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The Glorious Burden

Iced Earth - The Glorious Burden Audio CD

A fair review of the Iced Earth "The Glorious Burden" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Iced Earth reviews here, or go back to the Iced Earth tabs.

Band: Iced Earth
Title: The Glorious Burden
Rating:

Release Date: 2004-01-13
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Star Spangled Banner 2: Declaration Day 3: When The Eagle Cries 4: Reckoning (Don't Tread On Me), The 5: Greenface 6: Valley Forge 7: Attila 8: Hollow Man 9: Red Baron/Blue Max Gettysburg (1863) 10: Devil To Pay, The 11: Hold At All Costs 12: High Water Mark

Epic, but not without its weak points.
Now, I heard that Barlow was supposed to be the singer on this album, but when they began recording, he was vocally out of shape and his heart wasn't in it any longer. One of the most notable changes between 'The Glorious Burden' and Iced Earth's previous album, 'Horror Show' is the departure of long-time IE frontman, Matt Barlow, and the introduction of Tim "Ripper" Owens (ex-Judas Priest). Rumor is that you can still hear Matt's vocals in the background on certain tracks (and if you listen carefully, you can definitely can hear some quieter background vocals that sound like Barlow).

For some die-hard IE fans, this change in line up is very hard to swallow. Personally, I loved Barlow's voice, but I also think that Owens has one of the better sets of pipes in metal, and is a welcomed addition to the band. He definitely does the music justice on this album. He has an incredible register and is able to engage the music powerfully at the higher and lower ends with equal vigor. Anyway, onto the music itself. . .

This album was pretty much hit and miss for me. The intro and opening track were pretty good, but things take a turn for the worst with the bland ballad, 'When the Eagle Cries'. There are some pretty dull moments that seem to offer little in terms of variety or interesting melodies/structures. For me, the stand out tracks here are 'The Reckoning' (classic IE), 'Atilla', 'Red Baron/Blue Max', and of course the Gettysburg Saga itself. I heard the 'Waterloo' track off the special edition CD, and I didn't think it was anything special.

As far as the Gettysburg tracks go, they definitely make the album a worthy purchase. The only problem I have with them is the generally weak lyrics and the fact that Schaffer doesn't seem to put the orchestra to work that much. The compositions themselves are brilliant, but it seems he could have done much more with the orchestral arrangements - but hey, I can barely write a three chord song on my acoustic guitar, so I can hardly nail this guy for not being Mozart. .

Finally, Something I Can Sink My Metal Teeth Into
I owned their second album NIGHT OF THE STORMRIDER back in the early 90s and, despite the fact that main man Jon Schaffer is a major riff-master with a unique style, the songs simply weren't very good or memorable. I was never an Iced Earth fan. It was obvious that Schaffer and his band showed a lot of promise, but Jon's songwriting needed more time to mature.

Vocalist Matt Barlow came aboard for the next five studio albums. I never bought any of them solely because I didn't like his voice. He has a distinctive style but it just doesn't do anything for me. And, as we all know, if you don't like the vocalist (or, at least can tolerate him/her) it's hard to like the band as a whole since vocals are such a large part of what makes a band good, bad or ugly.

In 2004 I heard that Tim "Ripper" Owens had joined Iced Earth in replacement of Barlow. Most people know that Owens fronted the NE Ohio band Winters Band (who are still releasing albums) before joining Judas Priest for two CDs. Although I didn't like Owens' work on JUGULATOR (which wasn't his fault, of course) I did like his performance on DEMOLITION and, of course, Winters Bane's HEART OF A KILLER. (Incidentally my former band Rightful Heir opened up for Owens' Judas Priest tribute band in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1995 not long before he joined Judas Priest). Needless to say, I was very interested in hearing what Iced Earth would sound like with Ripper at the helm. Well, I finally picked up the CD.

Upon initially hearing THE GLORIOUS BURDEN (2004) I would pigeonhole Iced Earth's present style as conventional or traditional power metal. The riffs and songwriting remind me of Metallica circa MASTER OF PUPPETS, whereas the vocals and some of the music are reminiscent of (good) Judas Priest. When I say "conventional" I don't necessarily mean it in a bad way (since convention can be either good or bad). It's just that you won't hear anything weird or out-of-the-ordinary on THE GLORIOUS BURDEN like on, say, Agalloch's THE MANTLE or anything from My Dying Bride. The first time I heard the CD I was very pleased but not necessarily blown away, although numerous aspects certainly blew me away. After listening to the CD every day for a week I can now safely assure you that THE GLORIOUS BURDEN is a metal masterpiece of the highest caliber. You name the album -- Metallica's RIDE THE LIGHTENING, Bathory's HAMMERHEART, Agalloch's THE MANTLE -- THE GLORIOUS BURDEN is as good or better! I know that's saying a lot but it's the absolute truth. And if you can't accept this it's because YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH.

Here's a rundown of the songs, which all share the common theme of war with particular stress on America but not exclusively:

(1. ) "Star Spangled Banner. " This is simply an instrumental metal version of America's National Anthem. Too bad Ripper didn't sing the lyrics; that would have been great. Regardless, I always skip it. RATING: 3/5 Stars.

