Iced Earth - The Dark Saga
The Dark Saga, Iced Earth's fourth album, is very melodic and has simpler songs than what Iced Earth usually write. Even though the tracks are simpler, they are by no means simple. This is a concept album based on the Spawn storyline which I will not explain because it will ruin a good story for you (even though you might already know it).
On this album Jon Schaffer plays great rythm guitar, like always. Randall Shawver is a pretty good lead player but nothing that special. He has a few catchy leads in some songs but you won't find anything like an Iron Maiden or Metallica solo on this album. The drumming and bass is alright but nothing that stand out. Now Matt Barlow is a great vocalist and has great vocal performances on all his Iced Earth albums, and The Dark Saga is no Exception. He gives a great strong and emotional vocal performance here.
Here's my song by song review:
1. Dark Saga - This is a great way to start off the album, it's pretty heavy and has a good rythm, nice verses, and a cool chorus riff. The bridge goes back to the intro. I love the end of the bridge when it goes into the verse: "NO, I was betrayed!" Good stuff - 5/5
2. I Died For You - This is the first power ballad of the album, and the less great one but this song is still a masterpiece. The verses are very quiet with nice singing and the chorus is just plain great with a nice gallop and emotional singing and lyrics. One of the best off the album - 5/5
3. Violate - This is one of the heavier songs off the album. Fast riffs during the verse make this seem like more of a thrash song, which it probably is. The chorus isn't very good. The voice before Matt sings "And Violate!" is kind of well just bad. This has a cool bridge riff which makes up for some - 4/5
4. The Hunter - I could say this is the best song off the album if the last song wasn't on here but we'll get to that. This song has an EXTREMELY catchy chorus that will be stuck in your head forever. The Hunter also has great riffs and a very heavy verse. Nothing really bad about this song - 5/5
5. The Last Laugh - This is a pretty good song but not one of the gems off the album. It's got a pretty good verse and the chorus is also just pretty good. This one's also heavy. The bridge and the solo are good though. I'll give it - 4/5
6. Depths of Hell - This is just another alright song off the album. The verse is pretty good and reminds me of the Dark Saga verse a little but the chorus isn't good at all. The bridge is alright but it gets - 3/5
7. Vengeance is Mine - This is a good song. Maybe one of the gems off the album but that could be debatable. It's alright intro leads into some nice riffs and verses. The chorus is pretty weak though. Some pretty good leads in this one, nothing fast but sounds nice. It has some nice riffs and leads but from the bad chorus it gets - 4/5
The Suffering: The last three songs off the album are a trilogy and are all great. These songs are some of the best off the album. This is also where the story concludes.
8. The Suffering Scarred - This one starts with a long intro but it's good and has some nice clean riffs and a nice heavy riff. It keeps like this for a while. It get's better when the chorus comes which is good. The bridge is dark but very nice. The bridge then leads into one of the better solos off the album and then into more riffage. This ones pretty **** good - 5/5
9. Slave to the Dark - This one also starts with a quiet intro and more dark singing but it's good. After about 50 seconds it leads into a fast and awesome verse. After the verse is a great chorus with a pretty good riff. Kind of a weird sounding solo at first from the drum beat that was changed after the first chorus but it's also one of the best lead breaks on the album and slightly after another great lead. Definitley one of the best off the album - 5/5
10. A Question For Heaven - Here it is! The best song off the album. This is the second and best power ballad off the album. It's just brilliant. The riffs aren't that complicated but John Schaffer's songwriting skills really shine here. Matt Barlow's singing is also amazing on this one. A Question For Heaven starts quiet but goes into a fast, heavy riff with some good singing then goes to a little riffage break where Matt's sister-in-law sings and makes it sound like angels singing back to Spawn (you'll know what I mean if you know the story). The acoustic break is awesome with GREAT singing but it gets even better. The electrics come back in with a great melodic lead and then leads into some of the most emotional singing I have ever heard in my life. It's just too good. It ends with Matt and the angelic choir singing and some repeated riff. This song is brilliant - easily 5/5
Overall this is a GREAT album, even with it's shorter songs. I'd reccomend it to any thrash, heavy, or power metal fan.
Sorry if that was a little long, I got a little carried away.
