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Band page - Iced Earth
Latest news
| Thursday, July 28, 2011 - New Iced Earth Album Named | American power metal icons Iced Earth have confirmed that their new album will be entitled "Dystopia" and will be released on 17th October in Europe and in the U.S on the 18th.
Although "Dystopia", Iced earth's 10th studio offering, is not a concept album, founder Jon Schaffer admits there are unifying themes to several of the songs - and even an appearance by band mascot "Set Abominae."
"I've always been fascinated by the darker side of life," Schaffer said during a break from master tracking Iced Earth's forthcoming CD. "Movies like 'Metropolis', 'Brazil', and 'The Matrix' resonate with me. The same for albums like '2112', 'The Wall', and, of course, 'Operation: Mindcrime'. Their images of a soulless, repressive society stuck with me over the years. It must be the sci-fi fan in me."
In much the same way "Horror Show" (Iced Earth's tribute to classic characters from literature and movies) was born, Schaffer said his interest in dystopian themes in music and movies led him to try his hand at that genre as well - even paying homage on the new album to the movies "Dark City", "V For Vendetta", and "Soylent Green". The end result is Iced Earth meets the nightmarish offspring of "Brave New World" and "Blade Runner".
Of special interest to long-time fans are two songs on "Dystopia" (the title track and "Tragedy and Triumph") that feature the return of the "Something Wicked" storyline and Set Abominae - who, when last seen in "The Crucible of Man" (2008), had taken his position as ruler of the world.
"The opening song is a step back timeline-wise from the 'Come What May' track," said Schaffer. "'Come What May' [the last track on 'Crucible'] sets the scenario that it's up to us and the decisions we make that will determine the future of the human race. These two songs [on 'Dystopia'] take place at a time when people are in highly controlled prison-like city states, and their eventual emancipation in the closer, 'Tragedy and Triumph'."
In an uncanny case of art imitating life, Schaffer said Set Abominae fit perfectly with the general theme of "Dystopia".
"I remember it hit me like a ton of bricks in '97, the whole 'Something Wicked' story did," Schaffer said. "I thought, 'Man, this is going to be so cool.' Many years later, we were on tour for 'Crucible' and we were doing an interview over in Eastern Europe. A buddy of mine said, 'You know, Jon, this whole 'Something Wicked' thing could be true.' I thought about it a moment and said, 'Well, I don't know about that. But there are some creepy parallels in contemporary life.'"
"So as I was thinking about all of the great movies, albums, and books with dystopian themes, I remembered that conversation and it occurred to me that the 'Something Wicked' story could continue in a few tracks here very nicely," Schaffer said.
Schaffer admits the recording of "Dystopia" has been especially challenging because of the band's summer festival gigs requiring him to criss-cross the ocean numerous times.
Despite the challenges, Schaffer says working with new vocalist Stu Block is "a pleasure."
"You just can't ask for a better attitude," said Schaffer. "Stu is so excited to be here. He brings a youthful exuberance to the band, which is a lot of fun. And he's a real dude. He's down to earth, and willing to try anything that Jim [Morris, co-producer, engineer] or I throw at him. He's stepping into the shoes in a very natural way."
Schaffer continued: "We're opening up a part of his voice and a style of singing that he didn't even really know he had. We're exploring this whole new range. And we're just getting started. I believe Stu will continue to grow - and has the potential to grow - into one of the greats, one of the guys that will go down in metal history. If he stays on this course, with the attitude that he has, his willingness to learn, and his passion, he's destined for really great things. I firmly believe that."
Songtitles set to appear on "Dystopia":
* Dystopia
* Anthem
* Days of Rage
* Soylent Green
* V
* Boiling Point
* Anguish of Youth
* Iron Will
* Dark City
* End of Innocence
* Equilibrium
* Tragedy and Triumph
"Dystopia" is scheduled for release in Europe on October 17 and in the U.S. on October 18 via Century Media Records. Two bonus tracks are also being recording for inclusion on special editions of the album.
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| Wednesday, March 16, 2011 - Iced Earth Confirm New Vocalist | In the wake of vocalist Matt Barlow's retirement, dozens of demos and resumes flooded Iced Earth management team. But one name kept popping up - Into Eternity vocalist Stu Block who has been named the new lead singer for Iced Earth.
According to Schaffer, Robert Kampf, CEO of Century Media, early on suggested Block, whose band Into Eternity was previously on the CM label. That reminded Schaffer of one night in September 2008 when Into Eternity opened for Iced Earth.
"Iced Earth was backstage waiting to go on," said Schaffer. "We heard one of Stu's incredible wails. I remember turning to Matt and saying, 'Damn, that dude has serious range.'"
So while Iced Earth management team sifted through the growing number of prospective vocalists, Schaffer got in touch with Block.
After several phone conversations with the then-prospective Iced Earth vocalist, Schaffer asked his manager to e-mail Block several key ICED EARTH songs, with the vocals stripped. Block went into his studio and recorded himself singing, then sent the files back to the team.
The result landed Block an intense two days at Schaffer's studio where the two musicians hit it off.
"I felt a lot of chemistry between us, we knocked out a couple of great original pieces of music in no time," said Schaffer. "He's very good at coming up with catchy melodies, and will help with lyrical duties as well. There's no doubt Stu has an amazing vocal range and a lot of energy, but he also has the touring experience, which is a big plus for our plans of performing in all corners of the world."
In addition, Schaffer said Block has what Iced Earth needs in a front man: "stage presence that includes high energy, passion, and focused rage."
Schaffer added, "Stu is charismatic and understands the depth and varying emotions in Iced Earth's music. So he will embody not only the emotion of our songs, but he will be able to perform them in a dynamic way. I believe fans are in for some incredible records and live shows in the coming years."
New Iced Earth vocalist Stu Block concurred: "Iced Earth fans are wonderful, wonderful people," he said. "The music is so passionate. So they're passionate, and very loyal to the band. I am, too. I'm a huge fan of Iced Earth myself. So I share that same passion, and I will show it on stage. I think the fans are really going to dig it."
Block continued: "It's a huge honor to be doing this, to be part of this team. It's a dream come true, for sure."
Schaffer is totally stoked. "This is a new beginning," he said. "It's game-on time. Iced Earth is going to record and tour like it never has before. The band is really amped-up and ready to hit the ground running in November."
And to prove it, Iced Earth has released the European leg of a world tour that will take the band to countries it has never previously played. All told, the 2011-2012 Iced Earth world tour will be the largest the band has undertaken since its inception.
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| Thursday, March 3, 2011 - Matt Barlow Departs From Iced Earth | Long-time Iced Earth vocalist Matt Barlow has announced his retirement from the band.
Matt Barlow's official statement is as follows:
"Brothers and sisters,
"Let me begin by saying how much of an honor it has been to share my time in Iced Earth with Jon and the guys.and with all of you! Since my return to the band in 2007, it has truly been extraordinary. I have had the opportunity to travel the world and see old friends and meet new ones. Though we had originally thought that the Iced Earth touring schedule would be very limited, we were able to play our fair share of concerts.
During that time we were also able to have a live DVD produced [the forthcoming 'Festivals Of The Wicked']. However, due to the rapidly changing music industry, it has become increasingly clear to recording artists that the only way to keep a band viable and to truly reach its potential is through live performances. That means that a band must reach out to new regions of the globe and become pioneers for their own livelihood. Since 2007, Jon and I have always had the best intentions for the future of Iced Earth, and we still do. However, given the band's projected touring schedule, Iced Earth's future and mine must now take separate paths.
On my departure from Iced Earth in 2003, I made a commitment to my wife and to the idea that we would start, and raise, our family together. Two years later, my first child was born and two years after that, my second. My youngest son was born about a week before Jon asked me to return to Iced Earth. It was a very exciting and emotional time for all of us, but we were all clear on our intentions. It is apparent to us now that regardless of our belief at that time, time can change an intended outcome. In this instance, I hope that change will not be regarded as a bad thing, but rather as a necessary part of evolution.
Jon and the band must venture into new realms to continue to grow Iced Earth. I commend him for his ideals and wish nothing but to share in his vision. I know that this is not the last time Jon and I will work together, but it will be my last endeavour with Iced Earth. Iced Earth is a name and force of its own. It has been very good to me and has allowed me to live a dream that others would give most anything for. I have been truly blessed to share this experience with everyone. I will continue to support Jon and Iced Earth in every way. I will also continue to create and perform in my own capacity.
