Iced Earth Glorious Burden CD

After much debate and a labored attempt at completing his contributions to a new studio offering, a disenchanted Matt Barlow chose to step down as vocalist of power-metal veterans Iced Earth. Enter Tim "Ripper" Owens, who was eagerly awaiting a formal announcement that metal god Rob Halford had rejoined his then-band, Judas Priest. Anticipating the obvious (and long-rumored inevitable), Owens weighed a number of offers before joining forces with Iced Earth. He quickly helped them finish their recording, and enthusiastically joined their ranks.

Principal writer, guitarist, and noted history buff Jon Schaffer has crafted a classic metal album that is sure to stand apart from the nu-metal din. THE GLORIOUS BURDEN focuses on conflicts and tragedies inspired by documented world events, steering away from the fantasy concepts of the band's previous works. Metal enthusiasts familiar with the contemporary leanings of Owens' style on Priest's JUGULATOR and DEMOLTION discs will hear a flair for melody and dramatic, soaring vocals, not flexed since his days in Winter's Bane (the singer's little-known original band). The September 11th-themed "When the Eagle Cries" and Civil War epic "Gettysburg," in particular, stand out as career defining moments for Iced Earth, a group reborn.

On their twelfth full-length, Iced Earth indulge guitarist and principal songwriter Jon Schaeffer's passion -- some would say obsession -- for history. On the bonus-disc edition, there are 11 tracks on the first disc, and on Disc Two, a three-part suite entitled "Gettysburg." Disc One begins, appropriately enough, with "The Star Spangled Banner," played in overdrive with plenty of crunch, but nonetheless reverently. That statement aside, the album truly begins with "Declaration Day," an examination of the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and the beginning of the American Revolution. Singer Tim Owens steps into the fray and relates, amid the bone-crushing riffing and half-time drum thud. But interestingly, it's a track that gets juxtaposed with the one that follows it, "When the Eagle Flies." Together they comprise a kind of view across the historical battlefield, from the tyranny of the British Empire to the tyranny of terrorism. The latter cut, with its haunting acoustic guitars in the front line before it breaks wide open, sort of looks back at "Declaration Day," and notes its inspiration. A truly majestic song full of plodding, jarring chords, and a hooky chorus, it is part funeral hymn and part a call-to-arms. Indeed, as the careening bombast of "The Reckoning (Don't Tread on Me)," comes into sharp focus, one can see that Schaeffer's intent is to very clearly showcase the various difficult, and even horrifying, moments confronting America since its inception -- one can read the double meanings in all of the songs that have American lore at their core. America isn't the mythical and/or archetypal muse here: on tracks such as "Attila," "Red Baron/Blue Max," and "Waterloo," the metaphors are extended to three other figures from the dust of the past. Also, the deluxe edition contains an unplugged version of "When the Eagle Flies." Musically, this is tough, intensely passionate, no-nonsense heavy metal featuring amazing production and engineering. The bonus disc contains three tracks, the shortest of which is almost seven min

Recorded in 2003. Includes liner notes by Jon Schaffer.

Personnel: Jim Ward Morris (vocals, guitar, electric guitar); Tim Owens (vocals); Jon Schaffer (guitar, acoustic guitar, acoustic 12-string guitar, background vocals); Ralph Santolla (guitar, electric guitar); Michael LoBue (bagpipe); Howard Helm (piano); Richard Christy (drums); Jeff Day, Matthew Barlow, Sam King (background vocals).

Recording information: Morrisound; Schaffer Sound AKA "The Dungeon".

Illustrator: Leo Hao.

Iced Earth: Tim Owens (vocals); Jon Schaffer (guitar, background vocals); James MacDonough (bass); Richard Christy (drums).CMJ (1/19/04, p.20) - "[Owens] is a perfect fit on THE GLORIOUS BURDEN..."