I Walk Among You

This is the first release with Matt Barlow back on vocals. And it sounds great.

"I Walk Among You" is a mid-paced but heavy single. It's got that standard Jon Schaffer choppy-verse that we all know and love combined with a stellar chorus that only Matt Barlow's deep voice could produce. It's short, and to the point, but yet it has an epic feel that Iced Earth is so good at doing. No guitar solo, but it's got a great melodic guitar part for the bridge that fits the song perfectly. The lyrics are pretty great as well.

I understand that "Setian Massacre" and "The Clouding" were already released, but they've been redone with Matt Barlow. I've never heard the originals.

"Setian Massacre" is a real fast-paced rocker with some high-pitched Barlow vocals. Double-bass drums complete the heaviness of the song. Overall good song.

"The Clouding" is good, but it's just way too long. It's one of those long epic songs that start out with clean guitars and eventually make way to a mid-paced heavy feel, sort of like "A Question of Heaven." Again, Barlow's vocals make the song what it is. The intro is just too long, and a little boring. It's a nine-minute song, but the same idea could have been conveyed in only six or seven minutes, I think. But other than that, it's not that bad.

Overall, Matt Barlow's return to Iced Earth is very promising. His vocals are spot on, and the production sounds excellent. The style of music isn't especially anything new from what Iced Earth has been doing for a long time, but it's a little more melodic now. Let's hope their next full-length is as good.


Best song: I Walk Among You