Dystopia Deluxe

This CD is a great metal album. I think it's got a bit more of a classic-metal vibe than earlier IE releases (I mean it reminds me more of a classic 80s Metallica/Maiden/Priest sound than most Iced Earth). But, you know, sometimes being heaviest isn't always better - fact is, this thing rocks, but it's got plenty of melody too. The new singer is good - he's pretty similar to Barlow, with a fine Halford scream which he uses quite often. My only complaint is that, on the ballad (and the slow part of the semi-ballad), he has that modern white R&B/ American Idol type singing, which is kind of lame (although it doesn't completely ruin the song). But - this not being an Aerosmith album, there is only the one (and a half) ballad, so it's not too big a deal! Anyway, I think he's a fine fit with the band and I'd be quite happy if he stuck around for a few more albums. The songs are good, and the dystopian theme of the album fits Iced Earth nicely (I think about 70% of their albums are at least somewhat "concept" albums!). As much as I hate the digipack, it's definitely worth it to get for the two bonus tracks, which are great songs (the alternate version of Anthem seemed kind of redundant, though - I'm not a fan of alternate versions of the same song on a CD!) Although not really trying to break new ground, and nothing blows me away like "Dracula", "Gettysburg", or the original "Something Wicked" trilogy (which is what kept me from giving this 5 stars), the general quality of the songs is as good as most of the stuff on their classic albums, and they seem to have kind of returned to a classic IE sound after some of the experimentation of the past few albums. Overall it kind of reminds me of a mix of the Something Wicked album and Glorious Burden (minus the symphonic track . . .). Of the ten or so new releases I've gotten over the past year, this one is the one I've found myself listening to the most.

You know being a long time fan of Iced Earth I was hesitant of the change in the vocals. Iced Earth fans, though Metal Heads are the most torn up about differences like Barlow or Owens and now Stu gets thrown into that pot and you think it would reach boiling point. Several others and myself on the other hand have been given great albums no matter the lineup because Jon is not in the business of packaging and selling crap to the fans. Keeping this in mind I pre-ordered this album. I didn't know who Stu was when he was announced to be the new vocalist and don't like Into Eternity myself, just not my kind of music. So naturally I youtubed who this Stu Block is and what kind of vocalist he is and I come across a video of him just showing the range of his voice. He is wearing a MANOWAR shirt so I think, "That's a good start." He starts hitting highs and I think "Ok, I can see Iced Earth being able to work with this." But then he starts to growl, "NO! Jon you better whip his @$$ into shape! I don't want a Cookie Monster at the microphone". But As for the first Album with both Barlow and Owens, the second album each is where their vocal styles get much better. (Before you come at me with pitchforks I like Burnt Offerings a great deal and Glorious Burden is what got me into Iced Earth in the first place). So it comes in and the Deluxe Edition comes with a fold out poster and a sticker, though good quality I thought it was a cloth patch. I put the album in and that opening scream in Dystopia gets me a worried but as the song goes on, there are no growls but solid vocals and harmonies. It's really good. Anthem hits and I'm already sold. Then Boiling Point comes and I thought that the Ripper jumped in for the high notes for a moment. It's the middle of the night and I've got work in the morning but I finish the whole album out. And have listened to it time and time again. Getting bonus tracks Soylent Green and Iron Will is a must in my book. For you still holding out, Stop being a Pussy! Metal Lives! Iced F@#%ing Earth!

Iced Earth, THE most underappreciated Metal band of all time. If these guys had been around just a few year sooner, they'd be as big as Priest or Maiden. But never again will a true metal band achieve that status and so IE is cast into a sea of obscurity, just another metal band, hidden in the mire of commercialism and fad-driven business.But for those of us who know... here is a band that is as uncompromising as any of the Metal gods ever were, they refuse to give in, they will not bow the knee, they will play real metal, with talent, with understanding of music, with brains and intellect, with passion and pride.OK, enough of the drama, this album will kick your ass. It's real metal, nothing pretend. IE are like a mixture of Maiden, Priest, Metallica and satan--with Jon Shaffer on guitar! If you don't already know, Jon Shaffer IS Iced Earth. Stu Block can sing like nobody's business, every bit as good as Barlow and better than Ripper Owens. I know this for a fact because I saw him live and he can sing live, unlike Owens. Although this is not a concept album, there is still a cohesive thought throughout the album, that of a dystopian world in the (not too distant)future. Some songs, #1 & 12, are based on the Something Wicked storyline. Some are based on movies; Soylent Green, Dark City, V. the entire album, with the possible exception of track 4, is awesome. Unlike many recent IE releases this album is not full of epic motion picture length songs,this is more like a return to the shorter song albums such as Something Wicked, Dark Saga or Horror Show.If you're new to Iced Earth, this is really a good place to start. If you're an old fan, then I'm sure you already have it.

Well, it's a new dawn for metal icons Iced Earth. With Matt Barlow leaving Iced Earth again, I was, again, disappointed, especially as Crucible Of Man was pretty crap, an album not even Barlow could save. Finding out Stu Block was to be the new vocalist, I instantly found out who he was, and how he sounded, and I became very skeptical - up until I heard him singing Dante's Inferno. WOW! That was amazing! Stu can go from deep baritone to high falsetto and in between, just like Matt could. He isn't Matt, but he's very similar, and Stu's falsetto sounds exactly the same as Tim Owens's. The music on Dystopia is great, very 90's sounding Iced Earth, everything from, ballady intro's, chugging riffs to all out thrash and beyond. It took me a couple of spins, but now I'm addicted to it! I'd have liked a long epic song, but there's still plenty of time for that to come! Iced Earth are back and are well and truly on the right road once again!

Another good album for us iced earth fans

Bought for my daughter, but i love it myself too ;-)

excellent

Very good. Nice and heavy, with a variety that keeps it interesting. Would definitely recommend it for Iced Earth fans.