These next months will prove to be a very emotional time for me. I am extremely happy to be able to share the experience with Jon, Brent, Freddie, Troy and the Iced Earth family. I am proud to know them and honoured that they consider me their friend. It is going to be phenomenal to share the love of this music during several summer festivals and I know that it will be a time we will never forget.
Please consider all that I have brought forth and all of Jon's offerings before passing judgment on the future of Iced Earth. This band has always strived to give its listeners the very best and I know that Jon, as always, will continue to lead that charge.
To Iced Earth and all of you.I wish you the very best!!!"
Band founder and leader Jon Schaffer reacted to his friend's decision with equal parts sadness and praise.
"I knew Matt wrestled with this for a long, long time," said Schaffer. "It wasn't an easy decision for him. But I love him dearly and I can't fault his reasons."
Schaffer continued: "Matt is one of the most sincere people I know, and one of the most talented. His departure deeply saddens me, but I hope all fans of Iced Earth will cut him some slack. I wish Matt well, respect him greatly, and I ask everyone else to do the same."
With a new album in the works, and a world tour pending, Schaffer has already begun the search for a new vocalist.
"I have a few guys in mind," said Schaffer. "And as you can imagine, it is a very important decision. One thing is for certain: we are not looking for a Matt Barlow 'clone' - we are looking for a front man that brings power and character of his own to the table. There's only one Matt, and that era of the band's history will always hold a special place in my heart."
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| Monday, February 14, 2011 - Iced Earth Album Update | U.S. power metallers Iced Earth are hard at work on their tenth studio album, due later this year via Century Media Records.
Unlike 2008's "The Crucible Of Man" and 2007's "Framing Armageddon" the new CD won't be a conceptual effort. Instead, band leader Jon Schaffer promises a return to the raw-and-heavy sound of Iced Earth classic fan-favourite albums.
"I can tell you from the riffs and the attitude behind it," he said, "this is going to be a bad-ass record. This is inspired, focused, and to the point. This is really heavy stuff. It's a kick in the nuts."
He added: "People probably think I don't have it in me any more. But they're going to be proved wrong about that. I can tell you this: we're coming back with a vengeance. We're out for blood."
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| Tuesday, December 14, 2010 - Iced Earth Release DVD Details | Iced Earth have confirmed the following details about their new DVD release:
"Festivals Of The Wicked" boasts nearly six hours of Iced Earth, three full headliner shows (over 40 live tracks!), a photo gallery shot by famed rock photographer Ross Halfin, plus a 90-minute documentary. It will be released in early 2011.
"The last part of the DVD to be completed is the documentary," said Iced Earth mainman Jon Schaffer. "Thousands of hours were shot and edited down to 90 minutes. It's very close to done. I have to say the footage of the band on stage is mind blowing. Those who have already seen us will love it. Those who haven't yet seen Iced Earth will be amazed by what this band can do on stage."
Drummer Brent Smedley concurs: "The three festivals featured on the DVD were all extremely remarkable and each one memorable in its own way," he said. "All three were amazing nights where the metal and the magic were fully flowing. I think the release of this DVD truly proves my mantra and favourite saying: METAL LIVES!"
"Festivals Of The Wicked" shows Iced Earth in its favourite element - facing tens of thousands of screaming fans - and playing songs that demonstrate why Iced Earth fans are some of the most loyal in metal.
The three soon-to-be-released festivals are:
* Germany's Wacken Open Air (2007) with Tim "Ripper" Owens on lead vocals. The blistering 13-song set begins with a jaw-dropping rendition of "Burning Times" and closes with the band's signature track, "Iced Earth".
* Germany's Rock Hard Festival (2008) with Matt Barlow on lead vocals. This festival, the first to feature Matt's return, storms through 15 songs, with "Dark Saga" leading the charge.
* Slovenia's Metalcamp (2008) with Matt Barlow on lead vocals. A not-to-be-missed 16-song facemelter of a concert that proves why some say Iced Earth is one of the top live bands in the world.
"I'm very proud of this DVD, and I'm grateful to fans for their patience," said Schaffer. "Getting this ready for release has been an enormous job, but a true labor of love. It will be worth the wait. I promise."
A trailer for the DVD can be viewed at the bands official site.
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| Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - A Message From Jon Schaffer | A message from Jon Schaffer:
Hello all,
I just wanted to say "thanks!" for supporting the Sons of Liberty project. I'm very serious about spreading this, so please get people to listen to it, make copies and get the word out!
We have created social networking sites so people can exchange their thoughts and enter discussions about "Brush-fires of the Mind" and beyond.
You can join us on Facebook at:
SONS OF LIBERTY on FACEBOOK
You can follow us on Twitter at:
SONS OF LIBERTY on TWITTER
You can still download the free album or a $7.99 high resolution download at:
SONS OF LIBERTY Official website
Please register, spread the word and interact!
Furthermore, I strongly recommend you to see Ron Paul's speech "Is It Just A Bad Dream ?" on YouTube.
Again, thanks for your support in this, now let's get to work on restoring liberty!
Jon
Also check the links below to watch the Alex Jones show with JOn Schaffer on YouTube:
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4
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| Wednesday, December 16, 2009 - New Jon Schaffer Project - Sons of Liberty | A message from Jon Schaffer of Iced Earth:
Hello friends,
For the last several months I have been working on a new project/solo album called Sons of Liberty. I am excited to unveil this and talk about the motivations behind it this Friday on the Alex Jones show.
I will be in the studio with Alex on Friday December 18th at 2pm CST. The show is broadcast from 11am to 3pm CST to over 80 stations nation wide.
To find a station near you, go to GCN Live or stream it LIVE for free from Infowars.
Just click on Infowars and you will be able to follow the broadcast.
Prison Planet members can watch the interview from PrisonPlanet.TV
On a newly created website that will go live Friday, December 18th, you will be able to download and listen to this new album for free. You will also be able to purchase a high-resolution version. The web address is www.sons-of-liberty.net
My desire is for Sons of Liberty to become part of a much larger movement that is happening around the world. This new website will be a think-tank containing lots of interesting web-links, book and movie recommendations, and much more. This will be an ongoing process, so check back often.
I am very proud to be invited to Alex Jones' show and I feel this is the perfect place for me to reveal the first Sons of Liberty album entitled "Brush-fires of the Mind."
This is about the message and not the messenger. This is a project that I encourage you to copy and share with your friends.
I care very much about what is happening in our world, we've been steamrolling down this road for a long time, so I assure you this is not a politically biased message. I'm hoping to set a few brush-fires in the minds of the listeners with this one. So please, check it out, do the research and get involved!
Looking forward to getting your responses on this new chapter in my life!
All the best,
Jon Schaffer
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| Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - Saxon and Iced Earth announce European tour | Press release:
Titans among themselves: 1 February 2009 will see the launch of a four-week tour by the two metal legends, Saxon and Iced Earth, in Paris. This sensational co-headlining package is certainly among the strongest of recent years and will take the two bands through countries such as France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Luxemburg, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Austria, Hungary and Italy. Fans can look forward to dynamic power metal at its very best, especially since both groups will also present thoroughly exciting new releases to accompany the tour. Tickets for the concerts are available from ticketing agencies.
Saxon are considered one of the most charismatic acts of today's metal business. Their latest album release, Into The Labyrinth, out on 12 January 2009 (Germany: 9 January 2009, US: 13 January) via Steamhammer/SPV proves that Saxon mark 2009 haven't lost any of their expressiveness, enthusiasm and inspiration. Along with numerous classics, vocalist Biff Byford & Co. will present the strongest tracks from their new album during the tour, expertly combining present and past.
For Iced Earth, this will be the first full European tour since the return of their legendary frontman, Matt Barlow, who had been sorely missed by the group's fans. "I am really pleased Matt is back," explains guitarist and songwriter Jon Schaffer. "We are spiritual brothers with a long, meaningful relationship behind us; Matt is the Iced Earth singer our fans want to hear." The band will present their current album, The Crucible Of Man, and for mid-February Schaffer has also announced the release of a new DVD in top-quality design, featuring a sophisticated concept.
