Customer Reviews

Something Wicked This Way Comes

5 star:		(116)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Iced Earth has their fair share of detractors who accuse them of being unoriginal. It's impossible to deny that they are not a groundbreaking band, but at the same time they are entirely unique. A combination of 80s thrash Metallica and Iron Maiden's storytelling and melodic songwriting, they work for me on many levels. For one thing, there are not many bands around making this kind of music...that is, down-to-earth heavy metal. Furthermore, no band of comparable style can compare to Iced Earth's stellar songwriting ability, passion, and integrity. Jon Schaffer's soul is in this music. Also, there is no rhythm guitarist who can match Schaffer's unique style, which is bone-crushingly heavy with intricate use of triplets and 16th notes. Awesome stuff! But is Iced Earth a genre-smashing, innovative band? Not really.

"If you don't do it first or better, you shouldn't do it." So Iced Earth didn't do it first. What becomes important is how Iced Earth -- in pretty much every way -- transcends the music of their influences. Credit guitarist Jon Schaffer, who merges muscular, dense, thrash-inflected riffery with a melodic subtlety that few metal bands in history have matched. The thick, fiercely heavy grooves are inescapable -- the devastating thrash-driven "Stand Alone"; the machine-gun like riffing of "My Own Savior." However, that melodic quality persists, especially on dynamic tracks that balance big riffs with quiet acoustic moments. "Watching Over Me" layers clean notes of electric guitars over soft acoustic chords. For the chorus, it kicks into high gear with massive, anthemic power chords. For music with such brutal power, it's amazing how the songs possess hooks that snag your ears.

Then there's vocalist Matt Barlow, whose sonorous baritone voice is unique, ferocious, and powerful. If you don't think he's one of the best, most dynamic voices in metal, you must come from another planet. (A planet I won't be visiting any time soon!) When you compare the emotive, soulful performance of "Watching Over Me" to the nigh-feral screams of "Disciples of the Lie," it's difficult to imagine that this is the same singer. This dynamic quality, along with the sheer richness of his tone, is incredible. "Watching Over Me" also shows that Iced Earth is a metal band capable of showing human warmth, which is due in no small part to Barlow (Schaffer's personal lyric -- about the death of a close friend -- helps, too).

The songs soar, and they're indelible too. Rarely can music so heavy be coupled with choruses you want to sing along with. "Stand Alone" has a hook that's impossible to resist, with the kind of rousing chorus that makes you want to raise your fist into the air. "Blessed Are You" is one of the many songs balancing quiet acoustic passages with massive, concentrated riffing. I never thought a song that talks about "children of the night" could have such an inspiring chorus. ("Blessed are you | Blessed am I | Children of the night...") "Disciples of the Lie" is pure, unadulterated thrash...something I haven't heard in a long time! The lyrics to "Consequences" read out more like a speech than poetry (subtlety, Schaffer, subtlety!), but the music is incredible, a powerful rock ballad. "1776" is a Maiden-esque instrumental, but with way heavier guitars. Big, anthem-like riffing, nuance-filled drums, and delicate overlays of flutes make for one of the finest straight metal instrumentals in years. "The Reaping Stone" reminds me a bit of Metallica's "The Thing That Should Not Be," but with an explosive fast & heavy section that hits you like a derailed train.

Some bands like to save the best for last. Iced Earth arguably does so here, concluding the album with a trilogy of songs that tells the possible story of "something wicked" that will bring about the downfall of the human race. (Uh oh!) Part 3, "The Coming Curse," brings forth Schaffer's progressive leanings. The 9-minute track starts with a harrowing piano overture setting a dismal tone. This mood is shattered by mammoth, aggressively-paced riffing. A quiet interlude brings back a theme from part 1, "Prophecy," and melds it with male & female opera vocals for atmosphere. You have to hear this song.

Well, take that recommendation further. You have to hear this album...and this band. If you were into heavy metal in the 80s and are disgusted with the corruption of the genre, don't walk, RUN and buy this album. Iced Earth may become your bastion of hope for the survival of true, uncompromising heavy metal.

