R.I.P. Iced Earth

[Spivonious]

Coming back to Tarnowski, it's my understanding that Jon is such a control freak that he writes all of the guitar parts, including the solos, and even records them himself. So, in effect, IE is Jon with a touring band.

My favorite lead guy from IE was the original. He had a very unique note choice. Check out anything from Stormrider for examples.

[DC_rhoads82]

stormrider is definately a solid album.

[horns666]

Coming back to Tarnowski, it's my understanding that Jon is such a control freak that he writes all of the guitar parts, including the solos, and even records them himself. So, in effect, IE is Jon with a touring band.

My favorite lead guy from IE was the original. He had a very unique note choice. Check out anything from Stormrider for examples.

I heard that from the source..not in those those terms tho..Whenever I speak with Tim about IE or JP, at that time (seldom)..he keeps it breif and says "That's their band, they write, and I just sing"..

I watched the entire Live In Athens CD with my bud Ty last night..and he was singing along with it all night.

We were shocked ..we always thought that gig was a HUGE event. Well, it sounds huge..but it was a pretty small venue, a small stage..no more than a local club with the capacity of approx 1500 people. We always thought this was an outdoor event with like around 5000 people.

In '98..we played a venue about that size, the fire marshall was there to check it , because it was packed. every knows and loves VH. All were were was a VH trib. I looked at a flyer and and freaked that Iced Earth played the night before. At the time I just discovered them, and was my favorite new band at that time. Nobody heard of them. I showed my band, but they didn't care. I never check local listings because I worked and played out alot. I didn't know they were in town..I couldn't make the show anyway . So I asked the owner of the place. "Hey how was the Iced Eartjh show last night?"..he replied.."There wasn't more than 50 people here, I paid them out of my pocket to pay them"..I couldn't believe it, and thought it was a damn shame. That quickly changed..shortly afterwards, they drew full capacity crowds whenever they came to town.

After watching the DVD We discoverd Larry is such as mediocre player, with a very thin, "tweezy" tone, but it cut thru the mix. The bassist is awesome, very good drummer, the "magic" was the combo of Schaffer and Barlow. They were Iced Earth..everyone else is could be replace and eventualy were. We also realized Iced Earth is VERY Metallica and Maiden influenced. Schaffer is much like the old James Hetfield, even similair attire and style, and lots of gallops, and harmonies..The audio is very very good. but surprised of the small venue. The sound is huge, and it's a classic, and very popular event. That's prolly what gave us that impression.

I saw Ripper with IE in his hometown, when he just joined..he was on his game and did a very good job, we were proud of him. There were moments when doing the classics we missed Barlow..like "Melocholy", ..Barlow has a much deeper tone, with his soulful sig. That can be expected by anyone covering it..

I'll buy the new IE when its released to suppport the band. I thought the remake of the SWTWC trilogy was terrible IMO..compared to the original..anyone with "hearing" would acknowledge that. whether an old or new fan or a new listener.

I didn't like most of TGB, there is two songs on it I liked but Barlow is singing background vocals on both..

Jon and Tim have been together working for a while, so the new material may be pretty good..we shall see.

Bill Z

[horns666]

I heard Santolla a bit on the new Deicide. When I saw him live with IE...YUCK. Totally squeaky. People all around me winced when he played.

Oh really man, He sounds good on the cd. I didn't like his tone when he played with Iced Earth either. I thought that he was trying to sound like Larry so it would sound more true to form..I guess. But I guessed wrong I suppose.

Well that sucks. I seen alot of guys sound lame with great tone on the cd....that blows

[pott]

Who plays guitar on Horror Show then? Some of these riffs are absolutely brilliant.

