February 3, 2004 THE RETRIEVER WEEKLY FEATURES Page 15 Iced Earth’s Latest: Rousing, But is it History or Jingoism?

DOUGLAS MILLER Trilogy.” Perhaps so the band does not thrash riffs altogether and end up sound- strongest vocal performance of any Iced Retriever Weekly Editorial Staff look totally biased, Europe gets a few ing even more like Iron Maiden that Earth album since Night of the throwaway songs: “Attila,” “Red usual. Stormrider. Some of Schaffer’s lyrics get Iced Earth stays true to form on The Baron/Blue Max,” and “Waterloo.” There is one downright fast track, pretty cheesy, but overall the material is Glorious Burden, a potentially controver- With the exception of “When the “The Reckoning,” which of course fea- the best the former Judas Priest singer sial album that marks a change in direc- Eagle Cries,” the music to The Glorious tures that familiar whump-whump thrash Owens has ever been given to work with, tion for the popular American metal Burden shows Iced Earth to be near top riff that Jon Schaffer has been recycling and he simply tears up the map. group. Generally considered America’s form. The band has never been particu- for over 10 years. However, this is one of The most hyped element of The last bastion for classic-styled heavy larly original, with a core sound that his more exciting versions of this song Glorious Burden is the 30 minute long metal, Iced Earth has abandoned the fan- resembles Iron Maiden and Metallica yet, thanks in so small part to Richard “Gettysburg Trilogy” that concludes the tasy/sci-fi themes of their previ- album. Despite clever moments ous work and embraced history – and clearly the expenditure of a mostly that of the United States. lot of money, the end results are This album also marks the debut less exciting than they should of powerful new vocalist Tim be. Schaffer hired the Prague Owens (formerly of Judas Philharmonic Orchestra to give Priest), who is actually the his work a grand feel, but the band’s fourth singer. orchestral arrangements are The events of September 11, unimaginative and could have 2001 had a profound affect on easily been faked on a keyboard. Iced Earth, prompting the band His lyrics explain the events of to start opening live shows with the three day battle reasonably the national anthem, and suppos- effectively, but occasionally edly convincing then vocalist come off a little clunky – espe- Matt Barlow to leave the music cially when vocalist Tim Owens business with the goal of pursu- is forced to “act” as various ing a career in homeland securi- characters. Musically, the whole ty. It was in that spirit that gui- trilogy remains a strictly mid- tarist/band leader Jon Schaffer tempo affair that never builds up decided to write the new Iced the momentum it needs to truly Earth album. be as interesting. Iced Earth’s The Glorious Burden opens rather limited compositional with a surprisingly faithful skills are at fault, deflating an metal-guitar version of “The idea that sounds amazing on Star-Spangled Banner” before paper. Nevertheless, the piece flowing into the first song, remains engaging, but far less so “Declaration Day.” This opening than other more traditional Iced track sets the tone for album: a Earth epics like “Dante’s one-sided exploration of a turbu- Inferno.” lent event in American history. If Jon Schaffer’s overdone It only gets sillier with the nationalistic flag waving is over- next song, a sappy September 11th looked or taken as camp, The power-ballad called “When the Glorious Burden ends up a high- Eagle Cries.” With a first verse ly enjoyable slab of classic that includes the lines “The inno- heavy metal. You are not going cent suffered hell’s inferno / A to learn much real history by lis- senseless act that goes unforgotten tening to this album, but the idea / How could they? / They will of singing about famous histori- pay,” this song is clearly aimed at cal conflict is relatively unique, the same audience that keeps buying Toby mixed together. Over the last couple of Christy’s mad drumming and Tim and is certainly a welcome departure Keith records. It might have been tolerable albums the band has been reducing the Owens’s impassioned vocals. from typical power metal dungeon & had it been released October 2001, but now speed and thrash in its sound for more In fact, screamer Tim Owens easily dragon themes. the song just feels trite. melody, and that pattern continues here. rips through the entire record, evaluating The Glorious Burden is a little Other subjects addressed include an Tracks like “Greenface” and “Attila” a lot of the lesser songs like “Red uneven at times, but overall this is proba- old west shootout in “The Reckoning,” a fit comfortably in the standard Iced Earth Baron/Blue Max” in the process. Owens bly Iced Earth’s best album since 1995’s tribute to Vietnam veterans in power/thrash hybrid blueprint, and has a voice far more suited to this melod- Burnt Offerings. With new vocalist Tim “Greenface,” a reminder of the suffering should please fans of the more aggressive ic style of heavy metal than the band’s Owens, the band is clearly prepared to Revolutionary war soldiers endured in sound of the group. However, songs like former singer (though he lacks the same carry their message of “true” heavy metal “Valley Forge,” and “The Gettysburg “Valley Forge” and “Waterloo” forgo conviction), and probably delivers well into the future.

Kilroy Was Here! David Somerville