This is, without a doubt, THE definitive Iced Earth album. Heavy, fast, intense at times; light, slow, quiet at others. This is the album to buy if you're first getting into Iced Earth. It shows the best of everyone's abilities; band leader/rhythm guitarist/songwriter John Schaffer's heavy riffs and melodies, not to mention his superb songwriting skills, are among their best here. Matthew Barlow shows off the best of his vocal ranges on this album, hitting such high screeches and deep growls...one of the best vocalists alive, that's for sure. And Larry Tarnowski's lead guitar riffs are superb, as always. This album is full of unpredictable moments of heaviness and melody, except in the way the songs were arranged: heavy-soft-heavy-soft-heavy-soft-heavy-swaggering-heavy...and then there's the "Something Wicked" trilogy at the end. I'll get to that later. Meanwhile, a song-by-song review:

BURNING TIMES--"It doesn't matter what you've done, in my words you are a sinner..." I get chills every time at Matthew Barlow's growls in the chorus. A fairly fast-paced riff masterpiece, (with bells chiming at the beginning and end, similar to NIGHT OF THE STORMRIDER's "Angel's Holocaust", this is a great album-starter.

MELANCHOLY (HOLY MARTYR)--At first I was somewhat unimpressed by this song, mostly for the gentle, quivering, almost weak vocals at the beginning, but since then I've learned that this is a song about Christ on the cross, and his resulting sorrow--and I realized the vocals couldn't have been better. Soft acoustic passages in the intro and verses are nice breathers before heavier, lingering riffs and a beautiful solo.

DISCIPLES OF THE LIE--WOW! Probably one of the heaviest songs on the album, not to mention most intense. Starts off fast, ends fast. Matthew's howls of fury in the chorus...mindblowing. Drums really stand out in this song, too. Instead of a guitar solo, there is a haunting keyboard solo over the rhythm section, and then the vocals and guitars kick back in behind it...ooooh, good stuff.

WATCHING OVER ME--A good breather after "Disciples", this is a wonderful tribute to a late friend of John Schaffer's, who died in a motorcycle accident shortly before Iced Earth's first album came out. Quiet acoustic passages and a wonderful solo (performed by producer Jim Morris). Excellent stuff.

STAND ALONE--Far better than Godsmack's recent song of the same name (no relation otherwise), and with a better message: "Listen not to ones who preach/ Those who feel you're a freak...". This is a good song to listen to when depressed from peer torment. Excellent, heavy, angry, but soothing. Gotta love the little post-chorus solos! And whoever said this ... Metallica's "Blackened" should see a psychiatrist.

CONSEQUENCES--And back to the mellow...wow...this is a song that deserves lighters held high. Sad, quiet choruses, acoustic/clean electric guitars...the whole song is quiet for the most part, until the bridge, where heavier riffs come in to back a powerful and climatic solo. Matthew Barlow's screeches at the end of the bridge are perfect. My favorite slow song on here.

MY OWN SAVIOR--Great headbanging song. Fast, intense, and a good "... off" chorus to shout at while blaring this from your stereo. I love the quieter pre-chorus parts; sort of a place to take a breather before screaming your head off. Yeah, DEFINATELY a good headbanging song.

REAPING STONE--This is the only song on the album that I'd give less than 5 stars to. It's Iced Earth, don't get me wrong, but...it seems to "swagger" too much. The lyrics start off interesting, with a woman lost in the woods who runs accross some cursed "reaping stone", but then the rest of the song seems too focused on the seductive words of the reaping stone, as sung to her. It might have been better if the song described just what was happening to her. Good music though; the bridge is reminiscent of Metallica's "The Thing That Should Not Be"--NOT a ..., but SIMILAR. I like it like that. Okay song, but my least favorite on the album, possibly out of all Iced Earth's stuff.

1776--INSTRUMENTAL TIME! This song is fast, intense, amazing! Furiously lightning-paced, and a beautiful flute solo over a good drumroll in the bridge. Excellent instrumental, one of my all-time favorites from Iced Earth!

BLESSED ARE YOU--This is a song dedicated to all the millions of fans of Iced Earth out there; heavy yet melodic, with a great opening of clean guitars and singing. A great way of saying thanks--YOU ARE VERY WELCOME!