[Soap]

I've only heard one of their tunes and it was merely an accident so to speak.
I stumbled across it.
Either the song or album (concept) was about the civil war, if I recall correctly.
I most certainly can be wrong cause its definitely been awhile ago. Hard to remember exactly.
Anyhow, the guitars had a strong maidenish and priestly flavor.
I maybe mistaken, if I remember correctly Tim may have been doing the vocals. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the tune very much. The guitars weren't sloppy, but very tight and intricate. As much as the guitars grabbed you by the nuts, to me it was more organic like. You were building up to something, which was very deliberate tasteful writing imo. The vocals, guitars and drums all complemented each other and flowed naturally.
Again, that takes a good ear and good writing to make that happen.
I was impressed and enjoyed the song alot.
I thought to myself, this band is very talented and the downside I was thinking, no decent label will pick them up and work for them. Thus, the sad part, these deserving talent musicians aren't gonna get no recognition and remain unheard of. Too bad, cause I really enjoyed that particular tune i heard, they were definitely on to something and going in the right direction with it.

[Nuclear Vampire]

I'm not too keen on the EP either, Bill. I don't care for how the tunes were rearranged and Tim doesn't have that certain spark in his performance. The new song is okay, but nothing special. I'm gonna reserve my judgment until the album is out though. It may kick some serious ass.

[Inearthed]

Iced Earth with Tim Owens = fucking terrible.

When I saw them live with Owens it was really bad. Santolla played probably some of the most uninspiring leads with a shrill tone (I was amazed when I saw him with Deicide, he ruled). Owens basically went through the catalogue butchering song after song. He can sing the old stuff well but the Barlow Era stuff was horrible. He has no sense of dynamics it was either him almost talking or doing a prolonged bitch scream. When he wasn't singing, he'd go to the side of the stage, wipe his face with a towel and spray some vocal ease down his throat. The Gettysburg trilogy on tour was so fucking boring I just walked out and waited in my car for some friends of mine.

Glorious Burden a big old steamer. The only thing worse than that album is that atrocious album of covers they released in that boxed set. That REALLY sucked.

The new song on the EP sounds like a Glorious Burden B side and the re-recorded stuff is terrible other than the excellent lead work. The first song in the re-recorded trilogy has plenty of changes that completely wrecked the song. I remember Schaffer bitching about Century Media doing a money grab for the Alive In Athens DVD... A money grab is re-recording material that already sounded amazing with shittier production, a few changes in some of the song and a weaker singer.

[Number Of The Priest]

The only thing worse than that album is that atrocious album of covers they released in that boxed set. That REALLY sucked.

Awww, I actually liked some of the covers. Jon's tone was consistently HUGE on that album.

[Venomboy]

Jon didn't want the Alive in Athens DVD released. He said it has shitty camera work and the overall visual quality is just bad. Too much smoke, not enough good shots, etc. Right before it came out there was a story on bravewords.com in which Jon was warning people about the DVD and not to expect anything great from it.

[Spivonious]

I never knew until watching the video that it's Schaffer who sings on Stormrider. I always thought it was Barlow. Why doesn't he just sing all of the songs instead of having Tim do it?

[joshulator]

I'm obviously in the significant minority here, but I love The Glorious Burden. I like Tim's vocals, the choruses are stronger, plus the songwriting seems tighter and wanders less. I did find Gettysburg (sp?) to be boring.

Just my opinion.

[DC_rhoads82]

I liked the Glorius Burden as well. There's no denying Ripper is a solid vocalist.

[horns666]

I'm obviously in the significant minority here, but I love The Glorious Burden. I like Tim's vocals, the choruses are stronger, plus the songwriting seems tighter and wanders less. I did find Gettysburg (sp?) to be boring.

Just my opinion.

The choruses are sung by Barlow ..umm keep that in mind!

Yeah Tim is a very solid singer..but does NOT have the Soul/Emotion of Barlow in that camp..Tim has the fire and..the scream, and scream he will.

[pagemalicious]

I haven't really liked Iced Earth since Matt Barlow left. Matt was perfect for IE in everyway. He has a voice that you can easily recognise and the emotion and control he had on his voice can only be matched by a hand full of singers. Rippers is good but doesn't really stand out to me.

Tim Mills is probably THE best lead guitarist to have ever been in IE too. I've met him a few times, played through his gear, bought his pickups and spoken to him quite a bit about him being in Iced Earth, what the guys were like and he even loved my band when we were doing well. It's a shame he had to leave.