Iced Earth are, in my opinion, the best power metal band ever. Their music is unmathched. They are just incredible.

DAYS OF PURGATORY
9.2

Iced Earth are a power/speed metal band out of Florida that are absolutely incredible, but hardly anyone from America has heard of them. It is sad that the American public has been brainwashed into thinking that metal is no longer cool and that alternative music is the way to go now. Well, I say fuck being cool, these guys are awesome and I am going to listen to them. Day's Of Purgatory is a compilation of some older Iced Earth songs with new voice and drum tracks. Basically all they did was improve on their already awesome work. This is the first Iced Earth cd that I got and it imediately won me over. It is the perfect cd for someone who is curious about Iced Earth to find out what they are about. There is not a bad song on here, and there are at least 5 classics. Stormrider and When The Night Falls are very fast in your face, Pure Evil and Nightmares are incredible power metal songs, and Enter The Realm and Solitude provide you with beautiful instumental fillers between thrashing. Colors and Desert Rain are also excellent songs. Iced Earth are head and shoulders above most metal bands. I would even compare them Iron Maiden, who are masters of heavy metal. I am sure you are wondering what makes this band so great. Well, in my opinion the three things that make Iced Earth so awesome are the singers (Mathew Barlow) incredible voice, founding member Jon Schaffer's incredible guitar playing ability, and the song writing ability of Schaffer. Without these things, they would be like any other metal band. With them, they are ICED EARTH.

Best Songs: Pure Evil, Nightmares, When The Night Falls

SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES
9.4
This one of the best metal cd's I have ever heard, maybe even the best. There is not one thing wrong with this cd, in fact, there is nothing less than perfect here. Solid guitar work and powerful vocals make this cd incredible, but what pushes it over the top is the awesome songwriting of Jon Schaffer. There is no better songwriter in heavy metal today. The lyrics show his extreme intelligence and they have emotional meanings as well.Without a doubt, I would have to say that my favorite song is Watching Over Me. The first thing that grabbed me about this song was the great guitar work(both electric and acoustic). After a few more listens I really got into the lyrics. They tell a story about someones friend dying and how much he misses them, but he knows that person is "watching over him." These lyrics moved me so much that I began searching the internet to find out what inspired Schaffer to write this song. On the Official Iced Earth Webpage(which you can now access from my links) Schaffer states that this song is written in memory of his friend who died in a motorcycle accident when they were sixteen years old, and to his friends family whom he promised he would write a song for when his band got big. He came through with a true masterpiece. Another amazing work of songwriting magic here is the Something Wicked Triology. Each of the songs have their own personality but fit perfectly together. Anyone who considers themselves a true metal fan must go out and buy this cd if they don't have it. It is a classic.

Best Songs: Watching Over Me, Prophecy, Melancholy(Holy Martyr)

ALIVE IN ATHENS
9.3
Buying a live cd has always been a very risky thing to do. Lots of things can go wrong on them. The sound quality could be bad, the music could be buried under screams of the audience, and the band themselves could screw up. But, you will find none of these problems on Iced Earth's live cd, Alive In Athens. In fact, I can't find anything wrong with this cd. It is one of the most incredible live cd's I have ever heard in my life! They blaze through every song with perfect precision, with some of the songs being even faster than their original recordings! I like the live version of Pure Evil better than the original version! They also do great jobs on Angels Holocaust and Stormrider. The thing that really just blows me away though, is the fan reaction! They get into every song! You can really hera them on the slower songs like Watching Over Me and Melancholy. I can definately tell why they chose Greece as the place to record this live album. The only thing about this cd that I would change is the inclusion of The Path That I Choose. Don't get me wrong, they do a good job on it, I just think it sounds a little to much like Stormrider. But, that is just my opinion, everyone else may love that song. Anyways, the point I am trying to make to you is this. Go buy this cd right now! You heard me, get up off your ass, get in your car, and go get this cd! It is one of the greatest live recordings by any band, and you are a fool if you don't get it.

Best Live Versions of songs: Pure Evil, Stormrider, The Prophecy

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