ICED EARTH

The Crucible Of Man

SPV/ CD

Jon Schaffer may finally sigh with relief. After so many long years, the work of his life - despite the storms which disturbed him in the past - is finally almost completed. Almost. Because - however I hold the final part of "Something Wicked" trilogy in my hands - it's pretty predictable that soon we will have another chance to admire Jon Schaffer's business know-how. I'm talkin' about the forthcoming release of the box, which will among others include 'The Framing Armageddon" re-recorded with the prodigal son Matthew Barlow handling vocal duties.

Personally, I do not see much sense in that. What's done is done. The Ripper era is definitely not something that ICED EARTH's main man would have to be ashamed of. Owens did his duties perfectly.
On the other hand I must admit that like many other old fans I'm really happy to see Barlow behind the mic again. After all this is the VOICE, the one which charmed me when listened to "Dark Saga" for the first time back in 1996.

The last part of this monumental concept is the logical follow-up to what ICED EARTH presents for many years. But when we compare the new stuff to "Framing Armageddon" we can mention a few changes. Without any doubts 15 new songs creates a more cohesive album then it's predecessor. There are no intros and interludes which destroyed a little pleasure of listening to part I. That's right, there's a choral introduction in Latin. But when the characteristic Schaffer's riff opens "Behold the Wicked Child" there's no mistake. It's classic ICED EARTH. And it's back. "Minions of the Watch" sounds like it was composed with a view to ex-vocalist. Barlow sings a little higher then usual. So we have Rob Halford looming at the horizon. However his warm voice is much more distant from the original then razorsharp Owens' tone. While listening to next tracks, we can play in search for similarities. the presence of echoes of albums which were published before 2004 is evident.

If I said that we have all typical ingredients - those fantastic middle-eastern leads - mixed together here. I must say also that we are blessed with possibility of enjoying another great ballads. "A Gift Or The Curse" is one of the best of this type of numbers that came from the hand of Schaffer. "Harbinger of Fate" is another example of how, despite the being apart from the band, Barlow perfectly fits in the new stuff. This guy is able - with his baritone - to extricate the full palette of emotional experiences.
Released as a first single "I Walk Alone" is a moment where everything is moving toward the culmination during an epic "Crucify The King" and "Come What May".

This is solid ICED EARTH album. Not as exciting as some great works from their pastf - for example "Something Wicked This Way Comes", but on the other hand, it should provide a little more emotion than "Framing Armageddon". For sure it's not the greatest saga in the history of metal. But certainly Schaffer will have an important place in pantheon of heavy metal trilogies.

9/12