| | Full Review | Ratings (461) |
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| 4.0 excellent | Xenorazr | May 7th 17 |
Likely to go down as Iced Earth's most monolithic LP, The Glorious Burden borders on masterpiece territory. The first disc is already solid in its own right and has some debatable improvements over the previous Barlow albums, but the Gettysburg trilogy turns the album into an exercise in perspective; the 30+ minute epic makes the rest of the album feel weak, which is thanks in no small part to the use of full orchestra. Taken together, it's a thoroughly enjoyable affair, and while it does leave me feeling conflicted due to the gap in quality, I'd rather get the amazing stuff during the second half than up-front.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Frogon | October 15th 06 |
Personally, I liked the second CD, Gettysburg 1863, better. I think they were put together wondefully, and it shows that some bands can work well with an orchestra.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 5.0 classic | Mitch | October 12th 20 |
Yo, yoooooooooo. I fuckin' love this.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Blazewire | August 13th 20 |
The Glorious Burden album is the one by Iced Earth that when I first listened to it a few years ago I couldn't get into it. Recently I have revisited it and am enjoying it a lot more! Unfortunately Iced Earth have a revolving door or band members with guitarist Jon Schaffer being the only consistent member. The vocalist of this album being Tim "Ripper" Owens, one time vocalist of Judas Priest. He actually does a great job on vocals here, bringing a great heavy metal range from soaring high pitched to a clean thrash inspired style. Lyrically this albums is refreshing in its content for power metal. It focuses mostly on a range of historical subject areas e.g. Attila, Red Baron/Blue Max. The highlight of the album being the final 3 track epic covering the American Civil War and Gettysburg (The Devil to Pay, Hold at All Costs, and High Water Mark). These tracks are experimental for Iced Earth and contain different elements such as a string section, canon fire, battle sounds etc. Instead of being cheesy, they are subtle and add to the music. The guitar work is more thrash inspired and less over the top compared with other power metal bands. Tracks to check out: Hollow Man, Attila, Declaration Day, Gettysburg (The Devil to Pay, Hold at All Costs, and High Water Mark)
Bump |
| 3.0 good | Alabaster Jones | March 24th 16 |
In the time that Jon Schaffer has been the overwhelming creative force behind Iced Earth, I've grown to appreciate what Randall Shawver had to contribute more and more. That's not to say that The Glorious Burden in particular is a bad album, but you can definitely tell some creativity was lost along with Shawver. They weren't the most creative band in the world to begin with, and yet the utter lack of it on this album is still kind of jarring. That said, the band, now fronted by Tim "Ripper" Owens, puts in a generally good performance, with some moments here or there that are actually pretty awesome. Most of the choruses are pretty nice, and while the songwriting is kind of homogenous and, in some cases, overlong, it's very solid in its slightly thrashy power metal style. Owens is very good, really being the driving force behind the music with his perfectly over-the-top vocal style. So yes, it's not very creative, but The Glorious Burden still manages to provide some classic Iced Earth moments.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Arhippigo | December 12th 09 |
I'm only giving a rating to the Gettysburg Trilogy; one of my favorite metal epics ever. The rest of the album could go down the toilet for all I care.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Poet | December 4th 09 |
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! Greenface
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! Greenface.
That pretty much sums up this album, meaning it sounds just great as that wail by Ripper.
