The Crucible of Man (Something Wicked - Part 2)

It’s funny. Now that Tim Owens has departed from Iced Earth, I hear people saying that it was a bad move to get rid of him. Yet when Barlow was gone, people were saying it was the wrong move. Hypocritical? You decide.

First thing, the vocals on this album are great. This front man drama is beginning to become irritating. Matt Barlow does a fantastic job for material that wasn’t written for him. At some points it feels like he’s being held back, but it’s not that big of a deal. Plus he was out of the metal scene for almost seven years. It certainly doesn’t sound like it.

The production is better than it’s predecessor “Something Wicked Part 1.” Everything feels heavier and the thin sounding drums and guitars have been fixed. That’s always a plus, right?

The album starts off slow. The first six songs are either too short or not that exciting. The ballad “A Gift or Curse” is interesting, having Jon Schaffer do some of the vocal work, but it doesn’t feel like it’s going anywhere. “Minions of the Watch” and “The Revealing” are much too short and it wilts the excitement that the songs could have had.

Once “The Dimension Gauntlet” starts, this is where the album truly shines. This is the Iced Earth we all know and love. It’s a little on the short side but still very enjoyable. “Sacrificial Kingdoms” is my favorite from the album. The layered vocals are a nice touch, and the playing by Brent Smedly on drums is fantastic as always. “Come What May” is a great ending to the saga with the amazing vocal performance of Matt Barlow.

The songs I didn’t mention have their perks and are great songs as well. People doubting that Barlow could perform on this album will be surprised on how well he pulled this off. Schaffer’s riffage is as powerful as ever and the song writing is cleaver and well written. Any hardcore Iced Earth fan will eat this up, but for people looking to get into this band this release will impress you.