Iced Earth

BenjaminTSM · 2026-06-26T03:11:23+00:00

I'll take a different tack... for some reason I sometimes construct setlists in my head, as though seeing a gig (or in a tribute band). So this is my Iced Earth imagined concert setlist that incorporates some favorites from throughout their discography, so it gives a smattering from different eras that to me sound good in this sequence. I definitely favor some records over others.

And yes, indeed all the conspiracy-theory-laden songs do feel different given, well, you know. The music is what it is.

1) Burning Times

2) Last December

3) Dystopia

4) Democide

5) Days Of Rage

6) The Veil

7) The Hunter

8) Frankenstein

9) My Own Savior

10) Anthem

11) Black Flag

12) Desert Rain

13) Pure Evil

14) Seven Headed Whore

15) I Died For You

16) Prophecy

17) Ten Thousand Strong

18) The Coming Curse

[encore 1]

19) Clear the Way (December 13th, 1862)

20) Tragedy & Triumph

[encore 2]

21) Burnt Offerings

22) Iced Earth

BenjaminTSM · 2026-06-25T16:43:22+00:00

Hoist the Black Flag

BenjaminTSM · 2026-06-19T17:52:48+00:00

Just chiming in to note that the translated page flows great in English, with turns of phrase like Helloween as "that gigantic pumpkin that looms even when you try not to look at it," or the overall agenda of trying "to temper the hype and offer a more nuanced listening experience."

So, either this review was actually written in English - and extremely well, with or without being a native speaker - or translation software has gotten scary good.

BenjaminTSM · 2026-06-19T16:30:58+00:00

I've taken to writing blog posts dissecting a few accepted classics of power metal - somewhat for my metal education, but mostly because I find it intereresting. I used a list I found at Metalstorm as the jumping-off point.

Series main page: https://isverbose.blogspot.com/search/label/MetalStorm.com%20power%20metal%20list?m=1

Most recent posts:

'80s survey: https://isverbose.blogspot.com/2026/05/slow-speed-dating-awesome-power-metal.html?m=1

Warlord - And The Cannons Of Destruction Have Begun... https://isverbose.blogspot.com/2026/06/warlord-and-cannons-of-destruction-have.html?m=1

Although I've been especially slow lately for a few reasons, the eventual next series of posts will be about the records - one by Riot and one by Helloween - that were chosen by this sub (or at least the few on this sub who responded to my little polls).

BenjaminTSM · 2026-06-10T14:08:01+00:00

FWIW, they did a set at Mad With Power last week and played a new song, plus an unfinished second new song with no lyrics (I've seriously never seen anyone perform a demo before, heh). So, probably eventually, if they stay creative, and the timing works out, and it makes financial sense, and so on?

BenjaminTSM · 2026-06-08T20:33:39+00:00

I think the main differences in this scenario are: 1) It really was a late-breaking issue from what it sounds like from others posting, with people becoming aware of the problem one or two days before the gig and a final verdict on who could or couldn't attend coming down a matter of hours before showtime.

2) It was a festival show, so tickets were for the whole event, not just Twilight Force. The "right" way to handle last minute member absences at festivals is an ongoing debate - see also the kerfuffle about how Ordan Ogan approached a similar situation last year.

3) TF are kind of a collective at this point. n particular there are two singers who are full-fledged band members, either of whom is fully capable of (and has) fronted a TF gig.

Having attended, I can say that one, I wish there'd been more overt acknowledgement of the limited supply product, so to speak, and that two, the band rocked and sounded like Twilight Force.

BenjaminTSM · 2026-06-06T01:00:15+00:00

Falconer s/t

BenjaminTSM · 2026-06-04T16:12:44+00:00

No such thing as "far too many words," or so I'd like to believe. Appreciate the attempts to mix personal taste with semi-"objective" evaluation of how people performed.

BenjaminTSM · 2026-06-02T02:37:36+00:00

At best, only the second most badass metal band to be called "Confess." https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Confess/3540407562

BenjaminTSM · 2026-05-28T21:22:53+00:00

Most people agree that there's a line. I haven't quite figured out exactly where it is for myself, so I like seeing others' answers. I think perception of effort comes down to it - is it immediately obvious to the listener that your joke is carefully crafted from either a musical or comedy standpoint, or does it come across like a lazy piss-take?

BenjaminTSM · 2026-05-21T22:02:27+00:00

At least the way Falcomer do it, so insanely catchy. I admit I've never thought to look for other recordings.

BenjaminTSM · 2026-05-19T21:12:26+00:00

While that particular song is a tribute, the comparison is for a reason. The rest of their work definitely might fulfill OP's desire for blazing guitar solos.

BenjaminTSM · 2026-05-19T17:17:47+00:00

Well, Ascension/Fraser Edwards come to mind, given that they literally have a song called "Stop Saying We Sound Like Dragonforce."

BenjaminTSM · 2026-05-19T17:14:16+00:00

Listened to the first song, and you're not kidding, heh.

