Iced Earth

On Tour

8,962,380 plays (226,313 listeners)

power metal, heavy metal, metal, thrash metal, progressive metal… see all

Iced Earth is an American heavy metal band that combines the power, speed and thrash metal genres in its music. The band was formed by Jon Schaffer, the lead songwriter and rhythm guitarist, in Tampa, Florida, the “metal capital” of America. The original name of the band was Purgatory but was then changed to Iced Earth, introduced by Jon.

Iced Earth’s music is often described as Iron Maiden combined with 80’s thrash metal. The most distinctive element of the band’s sound is the stuttering right-hand gallop of rhythm guitarist Jon Schaffer, which sounds something like the ‘eighth-note, two-sixteenth-notes’ gallop made famous by Iron Maiden’s bass player/songwriter Steve Harris (in such songs as “Run to the Hills”, “The Trooper”, and “Caught Somewhere in Time”), varied rhythmically. Overtop of this gallop are typically laid strong melodic hooks, sometimes doubled by two guitars playing in harmony. The vocals are often high-pitched, but express a full range, while the rhythm section uses thrash and power metal techniques such as double-bass-drumming to keep the speed and energy high. Iced Earth’s drummer is known for his frequent use of drags and flams on the bass drum.

Today, Jon is the only original member in the band, having changed multiple guitarists, drummers, and vocalists. The two most recognized vocalists of the band are Matt Barlow and Tim “ripper” Owens, the former vocalist of Judas Priest. Matt Barlow ended up marrying Jon’s sister, making Matt the brother-in-law of Jon Schaffer.

Something Wicked This Way Comes
Iced Earth
Buy
- Amazon
- eBay
Download
Horror Show
Iced Earth
Buy
- Amazon
- eBay
Download
The Dark Saga
Iced Earth
Buy
- Amazon
- eBay
Download
The Glorious Burden
Iced Earth
Buy
- Amazon
- eBay
Download

Top Tracks

1	I Died for You full track	1,362
2	Watching Over Me full track	1,265
3	Melancholy (Holy Martyr) full track	1,264
4	Burning Times full track	882
5	Angels Holocaust full track	872
6	Dark Saga full track	850
6	The Hunter full track	850
8	Pure Evil	775
9	A Question of Heaven full track	746
10	My Own Savior full track	743
11	Wolf full track	696
12	Dracula	694
13	Stormrider full track	677
14	Ten Thousand Strong full track	666
15	Stand Alone full track	663

Shoutbox

Leave a comment. Log in to Last.fm or sign up (it’s free).

Luke_UK wrote:
5 hours ago

Ripper isn't as shit as some of you silly IE loonies make him out to be; also, the latest album is cool.

View Profile | Leave Luke_UK a shout
fjster wrote:
9 hours ago

Forse mi sbaglio ma questo pezzo non era degli Iron Maiden? Al limite viceversa, sta di fatto che ho letto qua e la e non trovo nessuna conessione. Se non sbaglio l'album doveva essere Killer o Iron Maiden. Era solo una mia intuizione, poi magari in questo momento non sono in grado di distinguerla, ma mi sembra difficile. Am I perhaps wrong me but this piece was not of the Iron Maiden? To the limit vice versa it is sure, what I have read here and her and I don't find any relationship. If I don't mistake the album it had to be Killer or Iron Maiden. One intuition of mine was alone, then even in this moment I am not able to distinguish her/it, but it seems me difficult.

View Profile | Leave fjster a shout
pnummator wrote:
yesterday afternoon

ehhhh.....

View Profile | Leave pnummator a shout
EVILteddie wrote:
yesterday morning

I second that about Dante's Inferno, one of my favorite songs of all time!

View Profile | Leave EVILteddie a shout
destard wrote:
Saturday evening

and btw, i'm not "bitter" or anything, i'm just not a fanboy like you who praises anything on which "iced earth" is written...