(2. ) "Declaration Day. " This one's obviously about the Revolutionary War. Man, I LOVE that catchy chorus riff. Jon wisely plays the riff without vocals the first time through. I wish he would have done it a few more times. I don't particularly like the background vocals on the chorus, but that's a minor cavil. RATING 4. 5/5 Stars.

(3. ) "When the Eagle Cries. " Emotionally-stirring song about the 9/11 attack. Corny and melodramtic? Hey, it's better than songs like "Gutted Like A Fish" by your average death/black metal morons. RATING 4/5 Stars.

(4. ) "The Reckoning (Don't Tread on Me). " This is the released 'hit' of the CD and features speed metal riffs and ultra-high Halford-like schreeching vocals. I haven't figured out what the song is about yet, although it may relate to Western gunfighting in some way. RATING 4/5 Stars.

(5. ) "Green Face. " This one features more ultra-aggressive, fast riffs. It may be about the marines who fight "on the land, in the air and at sea. " Regardless, the chorus is killer! Ripper yells "Green face" twice while in the background you'll hear a strange build-up of harrowing falsetto vocals. Magnificent! RATING 4. 5/5 Stars.

(6. ) "Valley Forge. " The subject is obvious. It nicely starts out acoustically before the potent chorus kicks in. I love the words to the chorus, which refer to how the average soldier at Valley Forge would look upon present-day America:

"Would he look upon us now in anger and disgust?
His providence, out birthright and our creed
Will we let ignorance and laziness bring our demise?
Complacency, we're blinded by our greed"

It's great to hear such brutal honesty in the metal community today! Let's face it, just about every Revolutionary War Soldier would literally PUKE HIS GUTS OUT if he saw the horrible moral rot of America today. Jon rebukes America's laziness, complacency and greed in the stanza above, but he's being too kind. Allow me to add fuel to the fire: We (as a nation) allow pedophiles the right to write books and websites on how to have 'sex' with children in the name of "freedom of speech" (yeah, right); we commit infantacide by the millions and call it the right to choose (how about the right not to have sex with someone you don't want to have a child with -- aduh); we allow sodomites the right to parade their sick perversions on our streets and convert our youth to their "alternative lifestyle;" we give ruthless cold-blooded murderers a slap on the wrist when they should be wiped off the face of this planet. Need I go on? RATING 4. 5/5 Stars

(7. ) "Attila. " This is another aggressive number about everyone's favorite Hun conqueror. RATING: 4. 5/5 Stars.

(8. ) "Hollow Man. " Powerful and ambiguous lyrics about the war within the heart that every man can relate to on occasion. The chorus is magnificent! All I know is: "I don't want to be a hollow man!!" RATING 5/5 Stars.

(9. ) "Red Baron/Blue Max. " This is an aggressive song about aerial combat in World War I. I don't like the cheesy way "Blue Max" is shouted in the chorus but this is a minor cavil. RATING 4/5 Stars.

(10. ) "The Devil to Pay. " This is the first part of a three-part epic on the battle of Gettysburg, nearly half an hour in length! The orchestration is performed by the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. RATING 5/5 Stars.

(11. ) "Hold at All Costs. " This one emphasizes the Union's victorious stand at Little Round Top and their mad bayonet charge. The chorus is particularly potent and haunting. It'll bring friggin' tears to your eyes -- no lie. RATING: 5/5 Stars.

(12. ) "High Water Mark. " This last song addresses the notorious Pickett's Charge, which ultimately caused the Confederates to retreat back to their own territory (at night in a rainstorm, I might add). This and Grant's victorious siege at Vicksburg, which took place simultaneously, was the turning point of the Civil War. The Confederates put up an incredible and courageous fight but their losses at Gettysburg and Vicksburg were the seeds of their impending doom. The closing riff and orchestration that fades out at the end is particularly notable. RATING: 5/5 Stars.

FINAL ANALYSIS: For one thing Tim Owens utterly blows Matt Barlow out of the water. There really is no comparison. Mr. Schaffer fully realizes this and that's why he got rid of Barlow and promptly enlisted Owens.

This is the understatement of the year but THE GLORIOUS BURDEN is enjoyable from beginning to end. There's not one bad song here, although some are naturally better than others according to one's tastes. The songs are expertly crafted, diverse, full of hooks and memorable. I hate it when I buy a CD and listen to it 5 times or so and then never again (even though I try) like, say, Iron Maiden's A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH (ssssnnnnooooooorrrrrrreeeeee) or Evanescence's THE OPEN DOOR.

Make no mistake, THE GLORIOUS BURDEN is an epic metal masterpiece of the highest order, unless of course you exclusively prefer bands like Cannible Corpse (giggle). I should also add that THE GLORIOUS BURDEN is a timeless piece even though I stated that it has similarities to old Metallica and (good) Judas Priest. Yes, there's a bit of an 80s vibe but the CD's not dated, anymore than timeless albums like MASTER OF PUPPETS or Queensryche's THE WARNING are dated. Besides, can you think of many albums that came out in the 80s that remotely have the scope and expertise of THE GLORIOUS BURDEN? I thought not.