Tourdates
01.02. F-Paris - Bataclan
02.02. B-Brussels - AB
03.02. NL-Tilburg - 013
04.02. D-Cologne - Essigfabrik
06.02. LUX-Luxembourg - Den Atelier
07.02. D-Herford - X
08.02. D-Hamburg - Docks
10.02. NO-Oslo - Rockefeller
11.02. SE-Stockholm - Annex
12.02. DK-Copenhagen - Pumpehuset
13.02. D-Berlin - Huxleys
15.02. PL-Warsaw - Spodac
16.02. CZ-Zlin - tba
17.02. A-Vienna - Gasometer
19.02. HU-Budapest - Petofi Hall
20.02. SI-Ljubljana - Mediapark
21.02. HR-Zagreb - Boogaloo
22.02. I-Milan - Rolling Stone
24.02. CH-Zurich - Volkshaus
25.02. F-Strassbourg - La Laiterie
27.02. E-Bilbao - Rockstar Live
28.02. E-Madrid - La Riviera
01.03. E-Barcelona - Razzmatazz
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| Sunday, September 28, 2008 - Iced Earth - Box Set Planned For Something Wicked Parts 1 & 2 | Jon Schaffer recently gave some details to Metal Asylum in New Jersey about the forthcoming Something Wicked box set which includes the albums Framing Armageddon and the latest release The Crucible Of Man.
Q: Again you gave a partial answer to my next question, now that Matt is back in the band have you thought of going back and re-recording the vocals for Framing Armageddon? You also mentioned a box set?
A: "Yeah, originally the box set was something that was planned from the beginning when we knew we would be completing the Something Wicked story. So I asked SPV to make sure that Framing Armageddon Pt.1 and Crucible of Man Pt.2 would be released only once without those albums coming out again as some kind of special edition because we already had these plans to re release both albums in this Something Wicked box set. So it makes sense to have the continuity between Parts 1 & 2 now that Matt is back in the band. I have my own studio so it makes this not such a hard thing to accomplish and its really cool because I can go back and remix and fix some of the low end issues I had on Framing Armageddon and also something I was able to address on Part 2. Part 2 I think is a bit more punchier than Part 1."
Q: What else will the Something Wicked box set include aside from Framing Armageddon Pt.1 and The Crucible of Man Pt.2?
A: "It will include the Overture Of The Wicked EP, which has the newer versions of the original trilogy ('Prophecy', 'Birth of the Wicked', 'The Coming Curse' from the Something This Way Wicked Comes album) but Matt re-singing those songs, then it will have Framing Armageddon Pt.1 remixed with Matt singing, a DVD with footage from the festivals we did this summer in Europe plus behind the scenes of us making Parts 1 & 2."
You can read the full interview at metalasylum.net.
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| Monday, July 7, 2008 - Iced Earth - The Crucible Of Man (Something Wicked Part II) Tracklisting Revealed | SPV Records will issue Iced Earth's new album, The Crucible Of Man (Something Wicked Part II), on the following dates:
- Germany, Austria, Switzerland: September 5th, 2008
- United Kingdom and Europe: September 8th, 2008
- USA and Canada: September 9th, 2008
The album will feature the following tracklisting: 'In Sacred Flames', 'Behold The Wicked Child', 'Minions Of The Watch', 'The Revealing', 'A Gift Or A Curse', 'Crown Of The Fallen', 'The Dimensional Gauntlet', 'I Walk Alone', 'Harbinger Of Fate', 'Crucify The King', 'Sacrificial Kingdoms', 'Something Wicked (Part 3)', 'Divide And Devour', 'Come What May', 'Epilogue'.
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| Thursday, July 3, 2008 - New audio interview with Jon Schaffer of Iced Earth | IcedEarth.com caught up with Jon Schaffer on June 16 for an audio interview lasting 16 minutes which is available as a free mp3 download (15.2 MB) here.
Topics include:
The choice of title for the forthcoming release, "The Crucible of Man - Something Wicked Part II"
Choir arrangements used during recording, including the vocal arrangments (chants) used at the conclusion of the song, "The Coming Curse" from 1998's' "Something Wicked This Way Comes" release
Thoughts on re-recording songs from the back-catalog as acoustic versions
Technical talk about mastering, volume, compression, and dynamic range
Playing live with the new touring lineup
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| Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - Iced Earth album news | IcedEarth.com has posted the cover art for the band's forthcoming full-length studio album, "The Crucible of Man - (Something Wicked Part II)" which continues where their 2007 release, "Framing Armageddon - (Something Wicked Part I)" left off. "The Crucible of Man" features the return of frontman Matt Barlow who was Schaffer's original voice of choice to introduce the "Something Wicked" saga back in 1998 as a trio of songs which concluded their album, "Something Wicked This Way Comes."
While the 1998 album provided a general overview of the story Schaffer has been conceptualizing for well over a decade, the saga is being fully brought to life with the release of the back-to-back conceptual albums "Framing Armageddon" and "The Crucible of Man." While both albums provide answers to mysteries the previous releases would create, the timeliness of the story in today's world is guaranteed to keep people thinking and guessing. Schaffer's ability to convey the central themes and events of the story without always revealing exactly "why" characters' decisions are made and "how" events come to pass, will keep fans of the saga coming back as future mediums for the "Something Wicked" storyline are revealed.
A finalized tracklisting for "The Crucible of Man" and audio interview with Jon Schaffer covering the new material will be featured at IcedEarth.com later this month. The band will begin rehearsals next week for a run of dates in June as direct support for Judas Priest in Europe, as well as the Hellfest, Bang Your Head, Graspop, and Gods of Metal European festivals.
"The Crucible of Man" is due for a late August or early September release on Steamhammer/SPV. The release will then be followed by a North American tour that kicks-off in September and features an appearance as headliner for the ProgPower USA IX festival in Atlanta, Georgia on September 27. The North American dates will be announced at IcedEarth.com when they are confirmed.
The single from the new album is titled, "I Walk Among You" and is being released worldwide this week by Steamhammer/SPV and features the new track, "I Walk Alone, " as well as three additional songs from "Framing Armageddon" with new vocal performances by Matt Barlow. All tracks can be listened to in their entirety at both the band's official website and MySpace page with exception of the track, "'A Charge to Keep'" which is an iTunes exclusive.
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| Tuesday, April 8, 2008 - Iced Earth - New interview and sound clips available | IcedEarth.com caught up with Jon Schaffer last week for a wide-ranging interview lasting 37 minutes which is available as a free mp3 download (35 MB) here. To download the interview, use your mouse to right-click on the link above, and then select, "Download Linked File."
Topics include: Where the track from the new single, "I Walk Alone" fits into the Something Wicked saga; The decision for choosing the three songs from Framing Armageddon that were re-recored with Matt Barlow on the new single; Ongoing booking plans beyond those already announced for 2008; A possible USO tour in Afganastan and Iraq; Setlist plans for Chicago Powerfest on May 2; Jon's new signature pickup, "The Ice Bucker" created by Jim Wagner of WCR Guitar Pickups; Technial talk and advice about acheiving guitar tone; Jon's guitar picks of choice and how they affect guitar tone, Jon's new private studio, "Soaring Eagle Sound"; and Impressions on the new Century Media box-set, "Slave to the Dark."
Direct link to the interview.
You can also listen to all tracks from the new Iced Earth single at their MySpace Page.
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| Sunday, March 16, 2008 - Iced Earth announce new single and new bass player | News from Iced Earth:
With the framework for the Armageddon of Man firmly laid with the band's 2007 full-length release, "Framing Armageddon - Something Wicked Part I", ICED EARTH are set to launch the next installment of Jon Schaffer's "Something Wicked" saga with the release of their new single, "I Walk Among You", in June of 2008. The full-length studio follow-up to "Something Wicked Part I" is due for release in Fall of 2008.
The new single and proceeding full-length studio album mark the return of longtime frontman, Matt Barlow to the band who's dark and sinister tones are the perfect fit to narrate the intense and viscous annihilation of mankind set in motion with the birth of the story's main character, "Set Abominae", in "Something Wicked Part II." The single will allow fans to get a glimpse of the bright future for the band, and the perhaps not-so-bright future for humanity as we now know it.
The single will feature 3 songs, an exclusive version of the song "I Walk Alone" and a few tracks from Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked Part 1) with new vocal performances by Matt Barlow. Due to the re-tracking of the lead vocals these tracks have been remixed and remastered. There will be an iTunes exclusive version of the single "I Walk Among You" that features "A Charge To Keep" which has also been re-sung by Matt, remixed and re-mastered.
The video for "I Walk Alone" is being filmed in early April.
All tracks were recorded at Jon Schaffer's studio, Soaring Eagle Sound, and mixed and mastered at Morrisound. The single, and following full-length platter will be released by Steamhammer/SPV.
"I Walk Among You" Tracklisting:
1. I Walk Alone
2. Setian Massacre
3. The Clouding
4. A Charge to Keep (exclusive iTunes track)
Check out the artwork at the officlal Website: http://icedearth.com/
New Bass player
Freddie Vidales from Phoenix, Arizona has been selected to pound the pavement (and a few eardrums) on the road with Iced Earth in 2008 as the band's new bass player. Prior to joining ICED EARTH, Freddie was the bassist and frontman for 10 years in his own band called, INFUSION. Freddie has been influenced by bands such as Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Death, King Diamond, and of course, ICED EARTH.
