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6 out of 10
Anyone that pays attention to the stuff I write on here (Which won’t be a lot of you!) may remember that I took on the last Iced Earth album and gave it a very low score; for valid reasons. John Schaffer cropping up every couple of minutes on each song and stating the title and who it is and who’s releasing it really kneecaps any chance you have to enjoy and take in the actual tracks. So along he comes again. With the final part (But according to PR blurb it claims could run and run...sort of like Land Of The Giants) of a story he started with "Something Wicked" back in 1998.
Having no real grasp of the story myself and no idea of the original first part of this story, I was just left to absorb the music and make my decisions and notes.
There is no doubting Schaffer knows a thing or two about composing and constructing, melodic, driving power metal and he does this to the usual high standard Iced Earth have always strived for. But there is also a bigger prog feeling than before. It's always been an element of past releases and a key ingredient of Iced Earth’s musical base, but it seems much more to the fore this time around. Almost as if ole John Schaffer had been listening to "Operation Mindcrime" quite a bit.
The record builds out of melodic leads and lines with operatic vocals sweeping in. It's a very impressive opening, which means the first riff proper seems slightly weak in comparison. But they soldier on. The tracks and story unfold in the usual style of a driving rhythm section underpinning the shifting guitar riffs and leads and Matt Barlow’s powerful singing belted out over the top.
"A Gift or A Curse" slows the pace down somewhat with its power ballad-lite mooching before they kick back into gear.
The album highlight for me is closer "Come What May". Possessing a real power and some powerfully melodic riffs coupled with a soaring Iron Maiden chorus and vocals.
All in all a well done, catchy, driving metal album. Iced Earth should be chuffed. I don’t mind it this time.
Listen: www.myspace.com/icedearth
Tracklist:
1. In Sacred Flames
2. Behold The Wicked Child
3. Minions Of The Watch
4. The Revealing
5. A Gift Or A Curse
6. Crown Of The Fallen
7. The Dimension Gauntlet
8. I Walk Alone
9. Harbinger Of Fate
10. Crucify The King
11. Sacrificial Kingdoms
12. Something Wicked (Part3)
13. Divide And Devour
14. Come What May
15. Epilogue
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