Iced Earth - Dystopia

Iced Earth

Dystopia
Century Media Records - 2011
http://www.icedearth.com

A new Iced Earth album brings a new Iced Earth singer. Matt Barlow has once again left the band. In his place guitarist/band leader Jon Schaffer has brought in ex-Into Eternity singer Stu Block.

And Block will knock your socks off. I had heard bits and pieces of his singing with his previous band but this is my first full blown exposure to him.

The title track opens the album with a methodic intro before blowing open to a full on kick-ass rocker. The song alternates between both a guttural and high pitched vocal delivery. The video for the song (included below) is pretty good.

"Anthem" has a menacing sound and pace to it, but the song has a more positive lyrical take than you'd think.

The track "Anguish of Youth" opens with a slow tempo before kicking things up a notch. The vocals during the main passages have a lighter touch but the harder edge features strongly during the chorus. "Dark City" also opens softly but then is a vicious attacking tempo.

The alternating vocal styles play a role in "Equilibrium" and "End of Innocence".

"Tragedy and Triumph" has an extended musical intro before the pace picks up.

The version of the album I have is the deluxe edition which includes a mini poster, a sticker and 3 bonus tracks. There is a "String Mix" version of the song "Anthem" and two fast paced songs called "Iron Will" and "Soylent Green". The latter song, at least to me, sounded as if it was not only covering the book/movie of the same name but trying to make commentary on the world of today as well. Either way the song was pretty good.

Other than the title track, my favorite song on the disc was "Days of Rage". It is a brutally vicious masterpiece. Stu Block's vocals along with the take no prisoners lyrics amp up the musical palette in the song to something truly special.

I've been a fan of Iced Earth for a while now and this is probably one of the best releases they've done from open to close in a while. In the world of Iced Earth, singers don't seem to stick around too long, but if things go well, Stu Block has found a home I'd say.

Grade: A MINUS