Iced Earth

Iced Earth

Iced Earth is an American heavy metal band that combine influences from thrash metal, power metal, progressive metal, opera, speed metal and NWOBHM. In 1999 their leader and songwriter Jon Schaffer teamed up with Blind Guardian vocalist Hansi Kürsch to form a side project called Demons & Wizards. It is considered to be one of the most unstable bands, besides King Crimson, due to an extremely volatile lineup, albeit in a similar fashion to Megadeth as it has one fixed figure (Jon Schaffer) who handles nearly all of the songwriting and leads the band and its direction.

History

Originally founded under the name Purgatory while he was living in Indiana, the central figure of Iced Earth is rhythm guitarist and songwriter Jon Schaffer. After John relocated the band to Florida he was forced to change the name due to another group already using the name Purgatory. He would rename the band Iced Earth in tribute to a longtime friend who had died in a motorcycle accident; Schaffer would later write the song Watching Over Me on the Something Wicked This Way Comes album for this same friend.

The group set out and recorded their first demo titled Enter the Realm, which sparked enough interest that they were signed by Century Media Records. In 1991 they recorded and released their first album titled Iced Earth. Vocalist Gene Adam was originally going to perform on the follow-up record, Night of the Stormrider but was fired from the band after refusing to take singing lessons when Schaffer was concerned that he would not be able to handle the vocal duties for the new album. He was replaced by John Greely.

Since then, the band has gone through numerous lineup changes, with Jon Schaffer as the only permanent member. Greely was kicked out of the band after allegedly stealing money from other band members and making anti-semitic comments on the European tour with Blind Guardian while in Germany. Vocalist Matt Barlow joined the band (after a three-year band hiatus following Night of the Stormrider) in 1995 for Burnt Offerings. Barlow's vocals proved extremely popular, even though he was not vocally trained until 1996. Lasting 8 years in the band he also provided vocals on the following albums: Days of Purgatory, The Dark Saga, Something Wicked This Way Comes, Horror Show, an album featuring cover songs from the bands that inspired them titled Tribute to the Gods and their only live album Alive in Athens which was recorded in 1999. Inspired by the events of 9/11, Barlow parted ways with the band in June 2003 to pursue a career in law enforcement. He returned to the band in late 2007

Vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens had recently parted ways with Judas Priest (to make room for returning original vocalist Rob Halford) and became Iced Earth's new vocalist. His first album with the band, The Glorious Burden, is an examination of many aspects of warfare and military figures who have shaped the modern world. Its topics range from the Declaration of Independence to 9/11 to Napoleon Bonaparte. The final three songs collectively titled Gettysburg (1863) are a 30+ minute journey through The Battle of Gettysburg which took place during the American Civil War. Gettysburg (1863) would also feature the final recordings of Matt Barlow as he was a featured musician providing backing vocals. Originally, The Glorious Burden was released as a limited edition that adds Waterloo and When the Eagle Cries (Unplugged) to the first disc and moves the 3 songs that comprise Gettysburg (1863) to a second disc.

The album's theme became the center of a controversy after Schaffer gave an interview to Canadian heavy metal magazine Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. After the interview was published, Schaffer accused the magazine of taking him out of context and of pushing an anti-American bias, and subsequently announced that the band would boycott the magazine in the future. However, Schaffer granted Mark Gromen, also of BW&BK and a friend, an interview in issue 101 (Jan/Feb '07) effectively ending the boycott.

During a break of touring the US drummer Richard Christy left the band to join The Howard Stern Show in mid-2004. He was replaced by Bobby Jarzombek to finish the remainder of touring duties for The Glorious Burden.

In June 2006, Ernie Carletti became the new guitarist, and was to handle most of the guitar solos on Iced Earth's upcoming album.. However, he was arrested a few months later under rape charges. In October 2006, Schaffer announced that Carletti would not be participating in Iced Earth, and would be replaced by Tim Mills. At the same time, drummer Brent Smedley was re-hired for the recording and touring of the new albums, replacing Bobby Jarzombek.

In December 2006, Jon announced information about the two upcoming Something Wicked albums. He also announced that the bass guitar duties on the new albums will be handled by James "Bo" Wallace, as well as that the original "Something Wicked" trilogy of the 1998 album Something Wicked This Way Comes would be re-recorded as an EP and will come with a new track "Ten Thousand Strong". On March 16, 2007, Jon Schaffer sent an update to Blabbermouth, with confirmed track listings for both of the new albums and the new single, and the news that Bo Wallace had to leave the band due to family health issues, and will be replaced by Dennis Hayes, of Tim Owens' side project, Beyond Fear.. Just 12 days later, Schaffer updated Blabbermouth again, with the announcement that Tim Mills had to leave the band as well, due to employee problems with his company, Bare Knuckle Pickups. On May 20, Schaffer announced that his friend Troy Seele was the new lead guitarist.[1] Framing Armageddon the band's ninth studio album was released on September 11, 2007.

Iced Earth began their 2007 Wicked European Tour on June 9, 2007, at the Sweden Rock Festival. Following appearances at the RockWave Festival and Wacken Open Air, the band backed up Heaven and Hell and Lamb of God on their British tour in November.

On December 11, 2007 Schaffer announced that Barlow had returned to the band.[2] He revealed this would considerably push back the release date of Something Wicked Part 2, due to an addition in Matt's family; however, when the band releases Part 2 they plan to tour and make an appropriate DVD release of live footage from the tour. This marks the end of Ripper Owens' tenure with Iced Earth. While Owens is a talented vocalist, many Iced Earth fans did not embrace him as they had with Matt Barlow. Dennis Hayes' name was removed from the band's bio, signaling a bassist change as well.