Says Jon Schaffer, "I feel like Freddie is the right guy for the gig, he has the chops, the attitude, and from the videos I've seen, a commanding, energetic, and intense stage presence that will fit in nicely with what Iced Earth has always strived to be. I had a strong feeling about him based on the material that he sent and our phone discussions, so I asked him to fly up here before the slated auditions were to commence later in the month. After meeting Freddie in person and watching him play up close and personal, I didn't feel the need to continue the search. He's going to fit right in. We welcome him on board and look forward to jamming together at our first gig at Chicago Powerfest on May 2!
Finally, I would like to personally thank everyone who auditioned for the position, and I wish you the best in your future endeavors!"
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| Sunday, February 10, 2008 - Iced Earth - Slave To The Dark Box Set Due This Month | Century Media Records in Germany have put together an all-encompassing Iced Earth box called Slave To The Dark featuring 14 CDs plus a DVD. Due out February 22nd, it will include the following titles in mini gatefold sleeves from the Century Media catalog: Iced Earth (1990), Night Of The Stormrider (1991), Burnt Offerings (1995), The Dark Saga (1996), Days Of Purgatory (1997), Something Wicked This Way Comes (1998), Alive In Athens triple- live CD (1999), Melancholy (2001), Horror Show (2001), Dark Genesis (2001), Tribute To The Gods (2002), The Blessed And The Damned - Best Of (2004), Alive In Athens - The DVD (2006).
According to the Iced Earth camp, "it is a legit re-release by Century Media of the back catalog. There was no collaboration between Century Media and Iced Earth on this release."
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| Monday, January 21, 2008 - 36-minute audio interview with Jon Schaffer posted in MP3 format. | The interview, conducted by Icedearth.com with Jon on January 15, 2008, can be downloaded and/or heard at this location. To download the interview, use your mouse to right-click on the link and then select, "Save Target as...." The download is 41.2 MB. Topics covered in the interview include tour and release plans for 2008, longtime frontman Matt Barlow's return to the band, the band's first gig at ProgPower USA on September 27, 2008, and the impact of family and other peronal committments on Iced Earth's stategy for the future.
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| Tuesday, January 15, 2008 - Iced Earth to Headline ProgPower USA IX | News from Iced Earth:
"Well, it's been a long time coming, but things have finally lined up right for us to be able to do Glenn's festival. It's truly an honor for Iced Earth to play the ProgPower USA festival. I flew down several years ago to check it out and it is definitely a top-notch operation. It's really a model for the way festivals should be run - good people with integrity make all the difference in any organization, and Glenn and his crew are all that and more. This is something that we've wanted to dofor a long time and it's finally going to work out perfectly for our plans in 2008. Part 2 of the "Something Wicked" epic will be out right around this time and it willbe a killer celebration! This will be very cool, and a good time will be had by all! We look forward to seeing you there!"
Jon Schaffer
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| Saturday, December 22, 2007 - Matthew Barlow Comments on His Return to Iced Earth. | From the official Iced Earth website:
"Brothers and Sisters!
I'm sure that you are all well aware of things that are happening within Iced Earth, and a statement from me is well overdue. To that, I can only say that I am sorry for the delay, but there is good reason. Last week, following Jon's announcement, my wife gave birth to our second son. Everything is well, but of course, those of you who are parents know how taxing the first week can be. During that time, after all things had begun to settle, I realized that there are a lot of things on my plate. At this point, I needed to address them. As you know, family always comes first. Of course, Jon knows that and understands my decision to leave Iced Earth four years ago. My wife and I wanting a family was a huge factor. Family, is also the reason for my return. There is a kinship that goes beyond the obvious. I will speak of that later.
First, I feel that I need to acknowledge my friend Michael of Pyramaze. If not for his inquiry and persistance in asking me to be a member of that band, I may not have realized how much I have missed and been missed within the metal community. In recent days, however, I have come to realize that my participation in Pyramaze cannot go beyond the recording of the bands current work. This is due in part, to the fact that I can't be all places at all times. Michael and I have discussed this, and have come to an understanding. I know that the future success of Pyramaze will not be based solely on individual performances of band members, but in the song writing and total performance of the band, which is excellent. I know that I will give everything I have to the record and will support Pyramaze on a lot of other levels.
Let me proceed on the topic of kinship. For a great portion of our lives, Jon and I dedicated our selves to creating music that pleased, angered, saddened, and inspired. Though it can be argued that my contribution was limited, I always felt very proud of what we accomplished with every song. Whether a song was about a true love, a best friend, a ghost, a devil, or a savior; The songs that Jon wrote gave me the desire to engage each one on a very personal level. When Jon and I began to discuss the future of Iced Earth and his feeling on it's success or failure, he conveyed to me the desire to rediscover the passion of the songs that made Iced Earth so very special to so many people. In my journey of the last several years, I've had time to acknowledge that there are great stories yet to be told. Moreover, I have recognized my desire to be a part of those stories. As mentioned above, there are obvious time constraints where it relates to family, career, and music. One of those issues has already been addressed.
As for my career in law enforcement, it will continue as normal. Without going into specific detail, Jon and I will work on recording on my time between shifts. As Jon stated before, live performances will be more limited but grander in fashion. We will do our very best to get to the metal masses as often as possible. Jon understands that this schedule will be tougher to work with, but feels that it will be the best for the fans in the long run. There will be critics, no doubt. It has recently come to my attention that some people don't like the police ;-) Let's see if opinion can change on that issue!
As for the music, I will bring to Iced Earth the best performance possible. That has always been my desire, and I'm really excited to work with Jon and the guys again, to give you the best metal possible. If you think you're ready... let's do this!
MATT BARLOW
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| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - Jon Schaffer Comments Further On Matt's Return/Tim's Departure | Hello Dear Friends,
It will be sometime before I'm going to be doing press due to the holidays and the fact that I'm still deep in the final writing process of Part 2. I'm aware that the news of Matt coming back into to the band has taken many people by surprise so I'll try to explain the situation a little better. I do love Tim's voice and it is the kind of voice I hear when I write, and he's really cool person. And I do not want an unnecessary war of words started because certain journalists like to create controversy to sell their magazines. I love Tim as a person and a musician, and I do not have negative feelings towards him at all. We would all appreciate it if the trash peddlers would respect the situation and keep their venomous speculations to themselves. An unlikely request I'm sure, but it would be nice.
On the other side, Matt and I are brothers and there was a very deep and spiritual connection that came through in the music that we created and performed together over the years. Iced Earth has always been about passion and honesty in the music, I'm talking about real, raw emotion. That's what has always made the relationship between the band and the fans a very special thing and it is the thing that made the chemistry that Matt and I had together so special. When we split before, our relationship had suffered from various things, but mostly it came down to not communicating like we should have, which led to things being blown out of proportion. This, coupled with the uncertainty of earning a secure living in the music business, resulted in Matt coming to the decision that he did. I convinced him to stay in the band, which he did, but it was clear that while tracking TGB, he was already mentally finished with music and was moving on to different things and to a more secure future. All of that is behind us and we have grown and matured and will have an even more fulfilling relationship because of what we've experienced and learned from the past.
Iced Earth activities will be more limited now because Matt will still be carrying on his career as a law enforcement officer. I would rather we do it this way and have the shows that happen be very special events than to carry on and feel like what's happening isn't genuine. This is NOT a cut on Tim. It's just that Iced Earth really began to blossom after Matt joined the band and for years we worked our asses off together towards a common goal, on stage and off. Those years of work and commitment defined what Iced Earth truly is, and frankly I would rather end it than to carry on without Matt involved. All of this has been coming to a head for a while, and the talks with the fans in Europe helped cement what I already knew needed to happen. It's one thing to be pressured by our business partners for change, it's something else entirely when the fan base is overwhelmingly telling me the same thing. This decision is by the fans/for the fans. I wish only the best for Tim, this is not a standard bullshit statement, it's the truth. A guy with so much talent deserves the best in life and that's what I wish for him completely.
Jon Schaffer
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| Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - Matt Barlow is back with Iced Earth! | An update from Jon Schaffer:
Hello Dear Friends!
Once again the winds of change are upon us, and this time I can say that I am very happy about the result.
While out on the European tour I had several in depth discussions with many loyal Iced Earth fans. A common theme of these discussions was how much Matt is missed. I agreed with the fans that things were not the same and that it was a very special period in Iced Earth's history.
