The ice is melting....

Review Score: (4/10)
The loss of Matt Barlow, in addition to Jon Schaffer taking over nearly all of the songwriting he already claimed a majority of, I'm afraid to say, is killing the life out of this band at least at first listen to this single (I will pick up the full length album to verify if this is true or not). Horror Show while not a bad album, failed to excite like previous Iced Earth efforts. However, even with cliched triplet riffs, somewhat corny lyrics and bland arrangements, Matt Barlow's deep, rich voice saved that album in the end.

Enter 2003 and the acquisition of a new lead singer, Tim "Ripper" Owens. Jon Schaffer's ego has ballooned along with his Republicanism, and I'm afraid to say its had an adverse effect on his music. The single/ep/whatever starts with "The Reckoning" a typical Iced Earth heavy song of old. Tim just can not cut it compared to his predeccesor, even if he has the pipes to do so he is up to his old tricks that he should have given up after being booted out of Priest (harsh shrieking, little else). As someone who has the potential to develop his voice to better effect, it is probably ultimately Jon Schaffer who took over the reigns from Glenn Tipton as far as controlling what Tim can and cannot sing. There are also better songs off the new album that should have been selected as the single. "Red Baron/Blue Max" is not only one of the sole songs off the new album that there is a contribution from Ripper, but it is also likely the best new Iced Earth song. Shame that it wasn't this song selected as the new single. "When the Eagle Cries" is probably the worst Iced Earth ballad EVER, and it is not the Jingoism that makes it so ("Ghost of Freedom" was still a good song). Tim sounds awful on the ballad, but again its probably because he wasn't given enough freedom to put his own mark on it. "Hollow Man" and "Valley Forge" are a bit better, but ultimatey sound like they serve as filler on the new album. I'm not giving up on Iced Earth, but it will take 5-6 great songs to make me a fan of the new album when it comes out, and these are not even close to that.

More Reviews:

• A good sample of what's to come
• Good, but not really necessary if you buy the album
• horrible EP, but fear not, the GB is much better
• Good EP
• Excellent Effort
• ICED EARTH LIVES!!!
• Never really listened to Iced earth But...
• Helps to ease the pain from the loss of Matt Barlow.
• Not a burden on the ears
• Iced Earth Continues The Legacy
• Owens brought me to Iced Earth
• At Least We Still Have Demons & Wizards. Right?
• Passionate, but breaks no new ground musically or lyrically
• Somtimes he fits..sometimes he does'nt
• Farewell Matt, we'll miss you. Welcome aboard, The Ripper!
• Holy Cranium soup Spawnman
• Not the same, but still good...
• Powerful but where is the passion (vocals)?
• Iced Earth!!!! Alive and Kicking!!!!
• Metal the way God intended it to sound!!!!!
• Hopefully a taste of things to come....
• Great Single
• Be careful
• America's Greatest True Metal Band.
• It's different, but it's still ICED EARTH!!!
• ICED EARTH HAS RETURNED!!
• Terrible vocals.
• THEY ARE BACK!!!!!!!!!!
• iced earth rules
• Iced Earth, they can never go wrong