Search - Iced Earth :: Night of the Stormrider (Remixed)

90s albums this great are hard to come by.

The Clansman | Michigan USA | 03/16/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Iced Earth are easily one of the best bands to debut on a record label in the 90s. If I wouldn't of known any better, I'd think this was an 80s classic/thrash metal album. They really capture that 80s heavy metal feel on this album. In my opinion it sounds like a mixture of Slayer, Metallica, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden most of the way through. But all the way, they have a very unique sound that is their own. Believe me when I say they are no imitators of the above bands. They have a style all their own influenced by the classic, great metal bands. The guitar easily stands out the most here. Jon Schaffer writes extraordinary music and riffs on NOTSR. He has some of the fastest hands I've ever heard on guitar, especially for a rhythm guitarist. He is definitely one of the most talented, underrated rhythm guitarists out there. There are so many classics on this album that will be stuck in your head after just a listen or two.



My favorite track on the album is the epic album closer- Travel In Stygian. It is so fast and the tempo and riffs keep changing the whole way through. The chorus is easily one of the best, if not the best on the album. My favorite riff on the entire album comes at 4:40 on this song when Schaffer just shreds on guitar. Other favorites of mine also include Stormrider(which I was surprised at how awesome Schaffer's voice was, as he sings on this one),Angels Holocaust, and Mystical End. There are two short acoustic songs which act kind of as intros for the song afterwards. Those two songs are Reaching The End and Before The Vision. Both are excellent, but the later of the two is better I personally think. Greely's vocals really shine on these two. John Greely does an amazing job on vocals for this album. His vocals are very dynamic, going from a nice, smooth, clean voice to an extremely heavy metal voice. He can also hit those high notes. He was an excellent choice by Schaffer. Is he as good as Matt Barlow? Probably not, but he's very close in my opinion.



This is an epic, dark, concept album. Whats not to like about that? To tell you the truth, I really can't find any problems with NOTSR whatsoever. Everything is just solid in all aspects. I was expecting a good album, but what I found was that this exceeded my greatest expectations. So that makes for an easy 5 star album."

Aside from Poor Vox, a ripping sophomore album

Metal Maniac | USA | 08/05/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Iced Earth is the type of metal band that most bands should strive to be like. When I say that, I don't mean that stylistically, but staying true to a vision and having full-tilt, balls to the wall metal. This record's only fault is the fact that it was released before Matt Barlow joined. John Greely wasn't an awful singer, but he just plain pales in comparison to Matt. The music on the album is just plain crunchy. Time for a list.

Track 1 - Angel's Holocaust - Pure Iced Earth right here. This song is an irrefutable classic. The Carmina Burana opening all the way through to the segue into Stromrider, this song just rips. Iced Earth doesn't get much better.

Track 2 - Stromrider - One of my personal favorite Iced Earth tracks, this sucker starts off with a mellow opening, then BAM! the song kicks in and rips the entire way to the end. For an improved version of these two tracks, you gotta check out Days Of Purgatory, Matt's vox just add so much more to these songs.

Track 3 - The Path I Choose - THIS IS THE PATH THAT I CHOOSE! Oh man, yet ANOTHER gem. Iced Earth just pulled out all of the stops to make this one of the best metal albums of the 90's. This song displays the bands NWOBHM influences, namely the mighty Maiden (UP THE IRONS!) meeting up with mega-metal band JUDAS PRIEST. This album just won't stop.

Track 4 - Before The Vision - An acoustic/vox piece, adds to the mood of desperation of the album. John Greely's vox shine fairly well here, he didn't have a massively powerful voice like Matt, but he certainly does an able job. The song is testament to that.

Track 5 - Mystical End - Just another excellent slab of pure steel from Iced Earth. Excellent Guitar/Bass harmonies here.

Track 6 - Desert Rain - One of the finest songs on here, IMHO, fourth to Angel's Holocaust/Stormrider tandem and the next track on the disc, PURE EVIL.

Track 7 - PURE EVIL - The title says it all. This song just tears all the way through. In an odd twist of fate, this song is almost a down point on the disc though because the vox cause the song the suffer, This song is PERFECTED beyond all belief with the re-recording on Days Of Purgatory. Although the song suffers on this release, this song is one of Iced Earth's finest once Matt gets a chance to give it his treatment.

Track 8 - Reaching the End - Title says it all once again, another moody segue that leads into the EPIC Travel In Stygian.

Track 9 - Travel In Stygian - Longest song on the album, this one is another ripper. This album culminates here with this song being the Stormrider's crossing the river Styx.



If you seek a true metal classic that was released after the 80's closed, you won't have to search far, pick up any of Iced Earth's music. For the listener just getting into the band, Night of the Stormrider is a fine place to start."