Framing Armageddon: Something Wicked Pt.1 (CD - 2007)

Personnel: Jon Schaffer (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, bass guitar); Tim Owens (vocals); Jim Ward Morris (guitar, background vocals); Tim Mills, Troy Seele (guitar); Steve Rogowski (cello); Howard Helm (keyboards, background vocals); Dennis Hayes (bass guitar, fretless bass); Brent Smedley (drums); Jason Blackerby, Todd Plant (background vocals).

Additional personnel: Tim Mills (guitars); Patina Ripkey, Debbie Harrell, Jim Morris , Kathy Helm (background vocals); Troy Seele, Jason Blackerby, Howard Helm, Dennis Hayes, Todd Plant, Steve Rogowski.

Audio Mixer: Jim Ward Morris.

Recording information: Soaring Eagle Sound (02/2007-04/2007).

With 2007's FRAMING ARMAGEDDON: SOMETHING WICKED PT. 1, the Floridian power-metal ensemble Iced Earth unveils one of its most ambitious outings. A concept album about an epic world-shaping struggle between humans and beings called "Setians," FRAMING ARMAGEDDON finds vocalist Tim Owens, formerly of Judas Priest, fully in synch with guitarist and group mastermind Jon Schaffer as they spin fantastic tales with operatic energy, as exemplified by the fierce anthem "Ten Thousand Strong." Headbangers, take heed--it's hard to get more "metal" than this.

Some metal bands like to wallow in their misery, some like to party hard, and some aren't bashful in voicing their admiration of Lucifer. But a band like Iced Earth refuses to indulge in any of the aforementioned well-traveled roads; instead, they specialize in triumphant-sounding metal, often sounding like the perfect soundtrack for if you were training for the triathlon at the Olympics. And on their 2007 release, Framing Armageddon, the group continues to show off their instrumental and vocal prowess -- as evidenced by the masterful guitar work of founding member Jon Schaffer ("Something Wicked, Pt. One"), and the multi-octave vocal gymnastics from former Judas Priest frontman Tim "Ripper" Owens ("Infiltrate and Assimilate"). Getting back to the whole "triumphant metal" thing, take a listen to the chorus of "A Charge to Keep" and tell me you can't picture raising your fist high in victory. And it should come as no surprise that since the group has always thought in "epic" terms, Framing Armageddon is indeed a concept album. According to a press release, the story line is "A heavy metal sci-fi thriller of epic proportions, propelling one through a tale of evil and tragic loss, as well as the deception, patience and belief it takes to plan a reckoning." Yowsah! ~ Greg Prato minimize