I mentioned in the DamagePlan review about Pat Lachman having to find a new position after Rob Halford returned to Judas Priest. Imagine how much more difficult it must have been for Ripper Owens being ousted to make way for Halford. Owens had stood in ably for Halford during his Priest hiatus producing two strong albums with the band in 'Jugulator' and 'Demolition'. Luckily for him Iced Earth's previous vocalist jumped ship leaving the position open for him to step into.

The resultant album 'The Glorious Burden' is quite simply one of the best power metal albums to be released in many a long year. The album focuses on man's conflicts down the ages from Attila The Hun in the 5th century AD to the terrorist attacks on New York in 2001. The album opens with a satirical 'Star Spangled Banner' before launching into 'Declaration Day'. Looking back into history this song touches on to the American Declaration of Independence but has echoes into this age with the simple message that 'Freedom Isn't Free' and that it is worth fighting and dying for. Next up is 'When The Eagle Cries', which starts of all slow and moody before building into a mid-tempo chorus. 'The Reckoning (Don't Tread On Me)' is fast and furious, all riffs and bass drum patterns with a suitably angry lead vocal. 'Attila', the title says it all, starts with an intro that wouldn't be out of place on an Iron Maiden album (think 'Mother Russia' or 'To Tame A Land'), then comes the galloping guitar and bass lines. 'Red Baron/Blue Max'  starts off like Metallica in the good old days (before St Anger)  and unfolds into a cross between 'Painkiller' and Maiden's 'Where Eagles Dare'. 'Hollow Man', 'Waterloo' & 'Valley Forge' continue the pattern before we stumble across the albums finale, the three part  epic based upon the American Civil War. These three tracks 'The Devil To Pay', 'Hold At All Costs' and 'High Water Mark' come complete with full orchestration and all the 'epicness' that one could wish including exploding canons, drummer boys and shades of the death and destruction wrought. Clocking in at over 30 minutes this trilogy would make an entire album for many a band but in this setting just adds the album without detracting from any of the other songs.

Highly recommended.

Let us know your views on 'The Glorious Burden'

Track List

Declaration Day
When The Eagle Cries
The Reckoning (Don't Tread On Me)
Attila
Red Baron/Blue Max
Hollow Man
Waterloo
Valley Forge
The Devil To Pay - Gettysburg (1863)
Hold At All Costs - Gettysburg (1863)
High Water Mark - Gettysburg (1863)

Line  Up

Tim Owens - Lead Vocals
Jon Schaffer -Guitars
Ralph Santolla - Guitars
James McDonough - Bass
Richard Christy - Drums