Country: U.S.A
Genre: Heavy Metal, Thrash Metal
Genre: Heavy Metal, Thrash Metal
Label Number: SPV 092-74970 DCD
.FLAC via Florenile
.AAC 256 kbps via Florenfile
© 2004 SPV, Steamhammer Records
AllMusic Review by Thom Jurek
.FLAC via Florenile
.AAC 256 kbps via Florenfile
© 2004 SPV, Steamhammer Records
AllMusic Review by Thom Jurek
Earth indulge guitarist and principal songwriter Jon Schaeffer's
passion -- some would say obsession -- for history. On the bonus-disc
edition, there are 11 tracks on the first disc, and on Disc Two, a
three-part suite entitled "Gettysburg." Disc One begins, appropriately
enough, with "The Star-Spangled Banner," played in overdrive with plenty
of crunch, but nonetheless reverently. That statement aside, the album
truly begins with "Declaration Day," an examination of the events
leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and the
beginning of the American Revolution. Singer Tim Owens
steps into the fray and relates, amid the bone-crushing riffing and
half-time drum thud. But interestingly, it's a track that gets
juxtaposed with the one that follows it, "When the Eagle Cries."
Together they comprise a kind of view across the historical battlefield,
from the tyranny of the British Empire to the tyranny of terrorism. The
latter cut, with its haunting acoustic guitars in the front line before
it breaks wide open, sort of looks back at "Declaration Day" and notes
its inspiration. A truly majestic song full of plodding, jarring chords
and a hooky chorus, it is part funeral hymn, and part a call-to-arms.
Indeed, as the careening bombast of "The Reckoning (Don't Tread on Me),"
comes into sharp focus, one can see that Schaeffer's
intent is to very clearly showcase the various difficult, and even
horrifying, moments confronting America since its inception -- one can
read double meanings in all the songs that have American lore at their
core. America isn't the mythical and/or archetypal muse here: on tracks
such as "Attila," and "Red Baron/Blue Max," the metaphors are extended
to two more figures from the dust of the past. At last, here is a record
about patriotism that contains no jingoism; it offers its perceptions
honestly and without compromise, but instead of going along for the
ride, it offers a place to argue from, as well as to enjoy. Highly
recommended.
tags: iced earth, the glorious burden, limited edition, 2004, flac,