter Nights          3:55

6     Nightmares          3:30

7     Before the Vision         1:23

8     Pure Evil          6:18

9     Solitude          1:44

10     The Funeral          6:16

11     When the Night Falls          7:50

12     Burnt Offerings          7:23

13     Cast in Stone          6:00

14     Desert Rain           6:38

15     Brainwashed          5:22

16     Life and Death          6:07

17     Creator Failure          6:05

18     Reaching the End          1:10

19     Travel in Stygian          9:27

20     Dante's Inferno          16:19

21     Iced Earth          5:29



Enjoy! TechUK



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Iced Earth - Something Wicked This Way Comes (1998)

   





Artist: Iced Earth

Album: Something Wicked This Way Comes

Rating: 3 Stars

Release Date: Jul 7, 1998

Recording Date: Mar 1998

Label: Century Media Records

Genre: Power Metal

  

AMG Album ID: R   366656





   

Review    by Eduardo Rivadavia



Released in 1998, Something Wicked This Way Comes offers Iced Earth virtually replicating their previous effort, The Dark Saga, but with somewhat less inspired results. "Burning Times," "Stand Alone," and "My Own Savior" are fine slabs of the classic metal/thrash metal combination the band has become known for, but they lack the spark of yesteryear. "1776" is a humdrum instrumental in the Iron Maiden mold, and while "Watching Over Me" and "Consequences" show the band breaking new melodic ground, "Disciples of the Lie" and "Blessed Are You" are two of the few truly memorable songs. Perhaps time limits are the real problem, as the band seems most at home during the extended compositions comprising the "Something Wicked" trilogy which closes the album.







Tracks    Title     Time    



1     Burning Times  &nb