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September 2023

• Rockett Love: Galactic Circus
• Kerrigan: Bloodmoon
• Taz: Shipwrecked, Vol 2
• Taz: Wake Up & Sweat, Vol 1
• Ronnie Romero: Too Many Lies, Too Many Masters
• The Flower Kings: Look At You Now
• Vega: Battlelines
• Blackbird Angels: Solsorte
• Primal Fear: Code Red
• Eclipse: Megalomanium
• Seventh Wonder: Mercy Falls (Reissue 2008/2023)
• Seventh Wonder: The Great Escape (Reissue 2010/2023)

August 2023

• Hurricane: Reconnected
• U.D.O.: Touchdown
• Streetlight: Ignition
• Sarayasign: The Lion's Road
• Neal Morse: The Dreamer - Joseph - Part One
• Rian: Wings
• Icon Of Sin: Legends
• Lancer: Tempest
• King Kobra: We Are Warriors
• Dark Sky: Signs Of The Time
• Hell In The Club: F.U.B.A.R.
• Kent Hilli: Nothing Left To Lose

July 2023

• Turkish Delight: Volume Two
• Winterstorm: Everfrost
• Scream Maker: Land Of Fire
• James Robledo: Broken Soul
• Houston: Relaunch III
• All For Metal: Legends
• Withering Scorn: Prophets Of Demise
• Bloodbound: Tales From The North
• Kikimora: For A Broken Dime
• Degreed: Public Address

June 2023

• Night Legion: Fight Or Fall
• Midnite City: In At The Deep End
• Pyramaze: Bloodlines
• Shakra: Invincible
• Vypera: Race Of Time
• Stardust: Kingdom Of Illusion
• Pride Of Lions: Dream Higher
• Joel Hoekstra's 13: Crash Of Life
• The Defiants: Drive
• Ray Alder: II
• Art Nation: Inception
• False Memories: Hybrid Ego System

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Iced Earth: Incorruptible

Heavy/Power Metal

4.5/5.0

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Century Media Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 14.06.2017

It's been sometime since I heard from Iced Earth. My last Iced Earth review was nine years ago for 2008's The Crucible of Man - Something Wicked Part 2. With all the music that gets pitched my way on a daily, and yearly, basis, I'm not surprised I'm out of the loop. But founder and songwriter Jon Schaffer has been busy, dropping a compilation box set, a CD/DVD concert package, a few EPs, and two more studio albums. Of some interest, Iced Earth has had a relatively stable lineup since 2011, notably with vocalist Stu Block (ex-Into Eternity, ex-Omega Crom) behind the microphone. In 2017, Iced Earth drops their thirteenth studio album, Incorruptible.

Iced Earth

And Incorruptible is pretty fandamntastic. It's quintessential Iced Earth delivering their version of American heavy power metal with Jon Schaffer's interesting lyrical themes. Schaffer is a recognized history student, generally war history, but especially American civil war history. Great Heathen Army tells the tale of warring Saxons and Vikings; Black Flag speaks to the emergence of pirates; Brothers, to the bond of brothers in battle; and Clear The Way (December 13th, 1862) the civil war Battle of Fredericksburg (Virginia) where the Union army suffered a massive defeat. Yet Schaffer also likes his tales of sword, sorcery, fantasy, and even some religious themes as with Seven Headed Whore, a reference to the Whore of Babylon from the Bible's Book Of Revelation.

Musically, Incorruptible is a good balance between classic melodic heavy metal and more vigorous thrash infused power metal. For the former, Raven Wing, The Veil, The Relic (Part 1), and the instrumental Ghost Dance are fine representatives. Songs like The Veil and The Relic juxtapose milder movements with brisk metal heaviness. To the power metal side, both Defiance and especially Seven Head Whore have crushing thrash-like riffs and thundering pacing, yet without forsaking melody and groove. Throughout, the latest lead guitarist, Jake Dreyer lays down some impressive soaring guitar solos.

Essentially, for fans of Iced Earth, and American heavy power metal in general, Incorruptible is another solid and entertaining work. Easily recommended.

Essentially, for fans of Iced Earth, and fundamental American heavy power metal in general, Incorruptible is another solid and entertaining work. Easily recommended.

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Formed in 1999 by singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Erik Martensson, Sweden's Eclipse is well into their third decade of making music. In the recent past, their recordings and reputation have ... [ Read More ]