What an album this is! I'd never really had much confidence in Iced Earth as they always seemed to me like they went through singers like a couch potato through a bag of chips. But Matthew Barlow proves that he is the man for this band on this excellent album.

The album starts as it means to continue - a melodic intro leads into a blistering power metal assault of galloping rhythm guitars, screaming vocals and drums pounding fast and hard enough to cause head injuries. The opening song, Colors, proves the bands mettle in the best possible way, blazing a hard path to follow.

The second Cd, unfortunately, doesn't quite live up to the standard of the first, although it does contain the exquisitely sung Burnt Offerings, the bands anthem Iced Earth and the beast song they ever made, Dante's Inferno. Nonetheless, the rest of the second CD is fairly unremarkable.

Finally, for all those posers who accuse this band of being too "old school" this album should provide excellent proof that Iced Earth are now more than capable of holding their hairy heads up high amongst the best modern metal bands out there. I warn you again - DO NOT dismiss this band as being old school - this is heavy enough to break you.



Recommended: Yes