Days of Purgatory

Now, for the album itself: DAYS OF PURGATORY is a collection of various songs spanning from various times in Iced Earth's then twelve-year reign. However, this is no "best-of" album; this is a RE-CREATION of songs. Now for a VERY brief history lesson.

From their earliest days, when they were known as Purgatory, through when they released their self-titled debut album in 1991, Iced Earth featured a less-than-perfect singer, Gene Adam; he sometimes was capable of reaching notes worthy of Halford (Judas Priest), but generally, he sounded like he was dying. Jon Schaffer, Iced Earth's seminal member (he writes and controls just about everything in the band, not to mention is the only member who HASN'T left yet), felt that Adam simply did not have the right vocals, so he recruited a new singer, John Greely in later 1991. Iced Earth released their sophomore album, NIGHT OF THE STORMRIDER, in 1992, and again, though Greely had fair talent (far better than Adam), he just wasn't right for the band (plus, he was difficult to work with), and again, they let go in favor of a better singer...and "better singer" is an understatement.

Enter Matthew Barlow, who debuted as Iced Earth's vocalist on 1995's BURNT OFFERINGS (my favorite album to date, I'm pretty sure). He sang in a deep, baritone voice (but has incredible range - his ultra-high screeches are chilling), and would record another album, 1996's THE DARK SAGA, before the idea occurred to Jon to re-create many of their original songs featuring the two former less-than-perfect singers. And not only that, but to remaster them, maybe re-MIX a few, and in some cases add new layers of guitars, bass, or drums. And what we get here is a terrific walk-through of some of the best tracks from Iced Earth's earlier years.

Barlow, without a doubt, is one of the best metal singers (or ANY kind of singer, for that matter) of all time. Besides sounding cool, he really puts EMOTION into his singing; he growls in angrier moments, croons in storytelling, wails in anguish, and howls with such haunting evil. Such a dark but beautiful singer, he is; and to hear these songs being performed EXACTLY as Schaffer had planned all along. Not to mention some songs are easier to understand now!

Standout recreations would have to include "Colors," "Angel's Holocaust," "Nightmares," "Iced Earth," and "Desert Rain." The remasters from BURNT OFFERINGS are all terrific choices, especially the epic "Dante's Inferno," a dark, brooding, 16-minute journey "...through the nine plains of hell," and one of the ultimate masterpieces from Iced Earth.

Perhaps the one and only complaint I have about this album is in "Angel's Holocaust." In the original version, John Greely belts out a screech that sends chills down my spine every time (right after "...born again of a thousand lies"); here, Matthew Barlow merely wails in a high-pitched tone. I only wish that he had given it his all - because when Barlow screeches, he SCREECHES.

And finally, my favorite track on this album would have to be "Cast in Stone." Originally, this song (from the 1991 debut) was called "Written on the Walls," and featured lyrics written by Gene Adam. I've never really taken the time to interpret those lyrics, but they've never really stood out to me anyway (perhaps because of Adam's voice was all? I do, after all, find it so irritating when he croaks, "written on the walls...the walls" in the bridge of the song). However, when recording this album, John Schaffer must have been unable to get Adam's permission to reproduce the vocals, and so, Matthew Barlow steps forward and dedicated his infrequent but talented songwriting to the reproduction of this song. Now THIS is interesting: a story of a race of creatures that existed before mankind, and as the latter race began to emerge, the former had to go into hiding, being turned into stone by day and lurking free at night (gargoyles, perhaps?). This is also one of their most progressive songs: it starts off as almost pure thrash, then becomes just plain heavy, then gets lighter, quieter...Barlow growls in spoken words of the fury and plotting of these creatures over mid-tempo drums and bass, and soon some guitars come in to thrash things in the same time, and then...the song becomes briefly acoustic, the guitars strumming as Barlow croons a warning that the creatures shall survive. Such a chilling, wonderful song, and the ultimate one from this collection.

Sadly, Matthew Barlow left the band in the summer of 2003. When September 11 occurred, he was, along with many, many people in the world, filled with grief and fury. He was distracted in the studio; he wasn't giving his full performance while trying to record their latest studio album, THE GLORIOUS BURDEN. He ended up quitting the band, feeling that he wasn't helping anyone by singing for a rock band that he didn't even do much songwriting for.

LUCKILY, Jon Schaffer recruited a new singer...former Judas Priest singer (after Rob Halford left), Tim "Ripper" Owens. He sings in a drastically higher voice than Barlow, but he has just as much range, power and emotion. THE GLORIOUS BURDEN was completed in July 2003, and it will be coming out by the end of the year. October 7 will see an EP featuring the BURDEN single, "The Reckoning," and Iced Earth will begin their Glorious World Tour.

So now DAYS OF PURGATORY is available in all its glory to the US. It is an absolute must for not just collectors, but for growing fans of the ultimate heavy metal band. LONG LIVE ICED EARTH! The Revolution is coming...