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Il settimo lavoro degli americani, Iced Earth, non delude le aspettative dei precedenti “The Dark Saga” e “Something wicked comes this way”, lavori che hanno portato il tanto sperato successo.
Un disco che si differenzia dai precedenti per vari motivi. Nella line-up sono presenti alla base ritmica, Richard Christy dietro le pelli e di Steve Digiorgio al basso…nomi che fanno la differenza!
Ed effettivamente la differenza vera la creano i sopraccitati, con un muro di doppia cassa spacca – timpani e una base di basso strepitosa, ingegnata da qual geniaccio di Digiorgio, che ci regala atmosfere horror attraverso il suo fretless.
Un'altra differenza sono, alcune parti melodiche e situazioni atmosferiche, legate al tema del disco. Infatti in questo “Horror show”, vengono nominate molte creature malefiche (da Frankestein a Dracula) e le canzoni sono legate da un solo filo conduttore, che ripercorrono il tema del disco.L’album a tratti assume una certa cadenza, in stile Demon & Wizard, per poi incedere violento e diretto in un sound duro con spunti veramente thrash! La presenza di John Schaffer è la causa di questo effetto, che decade in arpeggi suggestivi, per poi ripartire nelle solite galoppate old-style.
La grande prestazione di Mattew Barlow, regala all’ascoltatore, una voce evocativa e lirica, pronta ad esplodere in acuti malvagi e in cori power! Il cantante è la punta di diamante della band, per la sua camaleontica adattabilità ad ogni singola situazione.
In molte tracks sono presenti pezzi acustici molto intensi. Le caratteristiche di quasi tutti gli episodi, sono ballad estremamente epiche che sfociano in ritmiche aggressive e deraglianti!
Cito fra le canzoni più belle e significative dell’album: “Damien” con un arpeggio oscuro di basso, i cori lirici, passando per della pura violenza, per finire con un pezzo di pianoforte raccapricciante! “Dracula” con il suo inizio da brivido e un esplosione paurosa! La traccia iniziale “Wolf” ci regala una potenza inaudita grazie ad il fattore Christy-Digiorgio. L’ultima traccia “The Phantom Opera Ghost”, è resa incantevole dal duetto di Barlow con una voce femminile, che rende tutto altamente in linea con il concept lirico.
Per la gioia degli headbangers, nella versione limited – edition è presente una cover di “Transylvania” degli Iron Maiden, dove il sublime Steve, ci regala un emozione grandissima, ripercorrendo la strumentrale e indimenticabile canzone delle “Vergini di ferro”, in puro stile thrash-metal.
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01 Wolf (05:19)
Innocence tainted by pure lunacy
Cursed by the slash of a shape-shifting beast
Oh no, this can't be
Demonic infection, a doomed changeling
His future concealed as he begs to be told
A kiss from the gypsy, he'll never grow old
Oh no, this can't be
Demonic infection, a doomed changeling
(Chorus)
Even a man who's pure
And says his prayers by night
(He won't hear your prayers)
Man become a wolf
When the wolf bane blooms,
And the autumn moon is bright
(There's a full moon tonight)
Man may become a wolf.
He who is bitten by a wolf and lives
Possession soon follows, no use to resist
Oh no, this can't be
Cursed by the moonlight, a doomed changeling
The madness a turmoil that swells up inside
To truly find peace is to truly die
Oh no, this can't be
Cursed by the moonlight, a doomed changeling
Now comes the rampage, a killing spree
Hunting his loved ones comes instinctively
Oh no, it's maddening
A shape-shifting demon of pure lunacy
A shot from the darkness tears through its flesh
A bullet of silver lays it to rest
Oh no, it's maddening
An innocent victim finds his peace.
02 Damien (09:11)
(chanting)
"Mundi Universitas Flammescorri Mi Immigreavi"
dünya alevler içinde yokolacak ve herkes ölecek
"Say! Damien Oh!"
So the beast resides in me
Deep down I always knew
I never really did fit in
So diverse from all of you
Let him who comprehends
Know the number of the beast
It's a number of a man
A number just for me
As the boy becomes a man
Father's minions pave the way
Set in motion now, Armageddon,
Final conflict, end of days
I embrace the hounds of hell
And the power they oblige
For the task that lies ahead
The Nazarene I'll crucify
They'll see the raptures of our kingdom
They'll see the truth to mankind
I'll show what hell truly is
The monotony of their lives
(Chorus)
When the Jews return to Zion
And a comet fills the sky
The Holy Roman Empire rises
And you and I must die
From the eternal sea he rises
Creating armies on either shore
Turning man against his brother
Till man exists no more
(spoken)
"Nazarene, what can you offer?
