Never before have I a musician so much desired financial success as Jon Schaffer, the - well-known - guitarist and main songwriter of ICED EARTH (IE). In 1990 when he released his debut album ICED EARTH published (I then learn to MTV by the "Headbanger's Ball" of it), was for me the world is no longer as it was before. Such intense, melodic and at the same time heavy music I had never heard. Ever since this band a special status occupies with me. And also, when I first had my problems, as the guys with NIGHT OF THE STORMRIDER with John Greely for a new singer presented (Gene Adam, who had sung the debut, was in Jons Eyes never good enough for his band), All songs, especially the legendary, dark and atmospheric-diversified "Travel firmed after repeated listening my view. Today, I'm ready to say that I would describe this as the masterpiece of IE. In Stygian ", let me get goosebumps every time the disc is rotating in my CD player. Despite excellent reviews in music magazines all the financial success of Jon Schaffer and his boys did not come. . Then three years bitter wait for the next album, simply sweetened by the meager performances as part of the "Die For The Riders" tour with Blind Guardian by small German halls Musically considered tragic: John Greely is from Schaffer "unmasked" as a racist and out the band kicked! The band nearly breaking due to personal and not least financial problems. Finally, "Burnt Offerings" appears - again with a new singer Matthew Barlow received by Jon micro pressed into his hand (and should it indeed up to the recordings of this, the reviewed album no longer give) The music was even harder, darker!. become strengthened set to double bass drumming - thank goodness the music was still superior to almost all other metal bands on the planet Although Barlow (still) could not reach the class of his predecessor (and never achieved in my eyes has -. although he clearly the better entertainer and "Frontman" was), so you could close the disc after a few runs, especially because of the excellent 16 minutes Tracks "Dante's Inferno" in his heart. 1996 pointed then to the turn. "The Dark Saga" was released and began the stylistic break Schaffer with his past. "Burnt Offerings" was also not become a mega-sellers. What has to be taken place in this man, who published three gods albums and his well-deserved "fruits" could not enter? It makes you think almost forcibly to outstanding artists such as Picasso or Mozart, who during his lifetime were also poor church mice. Musically though still very good had something changed -. just for once not the singer, it took a long time until I found out it Schaffer refrained from this album almost entirely to a particular trademark, which have identified his previous albums -. I'll call it, the "galloping riffing". Was obtained by driven to the previous albums downright through the individual songs almost ecstatic, as was "Dark Saga" though still "hard" but not nearly as majestic as the predecessor. Hardness was now not produced by the magnificent double-barreled guitars of men Schaffer / Shawver, but by - primitive conditions for IE -. Double bass drumming (eg "Violate") With "I Died For You" still draufgepackt a beautiful ballad, all songs in the mid-tempo range and "hey presto", a much commercial IE troupe was born. I do not insinuating Schaffer to have acted out of purely commercial considerations so. A pity, however, that were only known through this plate IE in public. But the fact is - I'm talking about here actually for my entire circle of friends - that Dark Saga is the last album, which we still really like to hear. The follow-up albums (consequently without Randy Shawver as second composer) tended then - no surprise there - all of them in the more commercial direction. Hardness was slowly but surely replaced by bombast, really lacked virtuoso, driving guitars. The same development took the way with the same time also Blind Guardian, the yes with all Schaffer - especially Hansi - are good friends. So after I have encountered many new fans probably only once on the head, I will (finally) get rid of my two cents also to "The Glorious Burden". First of all, I can not understand all the bleating of Tim Owens. These are an exceptional singer who really what on the box and Matthew Barlow more than can hold a candle, but it is also clear -.. the music goes with the new singer and a small break in style accompanied learned If you such a long time to appreciate a singer, then drops a change not easily (after all, I speak from personal experience). Who "... Something Wicked" well found the previous albums from which should give purely from the musical side of this album a chance. Those who like me love only the old panes of IE are (once again) disappointed. What Jon Schaffer, for I always cherished so much sympathy, but has lost definitively with me, its just as stupid cheesy to be designated, patriotistischen texts with which the audience (who takes the trouble to read the booklet) successively tortured becomes. Maybe it's because I'm not a very patriotistischer man. So it's not clear to me how you can be proud of a country or that one American, German or who knows what. You can be proud of what you have achieved self, has thus made a contribution. If have won at the Olympics German athletes a medal, I was happy for them! But you can be proud !? What bothers me is not that the album dealing thematically with the American Civil War (on the contrary - is a welcome change to the usual occult or fantasy-the inspired lyrics), but to let the plate with a "metal" version start the American national anthem and content to praise a country so to the skies that today einpfercht still Indians in reservations, prisoners can get no rights but torture on Guantanamo, people after 3 small offenses infected for life in jail ("3-strikes-and-you-are- out policy ", so at least in some states) and reserves the right to even forcibly liberate American POWs, the Supreme Court should in Geneva they deem guilty ... So no, this is Jon Schaffer ideologically (unfortunately) on the same rail as the people who are for a so-called. "holy war" in the desire blow. blinkers thinking I call. Conclusion: Fans newer IE albums that do not interfere with the stupid lyrics should, in particular, give this album a chance and Tim Owens. Fans of the older albums do not even listen. The galloping riffing belongs to the past. Bombast where you listen. I would give the album just one star (rounded because of the lyrics). But that's not very objective, so I keep my rating neutral. 3 stars for Jon Schaffer's newest "work". More is not in it.