------SOMETHING WICKED (trilogy)-------

PROPHECY--My favorite song out of the trilogy, quite possibly on the whole album. Good 'n' heavy, nice guitar solo, and a couple sweet bass solos! Best part of the song would have to be just before the bridge, where the tempo rears up like some gigantic beast, then launches into this ultra-heavy and fast thrash monster. While the song is generally heavy throughout, the chorus riffs are so heavy and perfect...OOH! ...and then there's the plot. Ages ago, a race of beings foresaw the coming of the human race, which would threaten to wipe them extinct. They seek to create a savior for their kind, who will be born aeons later to wreak havoc on mankind. A chilling, Lovecraftian plot, this song ends with an honestly frightening (to me, anyway) sound: the tick-tock of a clock, signifying the passing of time as they prepare to bring about our doom.

BIRTH OF THE WICKED--The Watcher has been born! The story continues through this fast thrash piece, but not as chilling (to me) as "Prophecy".

THE COMING CURSE--The Watcher has begun his wreaking of havoc upon all! Here we find that he has begun the absolute apocalypse. John Schaffer stated that this trilogy of songs is sort of a precursor to a whole other story, one which we can assume will be a future concept album as the Watcher brings about the end of mankind and the return of his own kind. Can't wait!

On a recent Saturday night around 2 A.M., I was zooming across the Pennsylvania border from Ohio for reasons I probably shouldn't get into here. The closing trilogy from Iced Earth's Something Wicked This Way Comes was blasting from my stereo speakers. Bleary eyed and exhausted from a long night of driving, I still couldn't help but be moved by the virtuosity of Iced Earth's classy power/thrash metal attack. Banging my head and singing along, I ventured ever closer to the Steel City.

What's that? You say Iced Earth are nothing more than Metallica, Iron Maiden, and Queensryche imitators?

I'm of half a mind to terminate this review right here. With your callous comments about Iced Earth, you've managed to upset me and spoil my review-writing mood.

Okay, I've taken a break to enjoy a meal at My Ngoc where I had the chance to relax and cool off. I've thought about it and decided that I'm not going to let you get to me anymore. I know I've said it before, but this time I really mean it. However, for the record and for your benefit, let me state the following: Iced Earth are more than just derivative of their influences. Sure they sound like they've been influenced by their musical predecessors, but name me one band that sounds like it has no influences. Iced Earth use the inspiration provided by their musical heroes to create some of the highest quality power metal around. Something Wicked This Way Comes is the sort of album I'd play with my metal-loving buddies over a couple of six-packs if I had any buddies who listened to metal and I didn't feel like I've been poisoned virtually every time I drink alcohol.

Something Wicked This Way Comes is one of those rare albums that peaks at the end. I promise you, the closing 5 songs will leave you breathless and a little dizzy. But just because the album closes so strongly doesn't mean you should skip right to the end. No, there are some classic power metal cuts sprinkled throughout Side A as well. If you insist, I'll give you 3 examples: 1) "Melancholy" in which Michael Barlow wears his Geoff Tate influences on his sleeve to fine effect, 2) "Watching Over Me", a the touching paean to a fallen friend, and 3) "Consequences", the Holocaust history-lesson which features a brutal guitar solo that materializes out of nowhere and kicks you in the stomach.

The main weakness of this album is its excess of thrash-by-numbers cuts like "Burning Times", "Disciples of the Lie", and "Stand Alone" which will sound a bit tired to those of you with Anthrax albums in your collection. However, even these thrash cuts are nothing worse than mediocre while most of the remainder of the album is nothing short of brilliant. The operatic vocals and Metallica and Iron Maiden style guitar pyrotechnics provide a timeless quality to the album. Something Wicked This Way Comes was released in 1998, but after listening to it, you'd probably believe me if I told you it came out in 1988 instead. Simply put, this is the sort of metal that never goes out of style - epic power metal played with conviction. It's comforting to me to know that someone in the U.S.A. still has the guts to play it.

Considering that the stellar cuts far outnumber the mediocre ones, this album comes pretty darn close to a 5-star rating. It is the kind of album that reminds you time and again why you love metal.

