The Wake

With a new singer in tow (Tim Owens replacing Matt Barlow), Iced Earth has accomplished a masterwork. On The Glorious Burden, band leader Jon Schaffer has put together a conceptual double album based on military history and his love for the U.S.A. The album opens with a classy and respectful guitar version of “The Star Spangled Banner,” followed by a power thrash track about the American Revolution (“Declaration Day”) and a somber ballad dedicated to victims of the 9/11 attacks (“When the Eagle Cries”). My favorite track on the first disc is “Valley Forge,” another power thrash masterwork that really delivers an emotional punch. The second disc for me is the absolute highlight of Iced Earth’s nineteen year career. This is the epic “Gettysburg,” clocking in at over thirty minutes. Schaffer has thought out every movement in the three-part epic and in the lyric sheet includes explanations of the historical events after each segment of music. This is epic metal at its finest, most powerful and moving form. The song almost brings the listener to tears, as the three day battle claimed more American lives than in the entire Vietnam War. Overall, The Glorious Burden stands as a testament to Iced Earth’s unique skill, with lyrics and music that reflect interesting and inspiring moments in history. The Glorious Burden is truly an album of great magnitude.