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August 29, 2008 |
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ICED EARTH - The Glorious Burden (Limited Edition 2 CD)
SPV / Steamhammer (2004) |
10/10 |
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Disc 1
01. The Star-Spangled Banner
02. Declaration Day
03. When The Eagle Cries
04. The Reckoning (Don't Tread On Me)
05. Greenface
06. Attila
07. Red Baron/Blue Max
08. Hollow Man
09. Valley Forge
10. Waterloo
11. When The Eagle Cries (Unplugged) (Bonus Track)
Disc 2
Gettysburg (1863)
01. The Devil To Pay
02. Hold At All Costs
03. High Water Mark
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Musically speaking, "The Glorious Burden" is traditional-sounding ICED EARTH, but Jon Schaffer shifts his writing towards a deeper subject matter that makes this album something much different in comparison to past releases. "The Glorious Burden" takes us on a journey through world history, recollecting several past and recent events that have had a profound impact on humanity, and portrays the struggles endured by the men who fought and died to give us the freedom we now live in. Tales of war, courage, sorrow and victory all come together to form the theme of this outstanding production.
The album opens with a very nice Schaffer-styled version of the patriotic anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner" which then leads right into "Declaration Day". This track has a killer rhythm and the guitar solo is mint! The powerful ballad "When The Eagle Cries" is about 9/11 and describes the strength of unbreakable will and unity. My favorite song on the album, "The Reckoning (Don't Tread On Me)", is a prime example of what Tim Owens is capable of and why Jon Schaffer offered him the gig to begin with. Owens' very impressive vocal range and screaming ability combined with Schaffer's quick riffing and the double-kicking insanity of Richard Christy make this lightning-fast titan the highlight of the album.
"Attila" starts off with a battle-cry type intro and then builds right into an aggressive thrasher. Right near the end of this one, Owens unleashes a commanding scream that just paralyzes you where you stand/sit. "Red Baron/Blue Max" is another beautiful fast one - lots of great riff exchanges and double-bass galore. Probably one of the greatest displays of Schaffer's and Owens' combined effort is in "Waterloo". I love the way Owens utilizes the full capacity of his vocal talent and the guitar work just sends chills up my spine.
The Limited Edition version contains a second CD with the 32-minute masterpiece "Gettysburg (1863)". The three-part epic centers around the time of the American Civil War, specifically telling the story of the great battle that took place over the course of three days in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in 1863. You can definitely see the amount of time, effort and passion Jon Schaffer put into this composition (which he wrote entirely himself) when you listen to this song. It is simply amazing! He even hired the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra to perform certain parts, which really added to bringing Schaffer's vision to life. In the third and final part, "High Water Mark", Schaffer offered some of his vocal talents as well, playing the role of the character General Longstreet. The inclusion of the cannon and gunfire sounds in the background gives the entire song that extra added sense of realism as well.
There is really only one word to summarize this album - REMARKABLE! Plain and simple! Even after several times listening to this CD, I am still rendered speechless, and I can honestly say that there is not one bad song on this album. "The Glorious Burden" is a flawless achievement for ICED EARTH and should be nominated for both a Grammy and album of the year, without question. I commend Jon Schaffer for what I would call his finest work, and he and the band should be given all the credit they deserve for their efforts.
Enough said - go and buy the album! I highly recommend getting the Limited Edition version though. It contains the additional tracks "Waterloo" and "When The Eagle Cries (Unplugged)", which are both way too good to miss out on, not to mention a nice booklet with amazing artwork and some words written by Jon Schaffer himself.
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