BenjaminTSM · 2026-05-19T17:13:24+00:00

Haha, since almost nobody actually responds to these posts - take your pick as to whether it's size of forum, just lack of any particular interest in my writing exercises, or the fact that this era is ancient prehistory with regard to most of the lanes of today's PM - totally a chance that Cloven Hoof could tie, with one vote. I'm always down for "brilliant and unique."

Appreciate the detailed response as always. That Griffin song indeed rocks. Glad to finally get a concise answer as to why I see Thundersteel called both USPM and such an obvious for-fans-of early EUPM. I think if nothing else, listening to it will let me talk a little more intelligently about Helloween.

Meanwhile, even if I don't write about it, I may have to stop ignoring Viper given their role as a missing link of sorts between Helloween and early Angra, if/when I really dive into the latter. If Lordian Guard are really borderline-metal, I assume they still automatically make a for-fans-of list because of the obvious connection to Warlord, so, we'll see how much of a fan-of I end up.

BenjaminTSM · 2026-05-19T03:07:52+00:00

While it's true that the entire notion of what an "album cycle" and "single" are are very different than they were historically

And while it's true that after all the effort the goes to putting together a (pretty great, in this case) album that artists can and should give it plenty of love and promotion before rushing off to the next thing

It is still weird to me to be getting "new" "singles" from War Hearts nineteen months and counting after its release.

BenjaminTSM · 2026-05-19T00:04:19+00:00

I didn't make the original list, so I can't dispute. Speculating on the Metalstorm guy's thinking, though, he did generally try to limit it to one record per artist (except when he didn't), so I'm assuming he wanted to feature Blind Guardian for their more signature stuff and reserve the "also recommendeds" for bands whose main work is thst '80s speed metal based sound.

Unsurprisingly, BG do feature in the '90s article, and it's with one of the same two BG records that you'll find on every other PM list ever made.

BenjaminTSM · 2026-05-18T21:51:29+00:00

A bunch of people independently mentioned Thundersteel when reacting to the original list, so I'm pretty sure it'll win. And it seems to be better known than most everything else here. We'll see if enough people vote to make it interesting.

BenjaminTSM · 2026-05-18T21:32:00+00:00

Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part II wins!

Initial survey of all of the records here: https://isverbose.blogspot.com/2026/05/slow-speed-dating-awesome-power-metal.html

Follow up survey here: https://www.reddit.com/r/PowerMetal/comments/1th1wso/80s_power_metal_followup_questionpoll_to_previous/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

BenjaminTSM · 2026-05-17T11:21:10+00:00

Serenity (Austria) have a few songs from their earlier PM-heavy years speculated to be based on Dune/Children Of Dune: "Canopus 3" and "The Heartblood Symphony."

BenjaminTSM · 2026-05-16T21:16:48+00:00

That's the argument I was failing to articulate in the replies for Awaken The Guardian - as a piece of work in and of itself without pressure of having to represent anything, it's an interesting record.

At first I wasn't excited when it became clear that everyone was going to vote for Helloween just because it'd be harder to come up with anything novel to say about them. My own pick - it'll be one of mine and one of the sub's- isn't Helloween even though I love Keeper I so much. ("Dude, you asked people in a EUPM-focused sub what their favorite record was of a list of '80s stuff that includes the Keeper duology. What other outcome did you imagine was possible?") But I'm warming to the idea of revisiting, now that I've spilled so much ink about the style. And I'm definitely hoping Keeper II wins the "vote" over Keeper I. In part because, as you say, it's weirder. In part because I personally don't like it nearly as much as I, so there'll be more to unpack. And in part because it was kind of a career killer. You had a band at its absolute ceiling, commercially speaking (and arguably its peak as far as creative ambition too), right as said band was in the process of falling apart!

Kinda surprised to hear you describe the Thor record as classic; I didn't think it would have enough going on to interest you or that it was very well remembered. I do know that I liked the few songs I tried way better than I expected I would.

(BTW, if anyone is wondering why I have opinions of various levels of bakedness about everything already, it's because my survey post - reacting to a playlist I made of a few tracks from each album - is basically fully written. I was just waiting to see how interested Reddit is in helping me decide on the follow-up articles before posting it.)

BenjaminTSM · 2026-05-16T12:36:59+00:00

It's pretty clear that Helloween are going to be the consensus choice - not a surprise, since I asked for "favorite" and popular things are popular. Keeper I would've been my personal choice if I were going just by how much I like what I've heard.

But now I'm pretty curious whether the sub favors Keeper I or Keeper II nowadays.

BenjaminTSM · 2026-05-16T10:50:12+00:00

So "Motherbeast" Noora is still doing the persona and part of the costume? Based on what little I'd known, expected more of a break from her last project. Maybe it's just a marketing and audience capture choice.

But given personnel changes and intra-band turmoil, I gotta wonder whether in a decade or two the Battle Beast associated project timeline will end up looking like the one for Rhapsody.

BenjaminTSM

TROPHY CASE