Iced Earth - Horror Show [2001]

The first four tracks are quite good. Of them, only "Jack" seems to capture the energy that they used to have. However, the songwriting has improved and become more complex. "Im-Ho-Tep" is a bit of an oddity that really doesn't float my boat... makes me bored. "Jekyll & Hyde" is much more like it: catchy, energetic, and wonderfully written. "Dragon's Child" has a very validating feel to it. "Transylvania" has a very boring and contrived first half but then goes into a really cool second half with good solos. "Frankenstein" is a straight-forward and largely uninspired song that feels flat. "Dracula" has more energy. "The Phantom Opera Ghost" has lyrics that are cringingly cliché, but the music is quite good. Overall, it's not as strong as Something Wicked, but the good parts are very good. It's a very polarized album.

Rating: 7.5

http://www.icedearth.com/

All ratings are out of 10. Rating may not be a whole number.

Iced Earth - Something Wicked this Way Comes [1998]

From galloping and heavy romps to thrashy rapid-succession triplets to calm and beautiful strolls. Nearly all of the songs are catchy and well-written. "My Own Savior" is too camp for my tastes as the chorus feels like a bad joke. The quality and strength are very far cries from Dark Saga's mostly bland effort.

Rating: 8

http://www.icedearth.com/

All ratings are out of 10. Rating may not be a whole number.

Metalium - State of Triumph - Chapter Two [2000]

Just when I think that Henning's voice couldn't possibly get higher, "Steel Avenger" proves me wrong. It's certainly following on the structure of the first disk, energy and all. "Years of Darion" is a bit more groove with quite a catchy chorus. "Break Out" starts off slow and eventually builds up to a moderate tempo... much more catchy guitar riffing than YoD, but the sound clip part after the solo is out of place and very distracting. "Erania" kicks it off fucking strong, but with a strange and quirky verse and eventually ending with what will surely be, by far, the peak of the album. Right into "Stygian Flames" which thrashes the listener around like a british nanny. The chorus of "Prophecy" saves the song a bit from the grip of boredom. This album doesn't have the same proficient songwriting or magic of the first one, but it's still pretty good in its own right.

Rating: 7.5

http://www.metalium.de/

All ratings are out of 10. Rating may not be a whole number.

Iced Earth - Dark Saga [1996]

There aren't any real high points of this album. It's more like an album of mediocrity. Ok, but nothing inspirational or moving.

Rating: 6

http://www.icedearth.com/

All ratings are out of 10. Rating may not be a whole number.

Metalium - Millennium Metal: Chapter One [1999]

Fast and energetic start to the album with "Fight". EXTREMELY catchy as well. "Dream of Doom" slows things down a little. "Break the Spell" picks things up into a wonderfully catchy romp. The songwriting throughout this album is excellent. It manages to be more epic than bands with full orchestras and choirs behind them. Each song feels like it's own entity, but they all fit together to form what feels like a coherent story throughout the album. There's maybe only one weak song on here. They go through so many different types of Power Metal and writing styles that it's impossible to become bored while listening to this album... thrash, groove, heavy, melodic, ballad, and even a touch of folk. All that praising aside, the guitar distortion is too metallic and hollow... sounds like they're playing through aluminum cans.

Rating: 8.5

http://www.metalium.de/

All ratings are out of 10. Rating may not be a whole number.