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Class 6(66)
Iced Earth: Burnt offerings
18/06/10 || Altmer
Introduction
Known mostly as that band that has had every US musician in the lineup at some point, thanks to mainman Jon Schaffer’s “I get along with about three people in the entire world” act, there was a time when this band was good. The band obviously is usually classified as a power metal act, and to some extent that is probably true – but there’s more to these fuckos than that tag would make one thing.
For one, their keyboard use is extremely limited and sparing – making them sound more like what you would get if Metallica and Iron Maiden had a baby, and weaned it on a combo of Mats Levén and Kiss. In fact, especially in the early days, thrash was a major part of this band’s sound – pity they went down the cheese route and haven’t released anything noteworthy since 2001’s “Horror show”, their last good album.
Previous albums before this one were good, but were lacking in the vocal department, and the ones after this lacked in both production and songwriting. Getting Matt Barlow into the fold was the best move this band ever made, his vocals being nothing short of sublime, and the songs are full of anger and hate – the one time Schaffer has sounded pissed off. You know what’s bad? Schaffer never pulls out a single tune anymore from this album live. Fucken horrifying. They are neglecting the album that, to me, encapsulates their legacy in the metal world. The band has pissed on, rolled over, and tossed about its own axis in history. But it came out on top for this album, and good for the band that it did.
Songwriting
9. Thrash riffs abound, vocal lines toss and turn, the drums pound away – and it is all underscored with a dark melodic undertone that travels through the album like Satanic whirlwinds. Occasional acoustic guitars appear, threatening danger before the detuned low E bulldozer appears and rips the songs apart. The choruses are beyond fantastic – catchy, but sung with a venom beyond belief. There is one pointless (but pretty) acoustic and piano interlude, which is the only skippable thing on the album. Before Schaffer started with bad cheese intros and generic power metal/Iron Maiden riffs, he had a power and venom in his guitar that rivals Metallica in their heyday. In fact, the Metallica of today probably wish they could write riffs like the one that pervades “Last December” or “Brainwashed”. They even pull off a sixteen minute opus about Dante Alighieri – and keep it interesting all the way through. Rarely have I seen such ambition and pomp executed so well. In the hands of any other band this would have been a mess – but on here, Schaffer’s talents were utilised to the fullest as a songwriter. This is the one album where his talent in writing actual songs was the most pronounced, and also the one where the venom and grit that he has in his guitars shone through the most.
Production
8. It’s a bit odd, actually. Most of it is crystal clear, but it seems like the bassy low-end isn’t there, as if the bass guitar had been mixed out of the whole ordeal. Not that it matters, really, it adds to the charm of the album, but later Iced Earth albums would rectify the bottom end more – the later albums have much better sound than this one. Except for the guitars – the guitar tone is to fucken die for. Oh man, I love the power they exude. Once again proof that it’s not all about technicianship, but pure atmosphere – the sound isn’t perfect, but god-damn is it good for the dark atmosphere of this album.
Guitars
9. The riffs are nothing short of exquisite. I wonder what madness drove Jon Schaffer to record this album – apparently he was really pissed during the making of it, involved in label struggles and everything, and it shows – the venom is frightening to behold. There are a bunch of solos, and they are neatly executed – but they are not what you should remember from here. This album is a giant homage to the almighty thrashing guitar riff and should be taken as such. Not to detract from the second guitarist’s skills – he takes to his instrument like a duck does to water – but it’s not the focus. Another great element is how the solos blend into the songs like salt into water. Almost perfect. You barely notice that a solo is playing, that’s how engaging this material is.
Vocals
10. Barlow: the world’s best metal vocalist? Doubt it, although his range is out of this world – seriously! Check out his screams on “Burning Oasis” or “Creator Failure”, and then the earth-rumbling lows of “Dante’s Inferno”. That is one fucking range this man has. His voice is extremely raw here too – the later albums would see him more formally trained and everything done so neatly – but he sounds like he has so much grit and gravel in his voice, it’s unbelievable. Fucken fantastic. One of the few albums that deserve an absolute 10 for the vocal performance (some of the others are Halford on Painkiller, Mike Akerfeldt on the last bunch of Opeth albums, Gildenlow on Remedy Lane, and Bruce Dickinson on about every Maiden album he sung on).
Bass
7. It’s there, but the low end is a bit muffled and the playing isn’t anything out of this world (though there are some cool fills here and there). I’d say this is a case of “gets the job done nicely”. Fuckit guys, I’m not a bass listener! (sorry to all you bass nerds out there).
Drums
8. Stellar, stellar, stellar – powerful double bass whacking, lots of tempo changes, and quite a bit of power behind the drums. I love the thunderous kick drums this guy pulls off and although he is a bit one-dimensional – most of the fast material contains the same da-da-da-da-dum style kick work – it suits the songs like a T. Later drummers would have more variety, although any faster IE song always seemed to come back to that same drum pattern. Technically not the best drummer they’ve had – that is Richard Christy (duh) but this guy gets the job done just fine and extremely tastefully at times. Dig his work quite a bit.
Lyrics
8. The songs are all about Satanic creatures, lies, darkness and some lost twisted romance – and metal sure needs more lyrics about hell and demons, right? No, but this is very well pulled off, and I still love the descriptions of the plains of hell during closer “Dante’s Inferno”. It’s better than the fantasy bullshit Schaffer has tried on some other albums. His concept albums don’t work, apart from the Dark Saga.
Cover art
9. A demon rising from a pit of fire. It doesn’t get more hellish and evil than this. Better than that weird Set Abominae thing they have got on their recent covers. This is how you do a cover. It looks super-cool. By the way, this is the reissue cover I am talking about – the original is just red and vague, showing the same thing, but it’s very unclear and indistinct. The reissue’s cover is mucho improved. So, if you care about that sort of thing, get the reissue, not the original.
Logo
9. It looks very fucken metal, actually. Not like some bad fantasy Tolkien ripoff that most power metal bands use. Excellent work, fuckos. This is how you do a heavy metal logo.
Booklet
5. It has lyrics and a listing of who plays what, and some thank yous to endorsed people. It’s not that interesting, but it looks cool with the font and all. No band pix or notes. Sucks to be me. Or any other person who listens to this album.
Overall and ending rant
“Burnt offerings” is the reason I listened to this band’s back catalogue. And it is the one album I will credit that got me into things with a heavy sound, way back when I couldn’t even listen to growls. This album at hand, is their ONE defining album – this album solidified their place in my heart. This album is fucken fantastic and rightly belongs in a class6(66). I wish Schaffer would get mighty angry again and write a record like this because if they ever do anything like this again – I will return to the fold as a fan. Now I am merely sad about a band that has lost its greatness and returned to mediocrity. I will always have this album though. Thankfully. If there is one Iced Earth album that needs to be bought, it’s this one.
- Information
- Released: 1995
- Label: Century Media
- Website: www.icedearth.com
- Band
- Matthew Barlow: vocals
- Jon Schaffer: guitars
- Randall Shawver: guitars
- Dave Abell: bass
- Rodney Beasley: drums
- Tracklist
- 01. Burnt Offerings
- 02. Last December
- 03. Diary
- 04. Brainwashed
- 05. Burning Oasis
- 06. Creator Failure
- 07. The Pierced Spirit
- 08. Dante’s Inferno