One last thing: One reviewer compared Iced Earth to Blind Guardian. Please. I personally HATE Blind Guardian and their utterly overblown, pretentious brand of toothless "metal. " Whether or not Jon Schaffer is friends with that band or likes their music doesn't matter. Iced Earth HAVE VIRTUALLY NOTHING IN COMMON WITH IMPOTENT BANDS LIKE BLIND GUARDIAN AND SOUND NOTHING LIKE THEM (no offense to fans of Blind Guardian, of course). .

DAAMN!
Iced Earth came back from a 'tragedy' for they had to fire Matt Barlow. This Glorious album is surely not a burden in my standards. He (IMO) was the better of all the singers for Iced Earth for he had heart and passion in his singing. But the second best singer for Iced Earth has definetly got to be this guy here, Tim "Ripper" Owens. He previously sang for Judas Priest after they broke up with Rob Halford. Luckily for us, Tim is much better in Iced Earth than in Priest.

Now to the album. This album has got everything that makes Iced Earth, well. . . Iced Earth. They have a distinguished sound thats hard to explain unless listened to. This is a great album with thrashy riffs and melodic outburts. This is one of the few albums that have made me smile in a while . The other albums would probably be AMOLAD by Maiden and Hate Crew Deathroll by Chidlren of Bodom.

Now you may be asking 'why would this guy be saying that it is a great album if he only gave it 4 stars?' This is because well, some songs are a bit cliched at times and some songs just don't sound that good. And like some albums artists have made, some songs are just 'filler'.

But this shouldn't stop you from buying this album. I was hesitant to buy this album after hearing that Matt left, but it isn't really a downfall for the band. It's more like a new start.

So please get this album and i can almost guarantee that most of you guys out there will love this album.

Fav Tracks: Star Spangled Banner/Declaration day
When the Eagle Cries
Greenface
Atilla
The Devil to pay/Hold at all costs/High Water Mark

Highly Recomended.

Military History Metal Opera Wins the Day
It's a winner because the song writing is superb; the vocals--well, it's Tim "Ripper" Owens--and the musicianship, excellent. The Glorious Burden is a masterpiece! I'm not normally enamored with the concept of the "concept album" but this one, based around various (mostly American) wars and the history thereof, is a winner. This album is so well put together, so intelligent, and dare I say. . . at times, so moving. . . that it absolutely deserves the five-star rating I'm giving it. And I don't give out that many. Well done, Iced Earth. Well done, Ripper. And by the way, I first heard this CD through a listening center at Tower Records. . . farewell, old friend. Farewell. -Buy the CD; crank it up; allow yourself to be inspired.

Jon Schaffer waves the flag
To my surprise, he did a pretty good job (though it didn't hurt that Barlow provided some excellent backing vocals), and the Glorious Burden's shortcomings have nothing to do with his performance. I have to admit I was nervous when I heard former Judas Priest fill-in Tim "Ripper" Owens was taking over as lead vocalist for Iced Earth, since Matt Barlow's distinctive vocals were the reason I was an Iced Earth fan to begin with.

What tends to drag the album down a bit is Jon Schaffer's over-the-top patriotism. His sentiments are admirable, but his flag-waving could end up alienating the large segment of the group's fan base that is not American. Songs like When the Eagle Cries (which basically sums up all of those patriotic bumper stickers that showed up post 9-11) and Valley Forge (where Schaffer explains how the soldiers who fought that historic battle would be disgusted at modern Americans) are almost too cheesy to be taken seriously. The Reckoning and Green Face suffer from this to a lesser extent, but are easier to forgive since they flat-out rock, and are full of those Schaffer riffs that define Iced Earth's sound. Other standout tracks on disc 1 include Hollow Man, Attila, and Waterloo, which is not a cover of the Abba song of the same name (though that might have been more interesting). Red Baron/Blue Max is decent, but never comes close to the original ode to fighter pilots - Iron Maiden's Aces High. The limited edition release of the Glorious Burden closes out disc 1 with the acoustic version of When the Eagle Cries, which was previously exclusive to the single release of the Reckoning.

Disc 2 contains the 3-part 30+ minute epic Gettysburg (1863). You can tell Jon Schaffer put his heart and soul into this one, and for the most part it really works. It has some great arrangements, powerful guitar work, and having an orchestra accompany the band is a nice touch. The lyrics get a little cheesy at times, and Owens' delivery is sometimes too melodramatic, but overall it is an impressive piece that helps to make up for some of the shortcomings on disc 1.

Overall, the Glorious Burden is a decent album. It has its flaws, but also has its share of high points. I don't think it's the career-defining epic that Schaffer intended it to be (that honor goes to the band's Something Wicked This Way Comes album), but it is a solid release that should appeal to most Iced Earth fans. .

You can see a complete list of all Iced Earth discography, or go back to the Iced Earth tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.