SPV

There was a time, about ten years ago, that it seemed that Iced Earth was poised to become the next Iron Maiden. Riding off the success of Something Wicked This Way Comes and the now classic Alive In Athens, it was only a matter of time before the Florida-based band would be at the very top of the Metal world. That didn't happen. After a string of average-at-best albums (where for every great song like Dracula or Ten Thousand Strong there were forgettable flops like When The Eagles Cries and Dragon's Child) and a very lamentable line-up change (Matthew Barlow out, Ripper Owens in), it seemed like the band was doomed to forever flounder as an also-ran. But a change of fortune eventually found Ripper back on the outside making room for Barlow's return. The Crucible Of Man would be the first album with Barlow back on vocals and expectations are high.

Its better to lower your expectations, this album isn't that great.  

The same problem that their last few albums suffered from is also present on the Crucible Of Man. There are some very good songs found on the album, but they're smothered by many weaker tracks. In fact, I don't think you get to any truly essential tracks until the ninth song, Harbinger Of Fate. Some of you may be wondering about I Walk Alone, the song on the I Walk Among You ep. Nope, that isn't a great song either. The album only contains four really good songs, the aforementioned Harbinger Of Fate (which barely squeaks by thanks to the chorus, to be honest), Sacrificial Kingdoms, Divide Devour and the big album topper Come What May. Sacrificial Kingdoms has one of the album's best choruses, making full use of Barlow's vocal talent. Divide Devour will no doubt become one of the band's live favorites, its a fist bangin' number that unfortunately ends too soon. The band saves the best for last, as Come What May is a beautifully epic song that Iced Earth is typically known for. The chorus to this song will literally be stuck in your head for days.

That's about everything nice I can say about this album. The rest of the songs are fairly dull, being by-the-numbers filler like what was found on their previous few albums. Outside of a few instances, Barlow really doesn't sound like he's giving his all. Most of these songs were written with Ripper in mind, so they don't give him enough material to work with that will let him use his full potential. At least this one avoids the trap that the last album, Framing Armageddon, fell into by having too many interludes. Though, instead of interludes proper there are a few tracks that feel like mini-Iced Earth songs that end just when you think you're gonna be getting something good. Otherwise, Framing Armageddon was a much more satisfying listen.

One last thing I should point out is the artwork. The front and back covers are indeed great (really, they may be my favorite Iced Earth art to date) but when you open the booklet you'll be assaulted by some of the worst art you can find. I'm talking about Malibu Comics levels of bad. The last album has some bad artwork too, especially the terrible cover. Iced Earth is usually known for high quality artwork to accompany their albums, so this poor art is really unfortunate.

I'm hoping now that the band has concluded this unnecessary Something Wicked double concept album project, they'll be free to write some better material that people will actually be passionate about. As for The Crucible Of Man, I don't know if I'll call this their weakest album, but its certainly the weakest with Matthew Barlow. You guys can do better.


01. The Sacred Flames
02. Behold The Wicked Child
03. Minions Of The Watch
04. The Revealing
05. A Gift Or A Curse?
06. Crown Of The Fallen
07. The Dimension Gauntlet
08. I Walk Alone
09. Harbinger Of Fate
10. Crucify The King
11. Sacrificial Kingdoms
12. Something Wicked (Part 3)
13. Divide Devour
14. Come What May
15. Epilogue

Score: 5/10