When I heard several months ago that Matt was going to be doing a project in music again, I was thinking about contacting him and seeing what his intentions were. I didn't act on this because I was so focused on the writing of the new epic, and frankly, it just didn't seem realistic.
Well, after getting out on the road and speaking with many of you directly, I decided to call Matt and see how he was doing and if he was interested in working together again. I am proud to say that he is coming back to Iced Earth and we will be getting back to work in the studio very soon.
Matt will be singing on Part 2 of the Something Wicked concept CD and we will be looking forward to getting out on tour and delivering a series of Iced Earth shows that will rival any in the history of the band. And there will be a proper DVD filmed from this period, something we've all been waiting for.
I want you all to know that it was you who made this a reality. I have missed Matt's presence onstage and in my personal life in a big way over the past few years, so I appreciate your honesty in our discussions. It did help me realize the decision to move forward with pursuing this. The fans have spoken and we have delivered!
You true fans know that I'm a straight shooter, I say what I mean and mean what I say. And though I value your opinions greatly, you must believe that this is a decision that comes completely from the heart and is not motivated by anything other than what feels the best for Iced Earth. This is the way that things have always been dealt with, for better or for worse, but always honestly and from the heart.
Tim Owens is a great and talented singer and I wish the best for him and his future on a personal and professional level.
There will be more news soon as to further developments and plans. This will push back the release of Part 2 a bit. Not because we couldn't be ready to record in time, but because of a new addition to Matt's family in early 2008!
I am very happy to announce that Iced Earth is truly BACK!
Have a great holiday season. We'll be in touch very soon with more details.
Jon Schaffer
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| Monday, June 25, 2007 - Iced Earth news | An Iced Earth update from Jon Schaffer:
"Hello my friends,
I hope at this point you've had a chance to absorb the single/EP Overture Of The Wicked, and are enjoying it. So far the reaction has been overwhelming. We've charted in several countries around the world, which is quite unusual for a metal band to do with a single. MADONNA, MICHAEL JACKSON and the "pop stars", yes, it happens all the time, independent heavy metal bands - not so much. We have you amazingly loyal fans to thank for that. The Iced Earth legion grows stronger and stronger all the time. When I think about the simple fact that Iced Earth has only opened for 2 bands in the last 17 years, BLIND GUARDIAN and MEGADETH, it really makes me wonder what could happen if we had an opportunity to open for some of the big guys here in the States. It's the belief that if we get a fair shot, we can do some great things. The incredible loyalty exhibited by all of you has and will continue to keep me in the trenches fighting the good fight.
We're going to get one of those shots in November when we open for HEAVEN AND HELL (BLACK SABBATH) in the UK. I'm absolutely fired up about it. Iced Earth is finally going to be heard in the UK, and believe me, we're going to be so freakin' pumped, everyone's going to remember that we were there!
I'd like to thank the Swedish Fans for their awesome response to our first appearance at Sweden Rock a few weeks ago. It was a great festival, very professional and very fun for us all. I personally had a great time, the chemistry of the live band is the best it's ever been and even though this was our first show together, we played like we'd been together for years. It's been quite sometime since I've had as much fun onstage, and we're just getting started.
I'm very sorry about the confusion on our set length at Sweden Rock. We were told that we were to have a 50 minute set, and that's what we played. When I arrived on the festival grounds and saw the festival program, and the fact that they had us listed as playing for 90 minutes, I was a bit concerned and knew that we were going to have some disappointed fans out there. All I can say is that we will do our level best at making it up to you guys on the headline tour, and it will not happen again.
The day after the festival we filmed the video for 'Ten Thousand Strong' in Gothenburg, Sweden with director Roger Johansen. Roger did the 'Terror Train' video for Hansi and I, and I was very happy with his integrity and dedication to the project. Because of this, he was my first choice for the new IE video. This will be a very special video with many hours of work being done in post-production to help tell the early stages of the Something Wicked story, focusing on the struggle of the 10,000. If all goes as planned this will be the first in a line of videos that will be filmed through Parts I & II that will reveal key points of the saga.
At this point I'm wrapping up preparations for our show in Athens next week with Heaven And Hell. I must say it is an absolute honor for us to be able to play with these guys and I can't wait until the UK dates in November. We will start the headline tour of Europe in October and jump on with Heaven And Hell in the UK after that. I've met RONNIE JAMES DIO several times over the years and I have to say he is hands down, the most genuine, inspirational and real person that I've met in this industry. It's so refreshing when one of your idols is a wonderful person, and Ronnie James Dio is all of that and more. There are some very cool things to look forward to for sure, for you the fans, and for myself as well.
Just before Sweden Rock we finished mixing and mastering Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked Part I) and I'm very happy with the end result. I'm totally pumped about wrapping up Part II now, and will be doing that in between the festivals and promo tours this summer. Part I's timeline runs from the human invasion of Setia Earte, or Earth as we know it, and ends shortly before the birth of Set Abominae. Part II will start with his birth and continue on 'til present day. Remember, Revelation Abomination (Something Wicked Part II) is a working title only and I'm certain I will change it as I finish the writing of Part II.
Stay tuned, stay true, and we will see you all soon. The "burning times" of man will be soon upon you!
Jon."
Check out the artwork for Framing Armageddon here.
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| Sunday, May 20, 2007 - New Iced Earth Guitarist announced | News from Jon Schaffer:
"Our new guitar player's name is Troy Seele. Troy did a few solos on the new record and will be touring with us. He's been a friend of mine for about ten years and is from the Indianapolis (Indy) area. He's by far the best guitar player in Indy and will be bringing some cool vibes to the table."
As previously reported, Iced Earth's new EP, Overture Of The Wicked, is now available for pre-order at Amazon.com This title will be released on June 5th, 2007.
The EP includes the new song 'Ten Thousand Strong' and a newly recorded version of the Something Wicked Trilogy featuring the songs 'Prophecy', 'Birth Of The Wicked' and 'The Coming Curse'.
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| Thursday, March 29, 2007 - Iced Earth Album, Single and Tour news | Iced Earth Press release:
Iced Earth mastermind Jon Schaffer has embarked on what could be the most epic-proportioned metal release so far in the new century. Taking the band's classic "Something Wicked" trilogy, re-recording it, and then recording two albums telling the story in its' entirety.
The single 'Overture Of The Wicked' will be released on June 4th in UK and Europe and June 5th in the USA/Canada. This will be followed by some exclusive European festival performances leading up to the release of the first of two studio albums called Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked Part 1) which will be released in September. The second album concluding the Something Wicked story will be released in early 2008. Schaffer agrees that, "It's a bit Star Wars - with multiple parts and a long timeframe. The original trilogy is just an overview of the story that begins 12,000 years ago and leads us to modern day. You should look at the trilogy as an introduction to this whole epic. What is coming next in the two album parts is a far more in depth look into this very tragic, heavy and apocalyptic sci-fi/fantasy story."
The 'Overture Of The Wicked' single is the re-recorded version of that trilogy and the first single 'Ten Thousand Strong' which will appear on Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked Part 1) "albeit a bit different than the single version" says Shaffer. The re-recording of the trilogy is exclusive to this single, which clocks in at a total of just over 22 minutes. "For those of you that aren't familiar with the old version or the "Something Wicked" story at all, you should check it out." says Schaffer. "The "Something Wicked" trilogy is comprised of the songs 'Prophecy', 'Birth Of The Wicked', and 'The Coming Curse' and has been completely rerecorded. From the ground up this is a more vicious and more atmospheric version of the epic piece. I played all of the guitar tracks with a baritone guitar and Brent [Smedley, drums] and I are locked up like a machine gun with the double kicks following many of the detailed picking patterns. This makes for a more intense- and wicked-sounding rhythm section. All of the vocals have been redone, obviously by Tim Owens, who did a masterful job at retaining the passion and honesty of the original, and still put his stamp on it and made it his own. We also put in some teaser atmospheric things that will give you a hint of things to come on PART 1. But just a hint... we don't want to spoil any surprises."
'Overture Of The Wicked' as well as the two studio albums have been recorded at Schaffer's Soaring Eagle Sound studio and mixed and mastered by Jim Morris at Morrissound.
The upcoming releases have also spawned a lot of movement on the live side. European festivals and a confirmed 10 date UK run with HEAVEN AND HELL, to be preceded and followed by more touring both in Europe and North America are all in the cards.
