Audio CD review:
Iced Earth - Melancholy

Iced Earth - Melancholy

Band: Iced Earth Title: Melancholy Rating: Release Date: 2001-04-10 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Melancholy 2: Shooting Star - Iced Earth, Rodgers, Paul 3: Watching Over Me 4: Electric Funeral - Iced Earth, Butler 5: I Died for You 6: The Ripper - Iced Earth, Tipton, Glenn 7: Colors

Unnecessary The ballads "Melancholy (Holy Martyr)" and "Watching Over Me" are taken from the Something Wicked CD and the ballad "I Died For You" is taken from the Dark Saga CD. This CD is composed of three ballads, three cover songs and the live track "Colors". The live track "Colors" was recorded from the concerts that produced the Alive in Athens CD. Frankly I am a bit disgruntled that it was not included in the three CD version of Alive in Athens. The song itself comes across very well live. It has an extra measure of energy that is not present in the studio version. The ballads are very good songs in their own right but I think they are more effective when they act as a change of pace to the heavier songs from the CD's they were taken from. That said I am particularly fond of "Watching Over Me" off the "Something Wicked" CD. The use of acoustic guitars at the start of the song is quite effective. The song is a tribute to a friend of John Schaffer's, Iced Earth rhythm guitarist and main song composer, who died in a motorcycle accident. As such the lyrics are quite touching and Matt Barlow, the lead singer delivers a heartfelt and flawless vocal performance. As to the covers there is nothing earth shattering here. I did not like the original "Shooting Star" just your generic classic rock song. Iced Earth rendition although technically perfect does nothing to change that. The cover of Black Sabbath's Electric Funeral is nice but does not improve on the original. That said it's the best of the three covers included here. The same can be said for the cover of Judas Priest's "The Ripper". It is rendered perfectly but is no improvement on the original, especially on the "Unleashed in The East" version. In closing let me say that I am a huge Iced Earth fan. Heck I even own the Dark Genesis box set but I feel that this CD was completely unnecessary. If you are a completist than you'll do like me and purchase it and enjoy it for what it is. If you are a casual fan then don't bother buy the original Iced Earth CD's and the Alive in Athen's CD. Iced Earth's amazing rare stuff! Iced Earth are the kings of true metal. This is really good songs you wont find anywhere else. The EP starts with Melancholy, possibly the best ballad off Something Wicked This Way Comes, and possibly the best Iced Earth song yet. Then there is an amazing Bad Company cover of Shooting Star. I've heard the original before, and Iced Earth's version burns it too the ground. Then there's the very emontial Watching Over Me, which is the best Iced Earth song in concert. Great solo, great lyrics. It RULES! Then the classic Black Sabbath cover Electric Funeral from 1970's Paranoid. I never thought that they could do this, but it's amazing. I died for you is a great balld from The Dark Saga. Excellent intro! And, the Judas Priest classic, The Ripper, from sad Wings Of Destiny. Just perfect! And finally, the best way to hear them live, the live version of Colors from their first album! Such a great E. P. ! I hope you like it too!. Must-have for the Iced Earth completist! If you are an Iced Earth fan (and why wouldn't you be?), this is something you must have. I pity those who aren't willing to plunk down 25 bucks for this import. It includes three of Iced Earth's greatest ballads, three incredible covers, and a live version of "Colors" that was foolishly left off of "Alive in Athens". The covers are all great, better than the originals. The Bad Company cover is the most noteworthy. This was already one of the greatest rock ballads of all time, sung by the very talented Paul Rodgers, but Iced Earth makes it even more incredible. If you need any more proof that Matt Barlow is the greatest vocalist alive, here it is. The Sabbath cover is also done very well. I couldn't really imagine them doing this song, mainly because I couldn't picture anyone but Ozzy singing it, but they do an incredible job with it. I haven't heard Pantera's version, but I'm guessing it's not this good. I'm not sure what to say about the Priest cover, because I wasn't real familiar with that song, but I'm guessing they did a good job. However, I think there are better JP songs they could have done, like "You've Got Another Thing Coming", "Green Manalishi", or my personal favorite, "Breaking the Law" (if Diffuser can do that song as good as they do, imagine what Iced Earth could do with it!), but oh well. Don't let anything stop you from buying this. It is 30 minutes of Heaven. Looks like the next one is "Horror Show". I, for one, cannot wait!. Even better than before!! Ghost of Freedom is a beatiful ballad, and Damien is epic, controversial, and has very cool vocal lines. Iced Earth has done it again, another perfect album from the greatest band ever!! fast and furious songs, like dracula and wolf are incredible. Some blind guardian influence is present here. You can see a complete list of all Iced Earth discography, or go back to the Iced Earth tabs