This album has garnered a great deal of praise from metal fans, and with good reason. Iced Earth keep the banner of old-school metal waving up high, and have been doing so under the radar of popular consciousness for quite some time. This was my first Iced Earth album, and in the six months or so since I got it this band has been getting some pretty good rotation in my collection.
The talents of this band are obvious pretty quickly. Matt Barlow is a terrific singer, with a very rich baritone that's rather unique in the metal world. At times he sounds like Bruce Dickinson with a deeper voice, but on songs like "Disciples of the Lie" he spits out his vocals with a vitriolic tone that calls to mind James Hetfield or Dave Mustaine. Jon Schaeffer's riffs pack a punch with the best of 'em, and Larry Tarnowski's solos are sharp, if not especially innovative. The drumming isn't the most technically advanced, but it's downright surgical in its precision. The bass isn't always as much of a presence as I'd like it to be, but in its better moments it thumps along very well. The playing is tight, and perhaps most importantly, the band members play for the song rather than trying to wow you with their technical advancement.
Songwise, "Something Wicked" starts off terrifically. "Burning Times" was a good choice for an opener, as it got my attention right away with its aggression and heaviness. "Melancholy" slows things down at the start, but starts to hit harder as it goes on. This tendency to start a song slow before picking up the intensity crops up often, and was definitely a good idea as it keeps the album from becoming monochromatic. My favorite song here, "Disciples of the Lie," however, dispenses with any urge toward slowness; it rocks hard and fast from beginning to end. I don't normally go for ballads, but the mournful and emotive "Watching Over Me" is a cut or two above most and fits the mood of the album very well. "Stand Alone" is another strong heavy tune, made especially effective by its relative brevity at under three minutes. After "Stand Alone," most of the songs are good, not great (hence the four stars). The album gets really interesting again with the last track though, as "The Coming Curse" brings a sense of foreboding that fits its concept of the coming of evil. I've gone on way too long, so I'm gonna wrap up now: this album is good. Get it.

I'm sure some fans are going to be appalled and throw rocks at me for saying this, but I wasn't that big on Iced Earth. That was before I heard their fifth album, that is. "Something Wicked This Way Comes," is doubtlessly this band's finest hour (based on what I've heard--I don't own every Iced Earth C.D.). The drumming is energetic, the guitars are usually downright exciting, and some songs feature foreign instruments ("1776" has a flute solo and "Blessed Are You" includes a mandolin.) Matt Barlow's vocal performance is also quite impressive; he usually sounds like a cross of Tony Dio and Bruce Dickinson, but on some songs (like the album closer) he even ascends to sound somewhat like Rob Halford. Matt has a great voice for singing clearly, and he sometimes even digs deep to pull out his surprisingly soulful upper register.

The main reason why I think "Something Wicked" is Iced Earth's most infectious, exciting, and all around strongest effort is because of the great slow-fast and soft-hard friction that this album (and many of these songs) have. There are a few songs (like "Stand Alone" and "My Own Savior," which has a buzzsaw rhythm) which are blisteringly fast and heavy, but most of the tracks on here are both heavy and melodic. Songs like "Melancholy" (a power ballad) and "Blessed Are You Something Wicked" are largely slow and restrained, but have hard choruses. And "Watching Over Me" (a song featuring a guest guitar solo by Jim Morris) and "Consequences" are partially acoustic, but mostly crunchy.

And the rest of this album is jam-packed with goodies, too. "Disciples Of The Lie" has big, churning riffs and also an instrument which sounds like an organ. "1776," which is an instrumental with a stellar, fast, running guitar lead, is maybe my favorite song on here. "Prophecy" starts out slowly, but its wailing guitars make the beat work up quite a bit of momentum and speed. Finally, the album ending track, is almost an epic song since it nearly reaches ten minutes in length. It begins with a cool piano solo, but the rest of it is pretty fast and riff-heavy.

So, this album is nothing short of a masterpiece. Plus, since I wasn't a huge fan of this band before I heard this album (but when I did hear it, it blew me away), "Something Wicked This Way Comes" is recommended to all types of Iced Earth fans. No matter what type of metal fan you are, this C.D. is well worth your time and money.

