Iced Earth - Framing Armageddon

General Information

Original Author: The Uncreator

Artist: Iced Earth

Album: Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked Part 1)

Genre: Heavy Metal/ Thrash

Tracklist

01. Overture
02. Something Wicked Part 2
03. Invasion
04. Motivation Of Man
05. Setian Massacre
06. A Charge To Keep
07. Reflections
08. Ten Thousand Strong
09. Execution
10. Order Of The Rose
11. Cataclysm
12. The Clouding
13. Infiltrate And Assimilate
14. Retribution Through The Ages
15. Something Wicked Part 2
16. The Domino Decree
17. Framing Armageddon
18. When Stars Collide (Born Is He)
19. The Awakening

The Story

Well im gonna give a brief synopsis of the story of the album. So basically there is a race of people, known as the Setians (Pronounced "Sesh-Ins", Derived from IE's mascots name of Set Abominae), And as punishment for crimes against there race, they hide in the shadows of history, controlling the events of the entire world through a hierarchy of 13 priests known as the "Order Of The Rose". From creating religion, wars, countrys, peoples, races, and all the most important events in history, "From Jesus Christ To Kennedy (JFK) ". And ultimately this plan will bring the doom of mankind, when the the chosen one is finnally resurrected (Set Abominae)

Sound

10 If anyone has payed an unhealthy amount of attention to what ive said regarding Iced Earth, they will know that my most loved tone is Jon Schaffers, And this album is no exception, Amazing tone, with the same sound as past IE classics, but with new touches.

Guitars

10 From Brutal riffage and fast pace shred, to soothing clean guitar rhythms and Soloing, 'Framing Armageddon' is a riff lovers dream come true. All the expected stuff from Schaffer is here, fast gallops and triplets, Gratuitously heavy riffs, and amazing composition. The guitars cannot be compared to any other IE album, the guitars are very "Fat" on here, the tone is massive, And the lead tone is just great, Jon Schaffer has coem up with some new sounds on this album, I wasnt expecting the clean guitar solo in "The Clouding", which is just phenomenal, or the switch off solos he shared with the bass player after that. Jon Schaffer gives us the good classic IE riffage with some new twists on sound and style.

Bass

10 Not something IE is know for, but something ive alwyas loved about them, The bass is VERY powerful, and the tone of it is INCREDIBLE. The bass solo and the trade offs between the guitar and bass on "The Clouding" is something ive never heard IE do in the manner they do hear. If Mikale Akerfeldt (Opeth) played bass, i imagine his tone would strongly resmeble this, It gives me a feeling of floating in space looking down on the earth. Just. Incredible.

Drums

10 Do you want some soothing jazzy/ bluesy drums, a good nice rhythm to play over?....TOO BAD, Nothing but Brutaly fast and heavy drums compiled with machine gun double bass on this album. Brent Smedley (Who other IE Geeks and Nerds such as myself know from his work on the "Something Wicked..." Album) provides fast thrash like drums throughout this record. It reminds me somewhat of early thrash stuff like Testament, Exodus, or Slayer, but i wouldnt listen to this record expecting to hear a Dave Lombardo style drummer. Bottom line is, Heavy, Fast, Brutal, and just great drumming any metal fan can enjoy.

Vocals

10 Tim "The Ripper" Owens, god what a talented voice. He sends chills up my spine on nearly every song. From the high screams and rapant banshee cries of "Ten Thousand Strong" to his soft and calming voice on songs like "The Clouding", Owens just never fails to amazes me. This i believe is his best work of his musical career, incuding the time he was with Judas Priest. Fan - F@#$ing - tastic!!

Lyrics

10 Like every other aspect of this album, FLAWLESS. Schaffer conveys the story of the setian race in a vivid and convincing way, here are some of my personal favorites, of course if i had my way, youd have the lyrics to every song on here.

From "A Charge To Keep"
Please God give me the strength to lead
It's my charge to keep
Make the sorrow the fuel I need
It's my charge to keep

..And now we must wipe the tears away
Gather up our inner strength
The loss of those we can't replace
Will bring about there fate

From "Ten Thousand Strong"
Await the days of clouding
Earth Mother's sharing in our pain
Erase the human memory
They know, not of where they came
And though our hearts are broken
We have to wipe the tears away
In vain they did not suffer
Ten Thousand Strong will seize the day

From "The Clouding"
As i awake i have no memory of this
Who am i, where im from, Why do I exist?
This strange beauty surrounds me
But where i am confounds me
I see others who appear the same as me
A look of loss in there eyes, Adrift aimlessly
Whats the point? What does it all mean?
Who am I? Show me a purpose please

Take this sense of wonder, Make it go away
Please tell me i am not alone and lost here
Thats there is something thats made me feel this way
Take this sense of sadness, Make it go away
Please give me something thats familiar
A friendly touch, A memorable embrace

Overall Impression

10 Flawless, in every sense of the word, and there are only a few albums i call Flawless. Beautifully done, amazing performances from everyone, this is just a record that is going down in my history books as one of the greatest off all time.