Since the hour you vomited forth
from the gaping whomb of a woman,
you have done nothing but drown mens' soaring desires
in a deluge of sanctimonious morality.
I was conceived of a jackal.
Your pain on the cross was but a splinter
compared to the agony of my father.
I will drive deeper the thorns into your rancid carcass,
you profaner of Isis.
Cursed Nazarene,
I will avenge thy torment"
Now Disciples of the Watch
See your Prince of Darkness rise
Through famine and destruction
The Four Horsemen at my side
I demand a victory, I demand your sacrifice
Or spend all eternity
In the flaccid gut of Christ!
(Chorus)
When the Jews return to Zion
And a comet fills the sky
The Holy Roman Empire rises
And you and I must die
From the eternal sea he rises
Creating armies on either shore
Turning man against his brother
Till man exists no more
Say! Damien Oh!
Damien! See! Damien!
(Chanting)
Damien Oh!
Say! Damien Oh!
(Whispering)
06 Jekyll & Hyde (04:39)
What's the reason for me to be this way?
I'm lying on the floor
I've broken through some door
I don't know how I came to this
There is blood lust in my eyes
And someone in my mind saying
I have forced you here
I'm hiding, right here inside you
Trapped in here so long
You'll find me growing in every man
Who is this that speaks to me?
Tearing down my mind
My reality
This must certainly be the one
What will I pay for this?
This evil synthesis!
I'm out of control
Evil takes my soul
I can feel you inside me
You're not stronger than me
I won't let you
No, you can't have me!
I won't let you destroy me
You took away my life
With your wicked seed
If you're able to take control
You'll bring damnation upon my soul
09 Dracula (05:53)
Do you believe in love?
Do you believe in destiny?
True love may come only once in a thousand lifetimes...
I too have loved...they took her from me.
I prayed for her soul....I prayed for her peace
When I close my eyes
I see her face, it comforts me
When I close my eyes
Memories cut like a knife
The blood is the life, and Christ I defy.
My sworn enemy...birth of a new creed.
Is this my reward for serving God's own war?
The blood I've spilled for faith fulfilled.
To damn her, a disgrace, you spit back in my face.
I served you loyally, and you spew blasphemy.
I avenge with darkness, the blood is the life
The Order of the Dragon, I feed on human life
There are far worse things awaiting man than death
Come taste what I have seen
I'm spreading my disease
I will feed upon His precious child
The human race will bleed, they will serve my need.
(Pre-chorus)
I avenge with darkness, the blood is the life
The Order of the Dragon, I feed on human life
(Chorus)
I am the Dragon of blood, a relentless prince of pain
Renouncing God of His throne
My blood is forever stained
For true love I shall avenge
I defy the creed that damned her
10 The Phantom Opera Ghost (08:41)
Y: I feel you, from beyond the walls you speak to me
M: Christine my love Paris now will worship you
You will star soon I'll kill to make it sure for you
Y: Oh my love, won't you please show yourself to me
M: Soon I'll take you in my kingdom you're the queen.
It's dark and peaceful but my face you'll never see, no
M: Oh Christine on this eve I will come for you
Y: Erik my love, I've waited all my life for you
Please just take me I need to be with you
M: Take my hand, through the catacombs my lair awaits
Y: Caverns, mazes, the underworld and the blackest lake.
Enticing danger, your passion feeds me I'm your slave
Y: Now I've bathed in fear. I will not leave here
M: Breathe deep the darkness. Breathe deep the madness
Y: I'm so cold inside. Mental suicide
M: Breathe deep the darkness. Breathe deep the sadness
M: Oh Christine don't you know it's all for you
Carlotta's head and the other death's I planned.
All for you, to have your night in the spotlight.
From now on forevermore you will only sing for me
Y: So you are, you are the legend. The Phantom Opera Ghost
M: I am what man has made me. With his hate and cruel ways
Y: Why are you?
M: Why am I?
Y&M: The Phantom Opera Ghost
Y: I have to see
M: You'll never see
Y&M: What's behind the mask
Y: I'm so torn between love, death, life, and hate
M: Don't you doubt me, what we have is just our fate.
I now own you from this day forth; you'll be my slave
Y: Oh Dear God for this life I've lost the will
M: No this can't be I'd rather you die than spoil my dream.
Myself I'll kill if I can't have you no one will
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