Some dates are:
June
6 - 7 - Sweden Rock Festival - Sölvesborg, Sweden
July
1 - 3 - RockWave Festival - Malakasa, Greece
August
2 - 4 - Wacken Festival - Wacken, Germany
Supporting Heaven And Hell:
November
4 - Metro Radio Arena - Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
6 - SECC - Glasgow, Scotland
7 - Hallam FM Arena - Sheffield, UK
9 - Manchester Evening News Arena - Manchester, UK
10 - Wembley Arena - London, UK
11 - Centre - Brighton, UK
13 - NEC - Birmingham, UK
14 - International Arena - Cardiff, UK
15 - Arena - Nottingham, UK
17 - Pavilions - Plymouth, UK
18 - BIC - Bournemouth, UK
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| Monday, March 19, 2007 - Something Wicked Comes: Overture / Part 1 / Part 2 | Iced Earth news from Jon Schaffer:
Hello All,
I just wanted to give you an update of what's happening in Iced Earth world.
We just finished mixing and mastering the single which will be titled "Overture of the Wicked" and should be released in late May or early June. The 4 songs that will be featured on this are as follows:
1.) Ten Thousand Strong
2.) Prophecy
3.) Birth of the Wicked
4.) The Coming Curse
Ten Thousand Strong will be the song that we will be filming a video for in the following months, most likely in June right around the Sweden Rock festival.
I'm very happy with the results of our efforts, we've been really working hard on delivering something special to you guys and this single is just a hint of things to come, and it's freakin' awesome.
We will be finishing the rest of production for Part 1 over the course of the next few weeks, with plans to mix in the early part of May.
The title of the full release is "Framing Armageddon" (Something Wicked Part 1) and should be out in the late August/September time frame.
The "Framing Armageddon" tracklist will appear as follows:
1.) Overture
2.) Something Wicked (Part 1)
3.) Invasion
4.) Man's Motivation
5.) The Setian Massacre
6.) A Charge to Keep
7.) Reflections
8.) Ten Thousand Strong
9.) Execution
10.) Order of the Rose
11.) The Clouding
12.) Infiltrate and Assimilate
13.) Retribution Through the Ages
14.) Something Wicked (Part 2)
15.) The Domino Decree
16.) Framing Armageddon
17.) When Stars Collide (Born is He)
18.) The Awakening
The working title of Part 2 is "Revelation Abomination" Something Wicked (Part 2) and the tracklist is as follows:
1.) The Sacred Flames
2.) Behold the Wicked Child
3.) Minions of the Watch
4.) A Gift or a Curse
5.) I Walk Among You
5.) Harbinger of Fate
6.) Ancient Rage of the High Priest
7.) A Gathering Threat / Time Marches On
8.) Sacrificial Kingdoms
9.) Something Wicked (Part 3)
10.) Divide Devour
11.) Conspiracy / Pilgrimage In Guile
12.) Come What May
The final tracking and mixing for Part 2 will take place between the festivals and world tour and will have a targeted release in February/March of 2008.
Due to family health issues Bo Wallace will not be able to be involved with Iced Earth. I played the bass guitar parts on the single and we will be bringing Dennis Hayes, who worked with Tim on his "Beyond Fear" side project, in to play on parts of the remainder of the recording. He will be doing the live shows as well.
Also, after many years of heading up www.icedearth.com, Neil Gregie will no longer be webmaster. If anyone out there is interested, and has the creative and technical abilities to be the new IE webmaster, please send your info and examples to webmaster@icedearth.com. Neil will forward the info on and we will be in contact if you have what we're looking for to be part of the team. We wish to thank Neil for all the years of work and time he has devoted to being involved with the site! You're the Man Neil!!!
We'll have some more updates for you in the near future!
Best wishes to you all,
Jon
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| Saturday, December 30, 2006 - Iced Earth album news | Jon Schaffer has posted the following update on the forthcoming Iced Earth album:
Hello All,
Again I have to apologize for the delay in updates. I've been extremely busy with writing and preproduction for the new IE CD's.
I also lost the one person that was my true mentor and inspiration throughout my life, which was very difficult. My Father, Tom Schaffer, died unexpectedly of a massive stroke in October. He was 67, and died two weeks before his 68th birthday. It's hard to imagine what my life would have been like without my Dad's influence. I would not be who I am today, that's for sure. Fortunately, he was able to travel with the band a few times, and he really enjoyed meeting and talking with the fans. He was there for the Alive in Athens recording and was dubbed Papa Earth by some of the fans in Greece. I will miss him very much.
Obviously, this had a huge impact on me and brought the writing to a halt for about a month.
I'm back on track and we are going to start recording on February 1st. We will be releasing a single/EP in June '07 that will feature the Something Wicked trilogy re-recorded and a track that will be an alternate edit of a song that will be on Something Wicked Part 2 that now has a working title of "Come What May." The label was wanting me to do something with the original trilogy to reintroduce the story. So, what we have in store for you is very cool. You will hear "Prophecy," "Birth of the Wicked," and "The Coming Curse" in a new way that will be a very killer way to kick off this massive epic.
I don't want to give you any details to spoil the surprise, but trust me, it's going to be awesome.
"Something Wicked (Part 1)" will be released in the September/October '07 time frame and Part 2 will follow in January/February '08.
This is by far the most epic task I've ever taken on as a songwriter and I really feel like it will be worth all the sacrifice when it's finished. I've been working nonstop for over a year now and it's coming together in a very special way. I've just about finished all the musical arrangements and am now focusing on writing the lyrics/vocal melodies. I'm in the final stretch now........
Tim Mills has contributed a few really cool pieces of music and has shown a real interest in the whole "Something Wicked" story, and a real passion for being involved with the band. All this while owning and operating his own company (Bare Knuckle Pickups). I'm impressed, it's a rare quality, believe me.
Also, the bass player on the next record is a local boy from Indianapolis whose name is James "Bo" Wallace. Bo is a killer player and a great personality. I went to see him perform several months ago and was impressed with his abilities, energy and passion. He played with Ma Kelley for many years and released several records on a few different independent labels. Without a doubt, Bo is a great bass player and I'm happy to have him working with Iced Earth.
Here's a list of working titles for the upcoming epic. There will likely be changes but this gives you an idea of where things are going.
Something Wicked - Part 1
1.) Overture
2.) Something Wicked (Part 1)
3.) Invasion
4.) Man's Motivation
5.) The Setian Massacre
6.) Ghost Dance Ritual
7.) Reflections
8.) Ten Thousand Strong
9.) Execution
10.) Order of the Rose
11.) The Clouding
12.) Infiltrate and Assimilate
13.) Retribution From the Shadows
14.) Something Wicked (Part 2)
15.) The Domino Decree
16.) The Division of Religion (Man Needs God)
17.) Novo Ordo Seclorum (Cycle Of A New Age)
Something Wicked - Part 2
1.) The Sacred Flames
2.) Behold the Wicked Child
3.) Minions of the Watch
4.) A Gift Or A Curse?
5.) I Walk Among You
6.) My Burden, My Honor
7.) Ancient Rage of the High Priest
8.) A Gathering Threat
9.) Time Marches On
10.) Sacrificial Kingdoms
11.) Something Wicked (Part 3)
12.) Divide Devour
13.) Conspiracy / A Charge to Keep
14.) Come What May (Mankind Is Lost)
Happy New Year to all!
Jon
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| Tuesday, October 10, 2006 - Brent Smedley returns to Iced Earth | Latest news from Iced Earth:
"Hello Friends,
I just wanted to make a quick and exciting announcement that I think many of you will be very happy about. Brent Smedley is coming back to Iced Earth for the recording and touring of the Something Wicked saga Parts 1& 2, and beyond. For those of you not familiar you can hear Brent's amazing drumming on the Alive in Athens CD, which in my opinion is the best thing about the recording. I can tell you that on a personal level this makes me very happy. Brent left the band about seven years ago due to personal issues and I've missed him ever since. WELCOME BACK BROTHER!! The machine gun tight rhythm section is back!!!!
I wish Bobby Jarzombek the best of luck in his future endeavors, it was a pleasure jamming with him in the short time that we did.
Due to a personal situation Ernie Carletti will not be able to participate in band activities.
I will be making a significant announcement concerning the guitar and bass player positions very soon.
Also, the writing is going well and things are on track. I will post some details soon on icedearth.com. As challenging as this gigantic story is to tell in music, I have no doubt that it will be the pinnacle of Iced Earth's work thus far.
Take care all. More news is coming soon."
