This album is a continuation of the concept story that had the previous album 'Framing Armageddon found its beginning. First This narrated story was meant as a double CD, but Jon Schaffer said that the fans so well are likely to be overwhelmed, and thus he decided to make two separate albums of it. Whether this decision was made for financial reasons, was placed here then.
After me, the first part Framing Armageddon had not necessarily fallen, because the whole thing was somehow thought too little and the music just is not convincing me, I was really excited about the new album, hoping of course to a certain improvement. After listening to the full promo version I have to say, unfortunately, that rather disappointed me yet The Crucible of Man a little more.
The 15-song-strong concept album begins with the rather unnecessary intro In sacred flames. A choral entry, which offers female choirs and dramatic sounding guitars and violins. Nothing fancy, but of course a must a concept album.
5/10
Properly starts the album until the first real song called Behold The Wicked Child. The title starts with the familiar, melancholy novel Barlows and brings something dramatic with it. A typical Iced Earth song, but completely without the typical staccato riffing and the listener has a sad refrain.
6/10
Minions of the watch is a scarce 2-minute song, in which I can not really decide if it should be on an Interlude or a real song. In any case, this title offers no more than two minutes total boredom, because the melody and the guitar lines do not go to the ear and thus remains a clear pale aftertaste at this track back.
3/10
It continues with The revealing. Another short song which, although better because harder to come off than they were Minions of the watch, but also here for me to do no real red thread on. Same melody, lengthy riffing in the middle part and lyrically not just an overachiever.
4/10
After four songs stood with me already a certain disillusionment, and I wanted to put away the plate already, but then I pulled myself and I consulted the other pieces. With A Gift or a Curse Iced Earth have the first quiet song of the album. Half of the songs live from sparse guitar lines and the last really powerful vocals of Matt Barlow, who on this record sounds in my view, for the first time as before. If the midsection then engage the real guitars, this song really grabs you and makes a wistfully think back to the Something Wicked This Way Comes times. A really good song '
9/10
With Crown of the fall it goes on and Jon Schaffer and Co. can deliver in the plate at least once two strong songs in succession after a disappointing start. Barlow sounds here though partially, like its predecessor or successor and also here one searches in vain for the typical staccato riff. Schaffer seems to have added these Trademark really shelved.
8/10
The dimension Gauntlet offers a double bass thunderstorm and a power metal song of American Art. Choirs, chanting, and once again a dramatic seemingly main riff which unfortunately the catchiness leaves on the track. The senseless riffing in the middle part could have been omitted with security. Sounds to me more like an interlude.
4/10
The centerpiece of the album, the first single I walk alone represents. Probably one of the hardest songs on the record, which counts with its anthemic chorus the best in the entire series Wicked. A really good song that conveys the mood and Barlow's voice additionally highlights. I walk alone is likely to be actually most already known.
9/10
After the short flight of you but somehow brought back to the ground of the facts, since Harbinger of fate can indeed come up with a convincing text and the dramatic chorus somehow knows to please, but really the song is not in the ear canals, which actually is a pity.
6/10
With Crucify The King, the story lyrically slowly approaching its peak. Musically not necessarily. The song is certainly one of the toughest of the album, but with hardship alone to win for a long time no fans. Again, I do not have a certain degree of catchiness, which has always been hallmarks of Iced Earth. Somehow splashes the entire album in front of him, without being able to set real accents.
5/10
Sacrificial Kingdoms remembers back a little of the Glorious Burden disc because Barlow now and change into something greater vocal layers, as in days gone by the Ripper. The chorus goes straight into your ear and elsewhere, these are a relatively convincing speed metal song.
7/10
The patient is increasingly on the rise and with the Wicked Part 3 it reaches its climax. Humanity is sinking in the swamp of evil and has to slowly move to the baptism of fire. For the first time the typical staccato riffing is applied and by supporting the (I assume at least at) canned choir the whole thing sounds not too bad.
7/10
Divide and devour then lays back to a gear. Hard melodic lines reminiscent of old trash times when the principle convincing vocal performance Barlow's no help for it, because this song just does not fit really on the plate. Again, I miss again the central theme, the simple is the most important thing for a concept album.
4/10
With Come Whatever May baptism of fire takes so slow to an end and somehow I am even happy about it because so really I can not make friends easily with this panel. The 7-minute track fits very well as the penultimate song, because somehow the story thus takes an open end on. The stylistic influences in this song are far-reaching, ie that Iced Earth do it again, to pack all their potential skills in a song. Not the over hammer, but a worthy conclusion of the panel.
8/10
Epilogue is then finally the outro technology. Like Song 1 is also this to be nothing special. An instrumental, the oriental anmutet a little, but not really convincing comes along. Certainly not played badly, but simply superfluous.
3/10
That was it. Plate by heard and what can you say. Here remains a clear pale aftertaste. Of course, the concept albums freaks are now again loudly shouting that we must in such a plate not evaluate the songs individually and can, but need to see the album as a whole. As they of course are right, but because of my linear narrative is but a little gone off on this CD, I have decided to enter into individually on each title. The album as a whole is for me no more than average fare that does not want to open up to me really. The idea behind the last two Iced Earth plates was really good, but the musical interpretation leaves in my opinion, but something to be desired.
The Crucible of Man is for me one of the weaker albums of Iced Earth Discography. It has some highlights boast (eg I walk alone), but the many hangover can thus simply not be made up. When you look at albums of other artists of the genre, you simply have to acknowledge without envy that Jon Schaffer has arrived at the peak of his creativity. Too bad, but more than actually quite scarce 3 stars has The Crucible of Man simply does not deserve '
PS: I wanted first awarded only 2 stars, but the ingenious story behind it has, then it made me even more to an additional star!