View Profile | Leave destard a shout
destard wrote:
Saturday evening

shit can't really grow on you, that's called lapse of taste my friend. how can they be damn good when there're always the same boring and shitty riffs?? schaffer is just out of riffs and ideas in general, face it. the band is just a parody of itself today. sad but true.

View Profile | Leave destard a shout
CidH wrote:
Saturday afternoon

Start with the last two albums, or you'll end up as bitter as Destard (no disrespect bro, but I don't believe those albums to be half as bad as many fans thing), because those albums are really damn good, but they do need to grow on you. But I do agree that Alive in Athens would be the best introduction to their older stuff. I prefer Matt's voice to any of their past singers.

View Profile | Leave CidH a shout
destard wrote:
Saturday morning

Alive in Athens or if you prefer studio albums Night of the Stormrider and Burnt Offerings! And try to avoid the last two albums (Framing Armageddon & Crucible of Man) at all costs, cause they are shit!

View Profile | Leave destard a shout
Ahbez wrote:
Friday evening

Days of Purgatory

View Profile | Leave Ahbez a shout
pnummator wrote:
Friday afternoon

what would be the best album to start with?

View Profile | Leave pnummator a shout
Luke_UK wrote:
Friday afternoon

This band fucking rules

View Profile | Leave Luke_UK a shout
Ahbez wrote:
Friday morning

i'm gonna give Crucible of Man one more chance, maybe it's better the 3rd time ;P

View Profile | Leave Ahbez a shout
Sharnaak wrote:
Friday morning

I've spent the past few days listening no-stop framing armageddon and crucible of man,the storyline is awesome.. i'd love to read a book about set abominae and the setians ><! Oh and to those who says that the sound of crucible of man is bad,listen to it a few more times,it's a strange,yet awesome cd.

View Profile | Leave Sharnaak a shout
wajahat_k wrote:
Wednesday morning

Can't get enough of DANTE's INFERNO!!!!!!! One of the greatest metal compositions ever!!! :D :D

View Profile | Leave wajahat_k a shout
W1F3B34T3R wrote:
Wednesday morning

SEXIEST BAND ALIVE. I GOT MY VIP TICKET TO KANSAS CITY TODAY!

View Profile | Leave W1F3B34T3R a shout
Hrothdane wrote:
Wednesday morning

I just got my VIP ticket for the Chicago show too! I overheard some people talking at the helloween/gamma ray concert last month about the last iced earth VIP meet and greet. They took individual pictures with everyone and chatted with them for awhile! I can't wait!

View Profile | Leave Hrothdane a shout
JaGBaG wrote:
Tuesday evening

Just bought my VIP ticket for their November 14th show in Chicago

View Profile | Leave JaGBaG a shout
marianaponte wrote:
Tuesday afternoon

Hey, check out the Brazilian metal band Mortaes! Three tracks for free download!

View Profile | Leave marianaponte a shout
BurningRemnant wrote:
Tuesday afternoon

Battlefist: read below. I'm pleasantly surprised that quite a lot of old fans still find NotS their best work, or anyway, among their best. I think it is their best album, but I recommend you Alive in Athens more. It gives you 3 CDs of awesomeness and everything is covered there basically. Then you'll decide what album is also worth it. Half of NotS is there (and they did a great selection, the best songs are all played). The self-titled is also great, but lacking in the vocal department and some riff ideas go wring from time to time, but there are excellent riffs aplenty. Try Burnt Offerings, too

View Profile | Leave BurningRemnant a shout
Rowan5215 wrote:
Tuesday morning

bens0n is right.

View Profile | Leave Rowan5215 a shout

12…98 Next

Events

Oct 14 Iced Earth The NorVa, Virginia Beach, United States
8 shouts | 7 attendees
Oct 15 Iced Earth The Palladium, Worcester(, Massachusetts), United States
8 shouts | 32 attendees
Oct 16 Iced Earth Nokia Theatre, Times Square, New York, United States
6 shouts | 29 attendees