Jon Schaffer
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| Sunday, September 24, 2006 - Iced Earth DVD information | The Official Iced Earth website has been updated with the following message from Jon Schaffer:
I've been asked recently about the release of the 'Alive in Athens' DVD and I want my position on this to be very clear to all of the Iced Earth fans out there. In my opinion, this is purely a money grab on behalf of Century Media Records. The reason that it was never released before is because the footage is substandard. This was only a three-camera shoot that was done for a German music television channel called Viva. I hosted the show as a guest VJ and played videos from different bands as well as a few tunes from the 'Alive in Athens' concert.
About a year ago, Century Media contacted me and asked if I'd like to be involved in doing this. I said that I did not think it was a good idea based on my memory of the footage, but to go ahead and send me some of the camera angles on DVD so I could think about it. After viewing the footage I felt that it would be extremely difficult to make a release that would live up to the standards that we have set for Iced Earth over the years. So I turned the project down.
Several weeks ago, I learned that they were determined to release this DVD anyway. When I found this out I asked to see the edit and they obliged. After viewing it and seeing how weak it is I asked if they would be willing to fly me over and rework some of the edits. The answer was no, they did not think it could be done better. That translates into, 'We don't want to spend the money to make it the best it can be.'
So here's the deal: I want you all to be aware of what it is that they are releasing. This is a very low-budget, badly edited video of an amazing concert and an awesome period in the history of Iced Earth. They promised me that they are going to keep the price down and that they are not going to market it as something it's not. But I feel it's my responsibility to let you know the reality of the situation.
I've often regretted that there was never a high-quality filming of the band during that period but it was something that we could never persuade the label to do. And it's not cheap if you do it right.
Iced Earth will be filming a real DVD on the next world tour. This will be what the fans have been waiting for. It will consist of a 16-camera crew with cranes and a real stage show and all of the things necessary to finally bring to the fans a state-of-the-art DVD that will really give you the feeling of being at an Iced Earth show.
The decision to purchase the 'Alive in Athens' DVD is up to you. I just want you to be aware of what it is you're getting should you choose to do so.
I don't want to make it sound like it's some horrible bootleg, because it's not, it's just not up to the standards that you've come to expect from us.
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| Sunday, July 2, 2006 - New Iced Earth guitarist | Latest news from Iced Earth:
Greetings!!!
I just wanted to make a quick but significant announcement. After auditioning some very good guitar players I've made a decision. The man who will be handling the majority of the guitar solos on the next record as well as touring with us on "The Wicked World Tour" is an awesome player named Ernie Carletti. As has been the case in the past we may have a few guests do a solo or two on the epic that this way comes, but the majority will be handled by Ernie. He is a world class player and truly one of the best guitarists I've had the pleasure of meeting and hanging with. We're going to make a good team, I'm sure. We were introduced through Bernie at Bernie Rico, Jr. Guitars who is the son of the BC Rich founder/legend Bernie Rico. If you want to see some amazing top quality hand built guitars go to www.ricojrguitars.com and see what this master builder has been up to the last few years.
I'll be auditioning bass players as well very soon so there will be announcements made in the not too distant future for that position.
The writing is moving along well and I'll have a few details for you on the next post, but for now I've gotta run.......so much to do, so little time.
Take care all!
Jon
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| Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - News from Iced Earth | An update from Jon Schaffer, Iced Earth:
Hello Everyone!
I know I've been really lame with the updates and I'm sorry about that. We've let things get pretty lax here at Iced Earth.com and we're going to be making some changes in this in the not too distant future. As some of you are aware, I'm not really the internet type of guy and only use it for my email, and even that I avoid often (which does annoy my business associates at times; but hey, that's what phones are for!), so I spend as little time as possible on a computer; unless it's my studio computer and I'm spending a LOT of time on that one. Tim enjoys surfing and all of that stuff so he's going to be involved in the IE site a lot more in the future. You'll be seeing some big changes in the site with the release of the next IE CD.
Which actually brings me to the next bit of news... I'm completely consumed in the writing process of what will be by far the most ambitious album(s) IE has ever done. Some of you probably know that the next 2 releases will comprise the full concept album of the Something Wicked story line, Part 1 & Part 2. I know it's taken quite some time to get this beast on its way to fruition, but it IS finally happening, and I really feel the time is right. The goal is to make this our most epic, dynamic, most melodic and heaviest CD ever. Because of the depth and detail of the story it would be impossible to do it on one CD, there simply is not enough time, so I'm writing both parts at one time so that the continuity is there. If I were to wait a year or two to start writing part 2 I would be in a completely different frame of mind and it wouldn't work nearly as well, so the best thing is to do all the writing at once. We'll get Part 1 recorded, mixed and released and then finish part 2 which will come out about 6 months later. That's at least the preliminary plan. We are still pretty early in the process but things are starting to move along nicely.
I know it's been some time since the release of "The Glorious Burden" and I ask you to please be patient because what's coming next is going to blow you away. This is the album that IE fans have been waiting for.
I want to apologize to the European fans for not making it over there for a headline tour on the last album. My back problems got too intense to be on the road and that really screwed things up for everyone, myself, the rest of the guys in the band, our crew, the promoters etc.. We would have toured a lot more than we did had I not had these problems. The great thing is that the last surgical procedure I had in October of 2004 seems to have worked to make the pain much more tolerable. I did very extensive therapy for many months and am committed to being in the best shape of my life by the time we tour again. It's good to be enjoying life for the first time in a very long time.
To read the whole message go to the official website.
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| Friday, March 25, 2005 - Iced Earth DVD news | Iced Earth are set to release their new double DVD, Gettysburg, on June 6th through Steamhammer.
In three parts ('The Devil To Pay', 'Hold At All Costs', 'High Water Mark'), Iced Earth narrate the historic events that took place in that legendary location in Pennsylvania in July 1863, when the Confederate troops met the Union in the most blood-soaked battle ever on American soil. Iced Earth and their Gettysburg DVD chronicle this dramatic historic subject in language, images and sound more comprehensively than any other rock band before them.
The first DVD is 132 minutes in length and features the trilogy in Dolby Digital 5.1 (Metal Mix), Dolby Digital 5.1 (Orchestral Mix) and Dolby Digital 2.0. Special features include Gettysburg Battlefield Tour, Spirit Of '76, Photo Gallery, Trailer, Scene selection and Lyrics (optional). DVD 2 is 63 minutes in length with the following special features: 'When The Eagle Cries' (Video), 'The Reckoning' (Video) and Jon Schaffer Interview.
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| Thursday, January 27, 2005 - Iced Earth DVD | The new year will begin for Iced Earth with the delivery of the long-awaited Gettysburg DVD. This unique release will feature the epic work "Gettysburg (1863)" from 2004's The Glorious Burden stepping out of its stereo confines and expanding into a powerful 5.1-channel surround-sound mix. In fact, there will be two different surround-sound mixes (one "metal" and one "theatrical"), set to moving images. Additionally, the DVD will feature a historical commentary from the Gettysburg battlefield, and an in-depth interview with Jon Schaffer. More details will follow.
A brief trailer for the DVD can be seen at the Iced Earth Downloads page.
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| Thursday, July 1, 2004 - Richard Christy lands job on The Howard Stern Show | Renowned heavy metal drummer Richard Christy (ICED EARTH, DEATH, CONTROL DENIED, BURNING INSIDE) has been named the official replacement for Stuttering John on "The Howard Stern" radio show. Richard, who received more votes than any other contestant via the "Get John's JOB!" voting web site, spent all of last week on the show and was considered a favorite to land the gig from the very beginning. Download MP3 audio files of Richard's guest appearances on the show:
June 21: #1, #2
June 22: #1, #2
June 23: #1
June 24: #1, #2
June 25: #1, #2
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| Monday, May 17, 2004 - Iced Earth update | Jon Schaffer has posted a very interesting news update at the Iced Earth messageboard, addressing some of the recent issues. It sounds like a European tour will happen in November/December. Yay! Richard Christy has also decided to leave the band after the L.A. show. Bobby Jarzombek (Halford & Riot) will replace him. Read the whole message here.
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| Tuesday, January 13, 2004 - The future of Iced Earth | In an article in Revolver magazine, Jon Schaffer revealed that he's laying the foundation for his most multidimensional project yet: a science-fiction conspiracy concept album based on songs from the band's 1998 disc, "Something Wicked This Way Comes". The story will cover 12,000 years of human history, and Schaffer hopes it will be a springboard for a series of comic books and possibly a motion picture.
"I haven't written down the plot yet," he said. "But I have all the outlines for the story in my head, and I'm really excited about how it's coming together. This could be my 'Star Wars'."
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| Friday, December 12, 2003 - Iced Earth support band announced | Helsinki, Finland-based melodic power metallers Thunderstone have been confirmed as the opening band for Iced Earth on their upcoming European headlining tour.
