Glorious Burden [LIMITED EDITION] [EXTRA TRACKS]

Iced Earth

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 13, 2004)
• Original Release Date: November 18, 2003
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Limited Edition, Extra tracks
• Label: Hunter
• ASIN: B0000YTOXA
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (187 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #114,218 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist
ICED EARTH have returned with a vengeance! With "The Glorious Burden," the legendary US heavy metal band have delivered one of the true heavy metal gems of 2004: an epic and conceptual tour-de-force that showcases the riff-mastery of Jon Schaffer and the vocal prowess of former Judas Priest singer Tim "Ripper" Owens.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy it for Gettysburg, alone!, May 20, 2004

By	Just Bill (Grand Rapids, MI United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

My wife and I were fortunate enough to have spent a weekend with Jon during the creation of what was to be The Glorious Burden. At the time (January 2003), there were no vocals, and not all of the songs were written. In fact, Jon recorded all the tracks himself. Even adding synth percussion on some of them.

As we sat in The Dungeon, Jon played the selection of songs he had composed to date -- for The Glorious Burden as well as a snippet or two from the forthcoming Demons and Wizards collaboration with Hansi Kursch of Blind Guardian.

Yet, for all the simplicity of the arrangements, we were spellbound the entire weekend. Especially when we visited the Civil War Museum and saw first-hand the riveting -- and often emotional -- source material from which Jon drew. Plus, we couldn't help but feel overwhelmed as we watched the DVD of Gettysburg (in high-watt surround sound no less!) with Jon and Wendi until about 3:00 in the morning one night. It was a magical, emotional, unforgettable weekend.

Yet it got even better. Over the ensuing month or so, Jon would excitedly call me up from time to time to play the latest licks he had just written.

Even though the songs were still in an embryonic form, and I was hearing them through a phone line, they were still exciting. Even more exciting, however, was hearing Jon's passion. Man, this guy was on fire for the project! He was driven. Consumed.

Which would come in handy when long-time (and some would say quintessential) vocalist Matt Barlow parted ways with Jon mid-way through the project. (I don't fault Matt, though. He left for honorable reasons.)

Admittedly, I didn't care much for The Reckoning, the 4-track EP that preceeded The Glorious Burden. The songs just didn't reveal the totality of Jon's passion. And I couldn't get past the vocals of Tim "Ripper" Owens, which seemed to walk the fine line between superb and metal parody.

The Glorius Burden, on the other hand, is a masterpiece. Gettysburg, alone, is worth the price. There are parts of that trilogy of songs that give me the chills.

I have a vast CD collection, some 2,000 strong by now. But I must admit that Gettysburg ranks right up there with some of my all-time favorite prog rock epics. The arrangements are nothing short of electrifying -- especially the intro to "The Devil to Pay" and the driving beat at the beginning of "High Water Mark." The use of orchestration as a counterpoint to the riffs and Civil War themes is wonderful.

The music is better than anything Iced Earth has ever done. You can definitely tell it's Iced Earth (the guitar tone and a few of the chord progressions give it away), but a new-found maturity of writing and arranging is clearly evident. This is stunning stuff, folks! Even the cover art for The Glorious Burden -- a weak link on The Reckoning -- is stellar. The attention to detail on the cover only foreshadows Jon's attention to historic detail inside.

I still can't give thumbs up to Ripper's vocals, however, especially when he talk/sings/groans through some of the quieter (and, presumably, more poignant) parts. It sounds like a contestant on American Idol trying to be Bruce Dickinson.

This is a small thing, however, when compared to the big picture that is The Glorious Bruden.

Another favorite: The strains of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" combined with a driving riff, the sound of cannons going off and the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra (which begins around 5:35 into track one of Gettysburg) is nothing short of awe-inspiring. It's a magical. That's all I can say about it. It's magical.

Disc 1 of this 2-CD set contains some rousing and interesting music (despite Ripper's vocals) but -- to me -- it's Disc 2 -- the Gettysburg trilogy -- that makes The Glorious Burden the masterpiece that it is. Jon could retire now and do so with the pride of knowing he made a sizable contribution to the annals of music.