As a result to Barlow's return, Iced Earth's live playing schedule has been drastically altered. Schaffer has stated that Iced Earth will probably no longer do massive tours. Instead they will focus on large scale music festivals and small tours. Though many fans doubt this is the right course of action, Schaffer has stated that "these upcoming Iced Earth shows will be the best in the band's history, and having the band's schedule like this is the best way for it done."

Iced Earth will be headlining two tours in 2008. Progpower USA IX and Chicago Powerfest in Mokena, Illinois from May 1 to May 3 in 2008. Chicago Powerfest will be the first show with vocalist Matt Barlow. They are also now holding bassist auditions to fill in for touring line-up and "Something Wicked Part 2". Recently, Jon Schaffer and former Iced Earth guitarist Ralph Santolla teamed up to auction off two Gibson Les Paul guitars that were painted with the United States Of America and Confederacy flags. These two guitars were used by Jon and Ralph when the Gettysburg trilogy songs were played live. The profits of the two guitars will go to the wounded warriors fund. Gear-Box Records LTD. will release a 10 track career retrospective in 2008 limited to 2,000 copies.

On March 16 Iced Earth confirmed the release date for their new single, I Walk Among You. In Germany, the release date is June 13th, in Europe it's June 16th, and In the United States the release date is June 17th. They also stated that their new Cd, which is a follow up to Something Wicked Part 1] will be released in the Fall of 2008. Days Earlier Iced Earth also announced that Freddie Vidales would be joining the band for their upcoming tours in 2008.

Sound

Iced Earth's music is often described as Iron Maiden combined with 1980s thrash metal. The most distinctive element of the band's sound is the stuttering 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, sped up tremendously and varied rhythmically. Strong melodic hooks are typically laid over the top of this gallop, sometimes doubled by two guitars playing in harmony. 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. 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 coming sequel Revelation Abomination (Something Wicked Part 2).

In some songs (such as "Dante's Inferno", "Angels Holocaust", "Damien", and "The Coming Curse") Iced Earth uses the technique of Gregorian chant. Three Iced Earth songs contain female vocals: "A Question of Heaven", "The Phantom Opera Ghost" and "The Awakening", in addition to a remake of "Burnt Offerings" on the Days of Purgatory album.

Discography

Main article: Iced Earth discography

• 1990: Iced Earth
• 1991: Night of the Stormrider
• 1995: Burnt Offerings
• 1996: The Dark Saga
• 1998: Something Wicked This Way Comes
• 2000: Horror Show
• 2002: Tribute to the Gods
• 2004: The Glorious Burden
• 2007: Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked Part 1)
• 2008: Revelation Abomination (Something Wicked Part 2)

Album cover art

The covers of Something Wicked This Way Comes, Alive in Athens, Horror Show, and Tribute to the Gods depict a fictional character named Set Abominae created by Jon Schaffer. 2007's Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked Part 1) and the upcoming Revelation Abomination (Something Wicked Part 2), are centered on this character. According to Schaffer, the story told over both albums will span 12,000 years and will chronicle the rise and fall of humanity by the hand of Set.

Schaffer also plans to write a graphic novel about Set Abominae.

The cover art to The Glorious Burden was painted by Leo Hao, a Russian artist famous for drawing covers to Blind Guardian and Aria.

Band members

Current members

• Matt Barlow - lead vocals (1994–2003, 2007–present)
• Troy Seele - lead guitars (2007–present)
• Jon Schaffer - rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1984–present)
• Brent Smedley - drums (1996–1997, 1998–1999, 2006–present)
• Freddie Vidales - bass (2008-present)

Former members

• Jacob Edwards- Keyboards/Electronics (2000-2005)

Lead vocals

• Gene Adam - lead vocals (1985–1991)
• John Greely - lead vocals (1991–1992)
• Tim "Ripper" Owens - lead vocals (2003–2007)

Lead guitars

• Bill Owen - (1985–1987)
• Randall Shawver - (1988–1998)
• Larry Tarnowski - (1998–2003)
• Ralph Santolla - (2003–2004)
• Ernie Carletti - (2006)
• Tim Mills - (2006–2007)

Bass guitar

• Richard Bateman - (1985–1986)
• Dave Abell - (1987–1996)
• Keith Menser - (1996)
• James MacDonough - (1996–2000, 2001–2004)
• Steve DiGiorgio - (2000–2001)
• James "Bo" Wallace - (2006–2007)
• Dennis Hayes - (2007)

Drums

• Greg Seymour - (1984–1989)
• Mike McGill - (1989–1991)
• Rick Secchiari - (1991–1992)
• Rodney Beasley - (1992–1995)
• Mark Prator - (1995–1996, 1997–1998)
• Richard Christy - (2000–2004)
• Bobby Jarzombek - (2004–2006)

Timeline

Note: This timeline isn't meant to be exact when it comes to illustrating months and dates. Some of the years are wider to make room for more events, but a year divided in two may have one event in February and one in November, not exactly on 1 July. If the band went through 3 changes in a year, each change gets 1/3 of the space, even though one of the events happened in the course of a week (as the case of Ernie Carletti, with a bit of exaggeration).

External links

• Iced Earth's official website
• Iced Earth discography at MusicBrainz
• Template:Last.fm
• Iced Earth discography at Discogs
• Iced Earth at Encyclopaedia Metallum
• Iced Earth at Metal Storm