Bump |
| 3.0 good | Altmer | February 16th 08 |
Barlow, where art thou? Owens is a good singer, but he's just not in Barlow's league, and his presence is what is really missed here: he keeps the songs and Jon's songwriting in check. Most of the songs on here are pretty predictable power metal fare, and though Declaration Day, Attila and the Gettysburg trilogy keep up a part of the quality level, most of this is subpar compared to other Iced Earth works. If you want to get into the band, go for a Barlow-era album first (Burnt Offerings/Horror Show), and then get this.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | M.O.E. Rhythm | June 25th 06 |
everything about this album is amazing: the lyrics (yeah, im serious), the singing, the production.....everything. a true classic. best tracks are:declaration day, when the eagle cries
Bump |
| 3.5 great | Grungil | November 24th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | Brabiz | August 28th 23 |
| 3.5 great | Elmo | June 4th 23 |
| 1.5 very poor | Davey | April 11th 23 |
| 3.5 great | haxxiy | February 26th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | MrIceTea | February 25th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | mrManxxx | November 15th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | Samuel | September 27th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | coopj | August 2nd 22 |
| 3.0 good | Jgpj95 | March 14th 21 |
| 3.0 good | Harlz | March 7th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | CalinD | December 18th 20 |
| 3.0 good | botman | October 9th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | jmal00 | June 29th 20 |
| 3.0 good | dcube | November 14th 19 |
| 3.0 good | tellah | September 5th 19 |
| 2.5 average | Link | May 3rd 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | soberpan | February 19th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Faenrir | November 8th 18 |
| 3.5 great | ssak | August 14th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Aranox | February 23rd 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | bSmith | February 11th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rosier | February 10th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Bulgaro | December 27th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Agonba | March 14th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Rodstar | December 23rd 16 |
| 3.5 great | Xurxo | November 8th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Lanas | July 23rd 16 |
| 2.5 average | Trey STAFF | July 6th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Tib | June 30th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | Redden | March 31st 16 |
| 3.0 good | gas83 | December 19th 15 |
| 2.5 average | Pavera | December 2nd 15 |
| 2.5 average | Pegana | November 22nd 15 |
| 2.5 average | Bierlag | October 24th 15 |
| 3.5 great | manosg EMERITUS | July 20th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | deslad | April 28th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Titan | October 21st 14 |
| 2.5 average | Lassie | October 15th 14 |
| 3.0 good | Mixen | October 11th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | ariich | October 4th 14 |
| 5.0 classic | Deneri | September 4th 14 |
| 3.5 great | Sebe | September 1st 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | kaca | July 24th 14 |
| 3.5 great | ngk44 | April 20th 14 |
| 2.5 average | th3worm | February 14th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Allineed | February 11th 14 |
| 3.5 great | theleo | February 4th 14 |
| 3.0 good | Axl752 | November 1st 13 |
| 5.0 classic | slackr | March 8th 13 |
| 2.5 average | JS19 | February 12th 13 |
| 3.5 great | vdop | October 29th 12 |
| 3.5 great | junkie | August 16th 12 |
| 3.0 good | ANJ45 | April 19th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | zyklzy | April 5th 12 |
| 3.5 great | thosava | February 27th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | pbass0 | February 24th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Yax | February 19th 12 |
| 3.5 great | Themac | January 19th 12 |
| 2.5 average | Siamois | January 12th 12 |
| 3.0 good | Andrew | December 19th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Ant0 | October 19th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Reason | October 14th 11 |
| 3.0 good | Dvase1 | October 5th 11 |
| 3.5 great | ArcLite | September 14th 11 |
| 3.5 great | pcar | September 4th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | true | August 4th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Jumaos | April 21st 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Zaltys | March 31st 11 |
| 3.5 great | jmh886 | January 27th 11 |
| 2.5 average | Majk | December 10th 10 |
| 2.5 average | Aether | November 14th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | esw1026 | October 14th 10 |
| 2.5 average | Undead | September 28th 10 |
| 2.5 average | CutMan | August 16th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | ffbadd | June 1st 10 |
| 3.5 great | Manland | December 30th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Isa711 | November 7th 09 |
| 2.0 poor | Thor | November 3rd 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | DLNation | September 24th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Awake88 | September 12th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Gbhill | April 11th 09 |
| 3.0 good | feehan | February 19th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Mordad | February 5th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | ms2013 | October 28th 08 |
| 2.5 average | Ben101 | October 8th 08 |
| 2.5 average | gafel | September 10th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | fritz | September 1st 08 |
| 3.0 good | Mikesn EMERITUS | June 17th 08 |
| 2.5 average | Hewitt | March 29th 08 |
| 5.0 classic | Grumma | March 9th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | McP3000 | February 26th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | Maz | November 29th 07 |
| 3.0 good | Zoo | October 21st 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | YHB | August 15th 07 |
| 2.5 average | weapon | July 29th 07 |
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