Iced Earth's Dark Saga
Band: Iced Earth
Release Date: 23 July, 1996
Very rarely we get to hear theme albums like this masterpeice based on the popular comic strip called Spawn, though I had never read the so called popular comic strip or even heard about it. But after a few sessions with the maestros I have a feeling that I should go buy n read.
Coming back to the band ( my favourites today and the only one who compete with metallica on my playlist ) Jon Schaffer (a monster of a rhythm player) uses more guitar harmonies (a la Iron Maiden) than ever, which weave a melodic finesse through the album. "Hunter" and "Slave to the Dark" are heavy songs, but the harmonized guitar lines lend them a very melodic inflection. Matt Barlow's incredible vocals are more passionate than ever before. Listening to "I Died For You" and "A Question of Heaven," it's impossible not to think he's a soulful performer. "Violate" is one of the few tracks where The Dark Saga enters pure thrash. The pulverizing guitars fit well with the gruesome lyric. "Vengeance Is Mine" is a vicious, thrash-powered piece that is absolutely bloodthirsty.
The two favourite tracks from the album which i just can't stop listening to over n over again are
"Dark Saga" and "I died for you"
"Dark Saga" - Our hero has died. Not being a good guy in life, he winds up in Hell. However, sinners are not necessarily incapable of love -- our hero had a wife who he loved dearly. So the devil makes a deal with him: if the hero sells his soul to the devil and serves his dark machinations, he can return to Earth and see his wife. Like a fool, he jumps at the offer without considering the cost.
"I Died for You" - Our hero returns to Earth five years later. He finds that his wife has remarried his best friend, and both are very happy with a new daughter. He has sold his soul for nothing.
And the third track which stands out in this perfect concept album is A Question of Heaven
"A Question of Heaven" - The hero tries to enter Heaven. But the angels sing back to him, telling him cannot enter because of the path he has chosen. God rejects him. We can empathize with our hero because in the story's closed system, he is the good guy. The Dark Saga ends with a nightmare where our hero is condemned to suffer because he gave up everything for love.
I never took any interest in the Spawn comic, but I like the way Iced Earth presents it. Lyrically, it's pretty good, but as with all Iced Earth and other metal albums, I'm more interested in the musicianship and vocal delivery, and as always, Iced Earth does not disappoint. Once again,Jon Schaffer proves to the world that he is truly a musical genius, and the guitars on here (Schaffer's and Randall Shawver's) are brilliant. Matt Barlow puts in one of his best vocal performances to date, even though he doesn't sound possessed like he did on Burnt Offerings. The addition of female vocals on "A Question of Heaven" (the standout track) was a nice touch as well. Every song is good, and there are a few that will go down as the band's classics. The only minor rant I have is the artwork.
The CD is cast in a vomit-inducing purple, and the colors in the pictures look like they came out of a kiddie cartoon. Eh, who looks at stuff like that anyway? This is great music that I'd recommend to any true METAL fan.
Release Date: 23 July, 1996
Very rarely we get to hear theme albums like this masterpeice based on the popular comic strip called Spawn, though I had never read the so called popular comic strip or even heard about it. But after a few sessions with the maestros I have a feeling that I should go buy n read.
Coming back to the band ( my favourites today and the only one who compete with metallica on my playlist ) Jon Schaffer (a monster of a rhythm player) uses more guitar harmonies (a la Iron Maiden) than ever, which weave a melodic finesse through the album. "Hunter" and "Slave to the Dark" are heavy songs, but the harmonized guitar lines lend them a very melodic inflection. Matt Barlow's incredible vocals are more passionate than ever before. Listening to "I Died For You" and "A Question of Heaven," it's impossible not to think he's a soulful performer. "Violate" is one of the few tracks where The Dark Saga enters pure thrash. The pulverizing guitars fit well with the gruesome lyric. "Vengeance Is Mine" is a vicious, thrash-powered piece that is absolutely bloodthirsty.
The two favourite tracks from the album which i just can't stop listening to over n over again are
"Dark Saga" and "I died for you"
"Dark Saga" - Our hero has died. Not being a good guy in life, he winds up in Hell. However, sinners are not necessarily incapable of love -- our hero had a wife who he loved dearly. So the devil makes a deal with him: if the hero sells his soul to the devil and serves his dark machinations, he can return to Earth and see his wife. Like a fool, he jumps at the offer without considering the cost.
"I Died for You" - Our hero returns to Earth five years later. He finds that his wife has remarried his best friend, and both are very happy with a new daughter. He has sold his soul for nothing.
And the third track which stands out in this perfect concept album is A Question of Heaven
"A Question of Heaven" - The hero tries to enter Heaven. But the angels sing back to him, telling him cannot enter because of the path he has chosen. God rejects him. We can empathize with our hero because in the story's closed system, he is the good guy. The Dark Saga ends with a nightmare where our hero is condemned to suffer because he gave up everything for love.
I never took any interest in the Spawn comic, but I like the way Iced Earth presents it. Lyrically, it's pretty good, but as with all Iced Earth and other metal albums, I'm more interested in the musicianship and vocal delivery, and as always, Iced Earth does not disappoint. Once again,Jon Schaffer proves to the world that he is truly a musical genius, and the guitars on here (Schaffer's and Randall Shawver's) are brilliant. Matt Barlow puts in one of his best vocal performances to date, even though he doesn't sound possessed like he did on Burnt Offerings. The addition of female vocals on "A Question of Heaven" (the standout track) was a nice touch as well. Every song is good, and there are a few that will go down as the band's classics. The only minor rant I have is the artwork.
The CD is cast in a vomit-inducing purple, and the colors in the pictures look like they came out of a kiddie cartoon. Eh, who looks at stuff like that anyway? This is great music that I'd recommend to any true METAL fan.
posted by Vagabond at Saturday, February 12, 2005
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