I am a huge Iced Earth fan, and this is probably my favorite album by them. I would give it more stars, if it was possible. The album starts off with "Burning Times", a heavy, mid-paced, enjoyable toon. Then we get to "Melancholy (Holy Martyr)", which is more of ballad, and a very impressive one at that. "Disciples of the Lie" is pure anger and adrenaline, and I love it. A few more ballads are present, those being "Watching Over Me", "Consequences", and "Blessed Are You." "Blessed..." is the only song on the album that I don't love. On this album, every style of Iced Earth is well-represented. The early thrash can be heard on the aforementioned "Disciples of the Lie", "Stand Alone", "My Own Savior", "1776" (which is a fine instrumental), and the "Something Wicked" trilogy, especially on "Birth of the Wicked." This trilogy tells the story of the arrival of the anti-Christ with these songs: "Prophecy", "Birth of the Wicked", and the best song on the album, "The Coming Curse." You have to hear this song to fully appreciate it. I would recommend this album to anyone, as it is one of my favorites. Iced Earth deserves any recognition they receive.

This is one of the greatest metal albums ever made. The riffs are classic, the vocals are passionate, and it all blends together to create the perfect sound. This band is a vision of what heavy metal should be. The whole album is a masterpiece, however, if I had to pick out a bright spot, it would be the ending trilogy. "Prophecy", "Birth of the Wicked", and "The Coming Curse" rock hard and show a songwriting ability that most metal bands lack. Something Wicked This Way Comes is a must-have for any metalhead.

Although i somewhat know the Band themselves and am therefore a little biased, I feel this may be the best cd I have ever heard in my entire existance. Jon and Matt(guitar player and singer) have the most passion in their music then i have ever seen before, the lyrics have a true meaning, and thats hard to find in the 90's. A true Power metal ballad lies at track 4 on this album, "Watching Over Me" is in itself a sad song(written by Jon after he lost a close friend), but nevertheless listening to it makes you realizelife has some hard times and you have to deal with them. All in all I give this album 6 stars (if it were possible) a must for any quality music fan (and us metal fans out there!!!) The Cover art was my first and most important Tattoo~~check out this album and other Iced Earth albums. They've been around for more then 10 years with not much but us dedicated fans to show for it. If you can, try and see them live next time their in your neck of the woods, thats where their true passion for their music is....................... A REVOLUTIONS COMING ~ MAY ICED EARTH LEAD US!!!

The title of my review says it all, this is one of the best cds I've ever bought. Iced Earth is one of the best bands out today, probably the best actually, since alot of the best metal bands aren't as good as they used to be. But this cd has much more than the average metal album. It has some pretty brutal thrash(Disciples of The Lie, Stand Alone), beautiful ballads(Melancholy and Watching Over Me, which was written about how Jon Shaffer's best friend died from living a reckless life, very emotional)and some Maiden/Priest influenced riffs and solos.Jon Shaffer is one of the best rythym guitarists ever, up there with James Hetfield and Dave Mustaine, and an even better songwriter. Larry Tarnowski's leads fit perfectly. Then there's Matt Barlow. Probably the best singer I've ever heard. He can display the emotion on sogs like "Watching Over Me" and then the brutal growl of "Disciples Of The Lie". Listen to those two songs back to back and you'll be convinced of how good he is. While all the songs are amazing, I guess my favorites are "Watching Over Me", "Consequences", and the Something Wicked trilogy(the music the lyrics, everything about it is perfect!). This was my first Iced Earth album, and I absolutely loved it, so I definitely recommend this is you're looking to get into Iced Earth.

In fact, I had first heard of Iced Earth through a Metallica website so I decided to get this album since it has an instrumental "1776". To call this album the saviour of metal is not giving it full credit. This album, honest to goodness, impacted me as much as Metallica's Master Of Puppets did! Burning Times opens up this album with an absolutely fierce guitar tone, then it leads off into the atmospheric Melancholy (Holy Martyr) which is my favorite song on this album. If I had to compare this album to anything it would have to be something like James Hetfield singing for Iron Maiden. Matt Barlow is the most intense and emotional singer that I've heard since Sebastian Bach. The Something Wicked trilogy is an absolute ride through Hell when listened to all the way through as a full song! It takes a lot to really leave me breathless musically and Iced Earth have accomplished that task, a task in which only Black Sabbath and Metallica have accomplished in the past. Great Job!