Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked - Part 1)

Once again with Iced Earth comes a controversial album. Some praise it for it’s epic feel and fantastic vocals, while others disclaim it for it’s annoying interludes and hard to follow storyline. Well, both in a sense our right. Tracks like “Invasion” and “Execution” are pointless and do not need to be on here and are down right worthless. People do compare this Blind Guardian’s “Nightfall in Middle Earth” because it had the same exact problem. However, it’s not as severe here and is much more tolerable. In 1998 and album title “Something Wicked This Way Comes” was released and at the end was a trilogy known as “The Something Wicked” story, which involved an anti-Christ like being destroying mankind. Those songs were unique and very good. Why not just leave it at that? Instead, Jon Schaffer has decided to create an entire album about this story in detail. Yes, it is difficult to follow. The music itself is uncharacteristically simple and at some points boring. “Order of the Rose” suffers from this, as well as “The Clouding.” Simple isn’t always bad, as with “Ten Thousand Strong” and “A Charge to Keep.” This is defiantly a hit and miss album. Maybe it’s because of the countless line-up changes before this album was release. It credits Schaffer for playing the bass and rhythm guitars, and he does a good job. However, Dennis Hayes is also credited for playing some bass here as well. Tim Mills, Jim Morris, Troy Steele, and Jon Schaffer are all claimed to play the lead guitar here. That’s four different people. I have a feeling during the recording of “Framing Armageddon,” it was hectic most of the time. Brent Smedly makes a return here, and does a great job as always. I have a strong feeling this helped the album falter somewhat, having all these line-up changes must’ve been rough.

The music itself begins with “Overture,” and intro that many will complain about considering it’s one of the unimportant interludes. “Something Wicked Part 1” opens with Schaffer riffing away, however none of it’s truly complex. Which will ultimately lead to some boring songwriting. This track doesn’t really have anything going on. I’ve never seen filler begin an album, but this might be my first one. “Setian Massacre” is a step-up, and Tim Owens does a smooth job vocally here, which isn’t much of a surprise. “A Charge to Keep” is extremely simplistic but it’s successful. The emotion played throughout this song is apparent. The solo is nothing really to rave about. “Ten Thousand Strong” is the best song here, and the single for the record. By now you’ll notice the unbelievable amount of layered vocals on the album, and they are tiresome. Owens has a great voice, but when you layer it so much it ruins the feel. This will no doubt piss many people off. “The Clouding” is just boring, there are really no redeeming qualities associated with it. It also hurts due to it’s length, eleven minutes. Yeah, it’s a skip track folks. The title track, “Framing Armageddon” is fantastic. The vocals and drum work shine here, and the ending verse will give you some chills.

The production, while it may be clean, does have some problems. If you turn it up, the drums will have a funny static sound. Schaffer himself has said that this was a problem he should’ve fixed, but overall it really isn’t that annoying. If you’re looking for bass, you won’t really find it here. Schaffer’s riffs overdrive everything else going on besides the vocals.

This is still a positive record. There are gems like “Ten Thousand Strong,” Framing Armageddon,” and “A Charge to Keep.” While on the other hand, really boring songs like “The Clouding” and “When Stars Collide.” Iced Earth die-hards will like it, some casual fans will find it enjoyable, while the Iced Earth fans from the past will despise it.