Iced Earth
Night Of The Stormrider

THE REVIEW

Reviews should not be written with a cold mind. If the record is good, just put it on and the words come out immediately, naturally, appropriately, clearly.

And that's the case with Iced Earth, who with this "Night Of The Stormrider," their second release in their discography, illustrate - in a period full of innovations, research, and if we want, experimentation for metal: see atheist, cynic, death...) - how you can take a standard, interpret it, and give it new life without distorting it and instead exalting it. And indeed, we can say everything about our heroes from the frozen land except that they are innovative compared to their idols: Iron Maiden above all, but also Judas Priest and Black Sabbath. The result, however, is a delight for the ears.

It starts with Angels Holocaust, which majestically reprises the famous choir taken from the carmina burana. And it's a mix of slow, decadent parts and more typically thrash riffs, accompanied by John Greely's furious and high-pitched screams, giving the album a truly heavy imprint. There's no time to breathe, and in a downpour of rain, the title track begins: another gem of malice, it will become a staple in live shows. The chorus grabs you from the first listen, and stopping your head is impossible. You continue straight on a path that already seems marked; "The Path I Choose," clearly Maiden-inspired, is a tumultuous gallop of six minutes; Before The Vision is a luxurious interlude, just guitar and voice, and you resume galloping with Mystical End. What else to expect from a band whose soul is the rhythm guitarist? Riffs galore, naturally, and so far there's something for everyone.

But the second part of the album surprises, with atmosphere, dreamlike visions, variety (while remaining, to be clear, within the limits/attributes of the genre). The quartet begins with “Desert Rain,” one of the most varied songs of the entire album, still easy-listening but already more complex; it’s the turn of “Pure Evil,” again in a very Maiden key; another interlude, “Reaching The End,” guides us to the infernal river of “Travel In Stygian,” a worthy closure of an infernal album but capable of making you dream. It is, probably, the most successful episode of the entire album; the voice becomes demonic, reaching unattainable heights, singing all the world's despair. Even the atmosphere keeps growing, and the long journey (almost 10 minutes!) takes our soul away.

What more to say, in summary? That this album is a MUST for all the passionate fans of Iced Earth, which in some way represents an initial shift from Maiden-like heavy to a metallic darkness that will become their hallmark (especially in later albums, starting from “Burnt Offerings” and “Dark Saga”). It's a pity about the production, still immature: we are far from the splendor of “Alive In Athens”…