Editorial Review:

Item Description:
While the 1998 album provided a general overview of the story, Jon Schaffer has been conceptualizing for well over a decade. The saga is being fully brought to life with the release of the back-to-back conceptual albums 'Framing Armageddon' and 'The Crucible Of Man.' While both albums provide answers to mysteries the previous releases would create, the timeliness of the story in today s world is guaranteed to keep people thinking and guessing. Schaffer s ability to convey the central themes and events of the story without always revealing exactly why characters decisions are made and how events come to pass, will keep fans of the saga coming back as future mediums for the 'Something Wicked' storyline are revealed.

The Crucible Of Man is the culmination of the storyline. The absolute pinnacle of the American Metal Powerhouse s career, and happily the full-length return of singer Matt Barlow.









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Disc 1:

1. In Sacred Flames
2. Behold The Wicked Child
3. Minions Of The Watch
4. The Revealing
5. A Gift Or A Curse
6. Crown Of The Fallen
7. The Dimension Gauntlet
8. I Walk Alone
9. Harbinger Of Fate
10. Crucify The King
11. Sacrificial Kingdoms
12. Something Wicked (Part 3)
13. Divide And Devour
14. Come What May
15. Epilogue

Rating: - * The return ... I completely agree with the last 3 reviews. The bottom line is that Barlow is back. His voice for me is the perfect foil for Jon Schaffer's guitar work. Overall the song order and pacing are well thought out. Just a monster cd, enjoy. Rating: - * Thank you ... Heavy. Flows better than the last one. Thanks for taking all of those short instrumentals out from between the songs. Rating: - * Awesome! ... Firstly, I have been an Iced earth fan for quite some time now (I.e. 10+ Years) I just picked up the 'Framing Armageddon' and 'Crucible of Man' albums after avoiding Iced Earth since the departure of Matt Barlow. Basically, the music no longer interested me and I found the vocals to be atrocious. Pleasently, Matt barlow is back for Crucible of Man and it has paid off no end! This album is magnificent! This fan is back!!! P.s. I don't rate Framing Armageddon. The music is ok, but the vocals are rubbish. Very hard to listen to. Rating: - * Something Wicked 2 ... I liked this. Really, that's all there is to say. It's Iced Earth. Fans will dig it. Don't like Iced Earth? Kill yourself. In a Fire. Rating: - * It seems bad karma for booting Owens has made it's mark on this lackluster record from one of the best metal bands of all time. ... With the return of the famed vocalist Matt Barlow, this album had alot of expectations to live up to, sadly it rarely does. For the record, I think both Owens and Barlows are some of the best metal vocalists out there. I have to say this is one the most disappointing albums from Iced Earth, I would never ever expected this from a genius like Schaffear. Owens gave new life to Iced Earth. Glorious Burden was amazing, and I thought it was a fluke, and they could never pull it off again. 3 years later I was blown away with Framing Armageddon. I could not believe how amazing that album was. It fitted Owens new vocals perfectly and Schaffaer clearly poured his heart and soul in that album as all his previous records. Iced Earth was reborn with it's new singer and was on top of their game as always. Then out of nowhere Owen gets the boot and this gets released... I was very disappointed with this album. 2 main reasons, it was clearly rushed out the door, as the album is mostly repetitive. Alot of the tracks feel like fillers. This doesn't feel like a true Iced Earth album. The second reason is nothing stands out at all, there is no songs that made my jaw drop like on any other albums. As I said, alot of repetition and guitar riffs. Barlow is amazing as ever, but the lack of creative songwriting I have come from Iced Earth is not here, and even the amazing voice of Barlow cannot save the album, all in all the album feels very lackluster. There are a few good tracks such as Behold the Wicked Child, I Walk Alone and Come What May(my favorite off the album), overall I think this album clearly needed alot more time in the studio, because it feels incomplete and rushed, and it was clear Schaffear wanted this out the door to please the fans with the return of Barlow. Jon Schaffar needs to find some permanent members to really define their sound in the future, especially with the return of Barlow. He cannot continue to have a new lineup every year because it's taking a toll on his song writing skills, and this album definitely proves it. I know not every album from a band can be a masterpiece, and I definitely believe Schaffear still has that amazing songwriting in him, it's just this album clearly needed more time to shine.