Iced Earth (album)
Encyclopedia
Iced Earth is the eponymous debut album
by American
heavy metal
band Iced Earth
. It was released in November 1990 internationally and February 1991 in North America
. The original release of this album had three different covers (a worldwide cover, a European cover and a Japan
ese cover). This album was Mike McGill's only album with Iced Earth, as well as the last for singer Gene Adam
. Like the album's successor Night of the Stormrider
, Iced Earth follows a more traditional thrash metal
sound, rather than the power metal
direction the band would follow after Matt Barlow
had joined. Iced Earth would stick to the power metal formula until Barlow left the band, with his replacement Tim Owens singing in a style reminiscent of both genres.
Iced Earth's first three albums (this album, Night of the Stormrider
, and Burnt Offerings
) were remastered in 2001, and each had a new cover.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Iced Earth
Iced Earth
Iced Earth is an American heavy metal band from Tampa, Florida. Originally formed under the name "Purgatory" in 1984, Iced Earth has released a total of ten studio albums, one live album, three EP's, two compilations and boxsets...
. It was released in November 1990 internationally and February 1991 in North America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The original release of this album had three different covers (a worldwide cover, a European cover and a Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese cover). This album was Mike McGill's only album with Iced Earth, as well as the last for singer Gene Adam
Gene Adam
Gene Adam was the original singer of Iced Earth/Purgatory, he did not get to write most of the lyrics along with Jon Schaffer and Randall Shawver. Jon Schaffer was then introduced to John Greely through their mutual friend Tom Morris and after one short practice he was hired to replace Gene. Gene...
. Like the album's successor Night of the Stormrider
Night of the Stormrider
-Personnel:*Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, backing vocals, producer*John Greely – vocals*Randall Shawver – lead guitar, solo*Dave Abell – bass guitar*Rick Secchiari – drumsAdditional personnel*Roger "The Hammer" Huff – keyboardsProduction...
, Iced Earth follows a more traditional thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
sound, rather than the power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
direction the band would follow after Matt Barlow
Matt Barlow
Matthew Barlow is an American heavy metal singer and police officer. He is the former lead singer for Iced Earth. He is Jon Schaffer's brother-in-law.-History:...
had joined. Iced Earth would stick to the power metal formula until Barlow left the band, with his replacement Tim Owens singing in a style reminiscent of both genres.
Iced Earth's first three albums (this album, Night of the Stormrider
Night of the Stormrider
-Personnel:*Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, backing vocals, producer*John Greely – vocals*Randall Shawver – lead guitar, solo*Dave Abell – bass guitar*Rick Secchiari – drumsAdditional personnel*Roger "The Hammer" Huff – keyboardsProduction...
, and Burnt Offerings
Burnt Offerings (album)
Burnt Offerings is American heavy metal band Iced Earth's third album, released April 18, 1995, by Century Media Records. This album marked the introduction of vocalist Matt Barlow and was the only Iced Earth album featuring drummer Rodney Beasley...
) were remastered in 2001, and each had a new cover.
Track listing
Credits
- Gene AdamGene AdamGene Adam was the original singer of Iced Earth/Purgatory, he did not get to write most of the lyrics along with Jon Schaffer and Randall Shawver. Jon Schaffer was then introduced to John Greely through their mutual friend Tom Morris and after one short practice he was hired to replace Gene. Gene...
− lead vocals - Randall Shawver − lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
- Jon SchafferJon SchafferJon Ryan Schaffer is a heavy metal guitarist and songwriter. He is the founder of the heavy metal band Iced Earth. He was nominated for the title "Riff Lord" at the 2008 Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards.-Biography:...
− rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, backing vocals - Dave Abell − bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Mike McGill − drums
Info
- "Colors" is based on the 1979 film The Warriors.
- Every song on this album except "Curse the Sky" was redone for 1997's Days of PurgatoryDays of PurgatoryDays of Purgatory is an American heavy metal album by Iced Earth. It is a collection of remixes and remakes from previous albums. Most of the songs from the Enter the Realm EP, Iced Earth, and Night of the Stormrider were re-sung by Matt Barlow, and on some of the songs the drums and bass redone...
. For that release, "Written on the Walls" was given new lyrics and renamed "Cast in Stone". Despite not being re-recorded, Iced Earth continued playing "Curse the Sky" in future concerts. - "The Funeral", though listed as an instrumental, includes a spoken passage, reading "Once again you have lain another loved one to rest. And as we fight the grief in our hearts, we must realize that the fate of death is inevitable. And thus we turn and find that through our trials and tribulations, death may be the only real peace of mind." The passage was cut for the Days of Purgatory release, but was retained when the album was remixed and remastered for the Dark GenesisDark Genesis-Disc two:Iced Earth remastered, 1991-Disc three:Night of the Stormrider remastered, 1992-Disc four:Burnt Offerings remastered, 1995-Disc five:Tribute to the Gods, 2002-Personnel:...
box set in 2001. - The song "When the Night Falls" appears in the 2009 video game game Brütal LegendBrütal LegendBrütal Legend is an action-adventure/real-time strategy game created by Double Fine Productions and published by Electronic Arts for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The game was released during October 2009 in North America and Europe...
.