Iced Earth are an institution of consistency in recent times and this being the second release to feature now relatively long time member Stu Block on vocals the promise is quite exciting based on their last effort ‘Dystopia’. Of course, Jon Schaffer is the musical mastermind here, but Block and indeed the remainder of the band are all contributors to this album, so we should not write off the band as merely a duo of creativity.
That said, I don’t find anything remarkable or different about the tracks, you expect a good album and that is what you get. The rhythm section is precise and energetic and as the PR material suggests, this was the aim, overall the sound and production is very epic. The opening gambit and title track is a good indication of what is to come but when you get to later in the release; you hear Block’s vocals becoming stronger especially in the lower register. A perfect example of which is heard on ‘If I Could See You’, a softer tale filled with many emotive sections. Lyrically Iced Earth has to some extent always written with a concept or story in mind. This release has been compared to their 98 release ‘Something Wicked This Way Comes’ which could be a good starting point, but there is plenty of new material here to compare too without charting credit from their earlier back catalogue.
More metal than most is ‘Parasite’ which possesses a strong chugging guitar backbone and a thunderously strong vocal delivery that highlights power through Iced Earth’s unique melody and one hell of a rip roaring guitar solo. ‘Among the Living Dead’ features guest vocal’s from Blind Guardian’s Hansi Kürsch which is good, but it’s nice to hear Block able to dominate the track as it should be a great result as Kürsch is one of the strongest vocalists out there, this therefore demonstrates Block’s massive progress . If you are looking for a little diversity, then head over to the track ‘Peacemaker’. This is the typical Iced Earth ballad at its start and develops a little more like a European sounding group rather than the solid American metal usually produced by these gents. This comes from the recorded sound, or rather the guitar tone, it sounds fresh and has a continuous pounding head banging experience which is much more fluid than the usual Iced Earth tracks heard over the last four or five releases.
Make no bones about it, ‘Plagues of Babylon’ is another sterling album release from one of the most consistent bands out there, the band are in unison on this effort, it sounds like a group effort and is delivered with a genuine high level of musicianship. Whilst it’s not my absolute favourite they have ever released, it’s going to be hard for their peers to match such a strong album, a mark of a truly gifted band.
(8/10 Paul Maddison)
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