As ICED EARTH published the "Dark Saga" album in 1996, this represented retrospectively as a major step towards new musical shores represents. Much had changed, just for once, not the singer, because Matthew Barlow, who had previously been the extremely hard " Burnt Offerings "was sung album, also took on this work safely and convincingly his part. Musically, however, were quite identify significant changes that showed a fracture of the band with their past. In "Dark Saga" can be found with "I Died For You" a true-ballad and the previously ever-present trademark of the band, the "galloping riffing" is no longer discernible. Apart from the primitive conditions for ICED EARTH "Violate" that quickly (and irrelevant) thunders out of the speakers, there is barely faster compositions, the largest part takes place in the mid-tempo range. Compared to all three predecessors of this album seems far less heavy and much more catchy. It is interesting that exactly with this "new" type of music ICED EARTH first began to draw and financial success of its music. That's why it's no surprise that Jon Schaffer had a tendency toward the "Dark Saga" through the music of his successor works. He pushed certainly on larger audience droves, but also lost a large part of individuality that ICED EARTH were differentiated among all the other bands in the genre. "Dark Saga" is a good album. But only good. Outstanding, pioneering and individually are just the predecessors.
