On FRAMING ARMAGEDDON is about a (probably) fictional race (The Setians), which were bloodily suppressed and subjected to thousands of years ago by the people. The Council of Elders saw the inevitable coming and grabbed a counter strategy: "the Setians" gave people the religion and incited them to so against each other in order to wait for the coming of the Redeemer - scarce 10,000 years. So much for the story, you will also not reveal everything.
And now to the, what is at ICED EARTH is all about: the music. JON SCHAFFER made again up some himself, so he is responsible for the guitars (Of course!), Bass (at least mostly) and some vocals responsible. The drums play BRENT SMEDLEY and the song takes for the second time (after The Glorious Burden) again TIM 'RIPPER' OWENS (ex-JUDAS PRIEST). The debate about whether the migrated OWENS MATT BARLOW can replace equivalent is pointless and should therefore not be out here. Only one thing: Ripper is a very versatile singer, who of course frequently as his idol Rob Halford sounds, but also can quite different from what he has already shown in The Glorious Burden and here proves again.
The music is typical ICED EARTH, the guitars screech and saw so much steel that it is a great joy. The riffing is just typical SCHAFFER and would probably also be seen on a Banjo again. OWENS sings the hell out of them (even if some fans like the voice is not so good to use one must first bring). The quality of the songs is usual brilliant.
Among the 19 tracks to hide 11 real songs that others are instrumental pieces or sent intertwined transitions between songs. Of course, this goes SCHAFFER sometimes certain risks, so he had previously begun no album with a percussion / cello intro and also finished yet no other with Arab female vocals. Even otherwise, there are some risks, like perhaps alienate the old fans, but the courage of certainly financially bedded not necessarily on roses SCHAFFER arrives here already earned considerable respect. Much easy it would be to copy the old stuff, but this temptation resists SCHAFFER with the eleven songs fortunately:
Something Wicked: is a very fitting reef and baffling piece that introduces very well in the plate, definitely not for headbangers, because it would be difficult to keep up with the rhythm.
Setian MASSACRE: sets tempo-wise something extra, nice thrashy, with hymnal chorus.
A CHARGE TO KEEP: a hammer-song with beautiful abgestopptem guitar riff, to the clean guitar melodies pearls like fine champagne, also a monster chorus, is guaranteed a live firecracker at concerts.
TEN THOUSAND STRONG: such a kickstart goes the song immediately forward and also knows as a result hardly breathers, including, that's ICED EARTH-Metal, as it should be, I hear again a large choir in the background? Yes, here is padded, not spilled.
ORDER OF THE ROSE: Who can revolve the head here not from 1 second, is probably already dead or Johannes Heesters The song swells again and again with the song before it is again easy runtergeschrubbt only rock hard in the verse..
THE Clouding: Is the best of the album and with almost ten minutes and the longest track. Five and a half minutes a tear oppressive ballad before here too heavy guitars take command. And OWENS sings with such feeling that all discussions about his person would immediately cut.
INFILTRATE AND Assimilate: up-tempo rocker that seamlessly joins and then picks up where the heavy-Part has ceased from THE Clouding.
RETRIBUTION THROUGH THE AGES: driving the pace a little, again very anthemic chorus in the chorus.
THE DOMINO DECREE: has a slight DEEP Purple- or URIAH HEEP flair by the prominent use of a Hammond B3 organ and stands out first by before the song briefly pure wickedness sprayed, and then again turn pivot in a polyphonic choir. Crazy how ICED EARTH such emotion changes create within a few seconds.
FRAMING ARMAGEDDON: a typical ICED EARTH riff-monster, in which even the neck muscle pain by listening and no leg may be calm again.
WHEN STARS COLLIDE (HE IS BORN): to wind down a mid-tempo song that perhaps leaves the least impression.
Overall FRAMING ARMAGEDDON is (Something Wicked Part I) a very strong album by the band to JON SCHAFFER become and will create legitimate expectations on the announced second part. So can and is allowed to continue it.
