Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked - Part 1)

Having given the album a full month to settle in, I think it's time I voiced my opinion on the new Iced Earth effort. And god damn it, I think it might be their finest hour. (Depending on how Revelation Abomination turns out, of course)


It certainly wasn't their best effort the first time I listened to it - in fact, it took a fair few listens to really fall in love with it. Framing Armageddon still has the Iced Earth feel to it, but there have been changes. It seems as though Jon has really embraced the more 'classic' approach he's been hinting towards more and more for the last decade or so, for on display here are almost none of the trademark stuttering riffs, or the breakneck speed. About half of the tracks on FA are slow to mid-paced, built more on chugging, menacing riffs. This works to their advantage especially on tracks like 'A Charge To Keep' and 'When Stars Collide (Born Is He)'. And surprisingly, I found myself not missing their 'classic' sound at all. They haven't exactly sold out, after all - if anything, they may have even stepped away from the opportunity to gain publicity from the supposed 'thrash revival' of late.


Another notable aspect of the album is the lack of any traditional Iced Earth ballads like 'Watching Over Me'. Instead, we have two tracks that bear some resemblances, those being the aforementioned 'A Charge to Keep' with it's brooding, sorrowful feel and exceptional performance by Owens, and the other being 'The Clouding' - a nine minute epic spanning sounds Iced Earth have never attempted before, with Pink Floyd-esque clean guitars and more modern influences all making appearances. It's safe to say that Owens totally outdoes himself on this album, giving one of my favourite vocal performances ever. Barlow certainly could not have pulled this off, and I'm finally convinced of exactly what Schaffer had in mind when he employed Ripper to the vocal slot, and it certainly wasn't to be a Halford clone. Owens is in his own league now, and more than worthy of replacing Barlow in Iced Earth.


The album is a rather surprising nineteen tracks in length, which, coupled with the fact it is only the first half of the Something Wicked epic, would suggest Jon has been adding fillers into the album in order to elaborate the plot. However, there are certainly no stand-out dull tracks on the album. The closest it comes is 'Retribution Through The Ages', which is still a good song in it's own right, but not quite on the same level as the others. It would also suggest there are a number of 'interludes', short tracks to meld one track to the next - and yes, there are - about five in fact, although all but one are essentially build-ups to the track ahead or Eastern-influenced tracks with a lot of more 'earthy' sounds, and certainly do not detract from the overall experience. 'Execution' flows so well into 'Order of the Rose', it gives me chills every time I listen to it. There is no desire to skip any tracks on this album, certainly none that I've felt.


The only down-point of this album is that Schaffer's riffwork can be somewhat generic at times, and rather unexciting. There aren't enough leads present, but Iced Earth have rarely had any more leads than present here, anyway. It doesn't affect me so much, though - the album seems to get by fine without them, though they would likely improve the listening experience in they were more frequent.


The album comes to an incredible conclusion, from the incredible screams of Owens on the title track (note: the repeated line 'Framing Armageddon' at the end of the song really does crush 'I am your anti-Christ' from the Coming Curse), through the choir-like vocals and gigantic sound of 'When Stars Collide (Born is He)', and exiting through the looming 'The Awakening', with its strong Eastern influences and female vocals, leaving you starving for even a taste of Revelation Abomination.


Definitely takes Iced Earth to 'the next level', Mr. Schaffer. Bravo.