Iced Earth

Horror Show

"The Blood is the Life!!!"

Review Score:

(8/10)
4.5 stars. When I first heard of this CD I thought, "How incredibly cheesy?" A cursory glance would denote nothing less. Even the artwork on the album and inside screams "cheesy!" But I once thought the same about their now classic album, "Dark Saga." I stood corrected on that album, and now for "Horror Show," as well. For newcomers it will be very hard to believe that songs about Dracula, the Wolfman, and Frankenstein could possibly sound cool. But the music here is a dense collection of phenomenal guitar, emotional vocals, intricate drumming, and an epic scope surrounding the concept in a dark shroud of brilliance. I do have a warning for the uninitiated: you must hear this album many times before a full appreciation can be had. There is so much going on that after so many spins I am still gathering moments and piecing the songs together. There are no songs here that stand up for attention upon first listen, although "Damien" has a creepy spoken-word interlude straight out of the film "The Omen 3: The Final Conflict." No "Horror" album would be complete without using a gothic choir or whispered vocals played backwards. Matthew Barlow sounds especially emotional on "Ghost of Freedom," an ode to those fighting for freedom in our Armed Forces across the globe, and is the only song here that breaks the conceptual direction of the rest of the album. It is nonetheless an excellent and moving song. While no single song here is more impressive than any other, the album as a whole is impressive. Though this is a difficult album to master, the end result is nothing less than inspirational. Thank you.

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