Year:2014
In all honesty,as this is my first
Iced Earth review,I have never really been a big fan. The music has always been
top-notch but the vocals have always been somewhat of a let down to me
personally. When Stu Block was announced as the new Iced Earth vocalist I was
a bit excited and 'Dystopia' didn't disappoint me. So I was excited about the
next Iced Earth work and more of Stu Block in it and well 'Plagues Of Babylon' did live up to its billing for me.
The opening track and also the
title track “Plagues of Babylon” is a perfect opener to the album. I don’t
think Iced Earth could have opened this album in a better way. John Schaffer and
Troy Steele’s guitars set the fire which burns white-hot for nearly eight
minutes. “Democide” takes us on a galloping ride with Block’s vocals leading
the way with fierce abandon and drummer Raphael Saini and bassist Luke Appleton
provide the rumble upon which the dueling guitar leads soar. “Among the Living
Dead”, featuring guest vocals from Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian), is one of
those tunes that clearly means business and the guitar runs late in it and help to
make it a sure-fire winner.
I think Stu Block sings with more
authority on this album. I mean, he was very much himself in 'Dystopia' but he
lacked something which I think has been found and captured well in 'Plagues Of
Babylon'. The fifth track on the album “Resistance” is a perfect example of
this, and I think Block just grabs hold of the mic and says, ”This is how its done!”.
“The End” is one perfect piece if you ask me. Listening to it uncountable times by now, I feel its like Iron Maiden on steroids or
something, just bloody insane. Its amazingly paced with great riff patterns
throughout the song and the solo, well, lets just say I don’t have words for the
solo as it blew me away. “If I Could See You Now” and “Spirit of the Times” feel like Block’s clean, ballad voice is even stronger than on the previous album and
these two songs are a great way to shake things up a bit. On “Cthulhu” the soft
intro totally belies the ferocity of what’s to come, and was another favorite
for me.
“Peacemaker” and “Parasite” didn't
really do much for me. They are good songs, but lack something somewhere and end
up just being good. I always felt that Iced Earth is a bit “over-rated” as the
vocals never really impressed me, but Stu Block has really made me a fan and 'Plagues of Babylon' is the perfect follow up to 'Dystopia'. I think that Iced Earth fans are gonna go absolutely mental for this record. I’m really impressed
and I’m not a die-hard, so there you go.
Rating: 86%
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