I can't wait to see Iced Earth when Jon makes a stop in Grand Rapids on June 7th!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A History Lesson in Power Metal Form, November 23, 2004

By	Metal Dark USA (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

At first listen TIm Owens just doesn't fit ICED EARTH. It is just a fact. But then, Matt offered a powerful presence. Tim does however bring a new element to ICED EARTH that was never offered. That is a good thing. it takes a couple of listens to embrace ICED EARTH's new vocal key. But as far as I'm concerned ICED EARTH is one of the only real good Metal bands coming out of the USA.

Much credit must first be given for the fact that this American History lesson put to music is out there and in such great form. Clearly, writer Jon Schaffer loves its country without reservation, refreshing at a time in the USA where patriotism is attacked as imperialism so often. This album offers a great solace in its looking back into the stories of American History. The war situation in the USA is here again, like it or not and this album couldn't come at a better time. The CD should play to the troops in Iraq and Afganistan daily to motivate them. The combination of strong powerful metal songs with its clear love for America and all it represents is of the highest order and is shockingly in the minority in the metal scene. MANOWAR has hinted at it at times, but not so brilliantly as this. There is a reminder here in that the United States has always had to go to war and fight for its democracy and freedom. That holds true today. We need to be reminded of how men died to defend the way of life here. And putting this theme to such powerful metal makes for a great marriage.

This CD spans 200 years of war and turmoil in the USA. All the while, bringing a pure metal sound without any of the "Nu" metal elements that pervades metal in the USA. Every song seems to have a powerful arc of emotion. The guitar bleeds RED, WHITE and BLUE. The lyrics are powerful, especially in the 32-minute gettysburgh section, which essentially is one huge song that transports you into that era entirely.

For those of you America haters or those not affected by the events of 9-11 ... this album will probably not move you. For those of you who are not afraid to at least hear the story of America, backed by a soundtrack of hard, guitar-driven metal, you just can't go wrong here. For those of you who can just appreciate a good metal album and not take it into the political realm, you will also enjoy this one.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Is it Glorious or just a Burden?, March 27, 2004

By	L. Borg "Borgy" (Toronto) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This CD has me confused. I really admire what Jon Schaffer is trying to do, the concept and the approach- yet I strangely feel unfullied when I listen to this CD compared to the high standards set by Schaffer himself.

Like many people reviewing this CD, I am a huge Iced Earth fan that was prepared to depart with my $33 CAD to buy the digipak version as soon as it was available. Let's be clear, Schaffer is the riff-meister from hell and every Iced Earth CD (except the one with Adam as vocalist) gets taken out and played periodically because I really enjoy them still today.

I just can't say I'll be periodically playing the Glorious Burden after the initial rush of listening to new work. It's still good but in comparison to previous work it plods (or gallops at the same level) and despite the subject and orchestration etc. lacks the emotion Ievels I expect of Iced Earth's material. I do admire Owen's performance - 5 days to lay down the tracks is awesome. I also note Schaffer's claim that he did not have to play with his voice in the studio as much as Barlow's but maybe he should have as it does not sound as full as vocal's on previous Iced Earth CDs.

I am one of the many that disagree with Schaffer that Owen's voice is the best voice that suits Iced Earth. After 8 years of spoiling us with Barlow, the guy (whether Jon likes it or not) defined alot of what Iced Earth was about - why else would Jon have rerecorded old material with Barlow's voice. (Hint to Matt if you read this - use your talent and get behind a mic again with Iced Earth or with somebody else). But, as I said above Owen did a pretty job good (although the Screetches - Greenface! bug the hell out of me)and my feelings on the CD pre-dominately reflect my thoughts on the music.

The other line-up change of note of the Glorious Burden was the replacement of Tarnowski with Santolla. I've read Schaffer's impressions of Tarnowski but I have to think after listening to the solo on Watching Over Me on Something Wicked that the move wasn't good!

Standout Songs- none. Bad Songs - none. To me that is the story of ths CD and that is why I feel unfullfilled. Man I love this band, so giving less than 5 stars pains me but this is honestly how I feel.