Thunderstone's sophomore album, "The Burning" is due on January 12, 2004 through Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to last year's "Thunderstone" was recorded at Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki with producer/guitarist Nino Laurenne and was mixed at Finnvox Studios with Mikko Karmila (Nightwish, Children of Bodom). Included on the CD is a guest appearance by Symphony X guitarist Michael Romeo on the track "Drawn To The Flame". A couple of samples from the new album are available here.
Iced Earth/Thunderstone tour dates:
Mar. 18 - Tilburg, NETH - 013
Mar. 19 - Antwerpen, BEL - Hof Ter Loo
Mar. 20 - Hardenberg, NETH - Podium
Mar. 21 - London, UK - Mean Fiddler
Mar. 22 - Paris, FRA - Elysee Monmatre
Mar. 23 - Lyon, FRA - Transbordeur
Mar. 25 - Madrid, SPA - Aqualung
Mar. 26 - Bergara, SPA - Sala Jam
Mar. 27 - Barcelona, SPA - Razzmatazz
Mar. 29 - Milano, ITA - Rolling Stone
Mar. 30 - Pratteln, SWI - Z7
Apr. 01 - Köln, GER - E-Werk
Apr. 02 - Nürnberg, GER - Löwensall
Apr. 03 - Filderstadt, GER - Filharmonie
Apr. 04 - Wien, AUT - Planet Music
Apr. 06 - Hamburg, GER - Docks
Apr. 07 - Malmö, SWE - KB
Apr. 08 - Göteborg, SWE - Karen
Apr. 09 - Tukholma, SWE - Arenan
Apr. 11 - Helsinki, FIN - Nosturi
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| Friday, October 3, 2003 - Iced Earth European tour dates | Iced Earth have announced the details of their upcoming European tour in support of their "The Glorious Burden" CD.
Here are the dates:
Mar. 19 - Antwerpen, BEL - Hof Ter Loo
Mar. 20 - Hardenberg, NETH - Podium
Mar. 21 - London, UK - Mean Fiddler
Mar. 22 - Paris, FRA - Elysee Monmatre
Mar. 23 - Lyon, FRA - Transbordeur
Mar. 25 - Madrid, SPA - Aqualung
Mar. 26 - Bergara, SPA - Sala Jam
Mar. 27 - Barcelona, SPA - Razzmatazz
Mar. 29 - Milan, ITA - Rolling Stone
Mar. 30 - Pratteln, SWI - Z7
Apr. 01 - Köln, GER - E-Werk
Apr. 02 - Nürnberg, GER - Löwensall
Apr. 03 - Filderstadt, GER - Filharmonie
Apr. 04 - Wien, AUT - Planet Music
Apr. 06 - Hamburg, GER - Docks
Apr. 07 - Malmö, SWE - KB
Apr. 08 - Gothenburg, SWE - Karen
Apr. 09 - Stockholm, SWE - Arenan
Apr. 11 - Helsinki, FIN - Nosturi
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| Sunday, August 24, 2003 - Iced Earth Releases single | As a small appetizer for the bands new full-length album The Glorious Burden due on October 27, the band will release a single The Reckoning on October 6.
The tracklisting runs as below.
1. The Reckoning (Don't Tread On Me)
2. When The Eagle Cries (Unplugged)
3. Valley Forge
4. Hollow Man
The band consists of following members:
Jon Schaffer - Guitar
Tim Owens - Vocals
Richard Christy - Drums
James MacDonough - Bass
Ralph Santolla - Guitar
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| Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - Iced Earth - Album update | Jon Schaffer is stoked about the potential of the forthcoming album, including the 32 minute epic, 'Gettysburg'.
"We are going to do it as a free DVD, in Dolby 5.1 surround sound. I wrote parts of the song specifically for that. There will be battle sounds, cavalry, cannons will be fired behind you, then explode in front. It will be cool to have a drum roll that goes around your head. It took me a while to persuade SPV to allow me to do this. I'm not sure if it will be included with the new album, or you'll get a coupon, so they can send it to you later."
"I'm a Civil War re-inactor, so there was talk of the band dressing up, with my unit, but right now, I think there won't be any visuals on the screen, while the music is playing. Maybe an explanation that I'll also put in the liner notes, to tell what the long instrumental passages mean, 'This is where the Confederate army is... This is the retreat through the town.' When we do the real Iced Earth DVD, we'll do something (visual), but this is already going to be a VERY expensive freebie."
"We starting mixing at Morrissound on May 19th and have it booked until the 30th. The final master has to be delivered (to SPV), by June 1. Normally we only take a few days, but we've got to do the stereo mix of 'Gettysburg' and the 5.1, that's why we need so much time. Morrissound doesn't even have the equipment for the 5.1 mix. They have to rent it."
Glorious Burden, the debut for new label SPV, is expected this Fall.
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| Thursday, March 27, 2003 - Iced Earth update | Here is an update from Iced Earth's Jon Schaffer on the progress with the new album...
" Next week we begin recording drum tracks and the next IE is fully underway. We will be doing everything but the drums in my studio. The drums and the mix will be done in Tampa at Morrisound. Jim Morris and I will be flying to Prague to record the symphony in mid May as it stands right now. I'm very much looking forward to that. We are kicking around the idea of a full surround sound mix of Gettysburg on the DVD audio format as a bonus disc. We are checking on costs and all that fun stuff now to see if it's possible. I've always wanted to do this and this epic is the perfect choice for it.
Another bit of news is that Larry Tarnowski will no longer be performing in IE. He will continue his studies and we wish him all the best for his future endeavors. There will be a few different guest appearances on the record for the solo's and we will be deciding on a touring replacement in the near future. I'll be making that decision after the recording and will let you know who it will be in the next few months.
Also, we will be auctioning off the IE drum kit for charity on ebay, but it will have to be after the recording due to my intense schedule.
My next post will most likely be after the recording is finished so until then take care and stay metal! "
More information is available at The Official Iced Earth Web Site
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| Monday, March 3, 2003 - Iced Earth update | A very interesting update from Jon Schaffer has been posted at the Official Iced Earth site. A little excerpt:
"...and started writing what I hope will be the biggest and best epic I've ever written. It has, without a doubt, been the most challenging subject matter and emotionally taxing undertaking that I've ever tackled. It will be just about 30 minutes long and told in 3 parts; one for each day of the battle. It will be called Gettysburg (1863) but will consist of 3 songs entitled "The Devil to Pay", "Hold at all Costs", and "High Water Mark." I will be hiring the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra to perform on it, as well as a few parts on a couple of other songs."
Visit The Official Iced Earth Web Site to read the whole thing. You'll find it in the forum section.
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| Sunday, December 8, 2002 - Iced Earth's 'The Glorious Burden' song titles revealed | Iced Earth mastermind Jon Schaffer has revealed several song titles that are set to be included on the group's upcoming "Glorious Burden" CD, due in late spring/early summer.
The guitarist - who is simultaneously working on the material for the sophomore effort from Demons & Wizards, his side project with Blind Guardian's Hansi Kursch - is hoping to begin recording the effort in January, most likely at Tampa's Morrisound Recording, where all of the band's previous albums were tracked.
Among the titles set to appear on "Glorious Burden" are the following:
01. The Reckoning (Don't Tread On Me)
02. Hollow Man
03. And The Anger Flows
04. Honesty and the Damage Done
05. Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death
06. When the Eagle Cries
07. Gettysburg
08. Red Badge of Courage
09. My Life
10. Tale of a Sale
11. Solitude II
12. The Glorious Burden
13. The Opportunist
14. The Haunting
15. This Virus Called Man
16. A Gift Or A Curse?
17. Ignorance is Bliss
18. Deception in the Desert
Schaffer says: "These are working titles and may change slightly. Also, some of these tunes will end up being on Demons & Wizards since I'm working on both simultaneously."
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Information like history, special memories and other things will be added when we get the time.
It will be possible to add comments when we have added more information. | Articles on this site
Album Review - Horror Show
(Tommy)
Album Review - Tribute To The Gods
(Michael)
Album Review - Something Wicked This Way Comes
(Tommy)
Album Review - The Glorious Burden
(Tommy)
Album Review - Night Of The Stormrider
(Tommy)
Album Review - Framing Armageddon, Something Wicked Pt. 1
(Alanna)
DVD Review - Alive in Athens
(Stuart)
Album Review - The Crucible of Man, Something Wicked Pt. 2
(Alanna)
Album Review - Horror Show
(Alanna)
If you like this band then try- Nevermore
- Blind Guardian
- Demons and Wizards
- Eidolon
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