Good debut of the Dream Team Schaffer / Owens

As it is now, the long-awaited and highly anticipated disc of Iced Earth, "Jon's best album" ...
Somewhere under the line you can say he did a damn good job, together with his new best friend Tim "Ripper" Owens (in some fan forums renamed "Iced Ripper") ...
The album impresses with its typical high recognition value, the accounts for Iced Earth. However, Jon ventures into new realms, experimenting around a bit with softer sounds and strings, and then metal but moderate to deliver again the board in front of the head.
I personally think it's a matter of taste, I like it, but I also know that it is not or only partially fallen some IE fans.
Among the songs
Star Spangled Banner: likely to be well known, well implemented in Metal
Declaration Day: a good, fast song that you hear me only after 3-4 x has excited right!
When the Eagle Cries:. Patriotic text on the 11.9, the song itself is not bad, Tim sings soulful, on the album version, it is implemented a little harder, there is a softer version
The Reckoning: already known from the EP, a good, fast track with a screeching, howling Tim at its best, reminiscent of Judas Priest. Unfortunately, I note with Reckoning, that you can not hear it.
Green Face: one of the best songs, the track has a power in itself that will make every metal heart beat faster - unfortunately too short!
Attila: one of the strongest songs on the album, also here as with Greenface an insane power, in the middle of the song is a fast, violent passage that hardly let go a - TOP !!!
Red Baron: a board tough with many fast passages and good riffs, unfortunately in the long run a bit boring.
Hollow Man: also known from EP Reckoning, here are the ghosts, I find the piece beautifully, it's more like a ballad, also it has catchy. Should still but returned with at Horror Show, was
Valley Forge: the track has amazed me, is somewhat atypical IE and then again not very catchy, sat bombproof already at the first hearing, entertaining song that somehow I really like !!! Tim sings well! VF was already on the EP.
Waterloo: was getting used to for me, on closer listening, the song opens but then very quickly, a great song!
When the Eagle Cries unplugged: the other variant of the EP, and other soulful implemented, in my opinion, in chorus with the much missed Matthew Barlow in Background. I like better as Track 03 of this album.
Gettysburg Trilogy:
very brave of Jon to use the orchestra so! Gettysburg is one of the best trilogies and can be heard over and over again. Devil to Pay is the brilliant beginning, Hold at all Costs of strong but beautiful middle and high water mark the tragic end !!! The gunshots and battle impressions are wonderful inserted into the music! Hats off!
See you on tour in Germany in the spring!
Matt, the fans miss you, but Iced Earth are not set with Tim but make class more. One should not compare Barlow only. If you look at IE separately with Tim Owens, the album comes across well.
The artwork of the Limited Edition is outstanding. The pictures on the subject are really well done. The booklet is designed extensive and beautiful.
A tip to all fans: on the German-Iced Earth page on the web you will find many current information and a forum with a lively exchange!
Stay Metal!