Iced Earth, in London, for the very first time - a full seventeen years after their original formation (under the banner of Purgatory until 1988). A head- scratching dilemma as to why it's taken the World's most underrated metal band to get here. Regardless, Hell knows it's been worth the wait…
With a monstrous two and a half-hour set and an awesome stage show
(
shifting backdrops to suit album themes) - the Florida metallers go
beyond the call of duty in way of crowd pleasing - and the packed to
capacity Queens Cross resultantly shows its appreciation at every given
opportunity.
Ripping heads off with Horror Show newies such as Wolf and Jack. Hypnotising
epics from the stony, Schaffer sung Stormrider to latest classic Damien.
The pure evil of the Something Wicked trilogy - from the first note
to the last, Earth shake the stage, masterfully and effortlessly.
From the burning lava of their heaviest material into more soothing
smoothies I'd Die For You and Watching Over Me, melody always remains
as another vintage Iced Earth set is completed. The other genuine IE
trademark - tunes loaded with guitar rhythms that you'll always be singing
along to - is taken full advantage of by the audience.
Barlow's galactic stretching vocal range warms as the show progresses,
Schaffer's songwriting talents and guitar playing are brought fully
into the limelight and the regular appearance of acoustics offers a
massive breath of fresh air from the electric only stench of most metal
acts.
The sound could have being a shade louder and pedal drums weren't as
well projected as you'd expect, while the absence of Melancholy or Horror
Show's Ghost Of Freedom was slightly saddening.
But such was the overall grade of the sound and the depth and quality
of their back catalogue, it's easy to forgive and forget such minor
musical sins.
And come the cover of Iron Maiden's Transylvania (to quote Jon Schaffer
on the night, probably the best metal band in the World), it was the
perfect ending to a brilliant musical script - absolutely surperb.
Verdict - @@@@@
Andy Law
