intothewellsabyss

Jun 16, 20236 min read

𝗜𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵 — 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 (2017)

𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐘𝐏𝐓𝐒 - 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐁𝐔𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊 & 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋…

On this day (June 16) in 2017, Iced Earth released their twelfth full-length studio album “Incorruptible” via Century Media Records.

It is their only album with lead guitarist Jake Dreyer, and also features a returning Brent Smedley on drums, whose last prior recorded performance with Iced Earth was their 2013 live album "Live in Ancient Kourion".

It is their first studio album in over 20 years to entirely not be a concept album (their previous album “Plagues of Babylon” had half the songs focusing on a concept), with each song instead featuring its own unique stand-alone lyrics. It is also the final Iced Earth album to feature Stu Block and Luke Appleton on vocals and bass, respectively.

Background:

Iced Earth took a break from touring in 2015, primarily due to Jon Schaffer's second cervical fusion surgery. Longtime Iced Earth drummer Brent “Deadly” Smedley returned to the band for the current recording and touring cycle. On April 7, 2015, following a period of inactivity as a result of Schaffer requiring cervical fusion surgery, the band announced that Iced Earth would begin writing for their 12th studio album, tentatively titled “The Judas Goat”. In August 2016 lead guitarist Troy Seele announced his departure from the band citing family reasons. He was replaced on September 25, 2016, by Jake Dreyer. On December 6, Schaffer spoke with Fernando Bonenfant from MetalWani.com and announced that the new album would be called “Incorruptible”, originally due in May.

On March 13, 2017, the band confirmed that they had completed work on the album for a mid-June release. On April 6, the artwork was revealed with the album being set for a June 16 release.

Regarding how “Incorruptible” compares to previous Iced Earth albums, guitarist and main songwriter Jon Schaffer said:

"They're all kind of their own thing, but I have a very strong gut feeling about this, and so does everybody in the band, that this is one of the really special ones. So I put it up there with “The Dark Saga” (1996), “Something Wicked This Way Comes” (1998), “Dystopia” (2011) — it's in that league of records — so it's really gonna be something special, man. I know musicians always say that, but there is something going on here, so it's cool. We're all very excited about it." On the topic of the concept for the lyrics on “Incorruptible”, Schaffer said; "There is no concept on this record; it's just ten individual tracks not related to each other. Actually, on “Plagues Of Babylon” (2014), it was only the first six that were related to the “Something Wicked” story; it was like a zombie apocalypse within the “Something Wicked” framework.

But this album, it's just ten individual songs. We have one called “Clear The Way”, which is about the Irish Brigade at the Battle of Fredericksburg — very tragic, actually — but that's a big epic, like ten minutes; and then we have one called “Black Flag”, which is a pirate song. It's quite a… I think I pulled it off pretty well with the lyrics, to be able to tell such a big story in a very short amount of time. I think it's gonna be a highlight of the record. And then on (the last European) tour, (we opened) the show with a new song that will be the opener on the album — it's called “Great Heathen Army” — that's got a Viking kind of a vibe to it. So there's a lot of different things, and none of it's really related. There's one called “Raven Wing”… I can't really think of all of them right now… “Seven Headed Whore” — that's one that's actually pretty brutal; it's like a total kick in the balls. But, you know, there's a lot of varied emotions on this, and it's cool stuff, man."

Asked about singer Stu Block's contribution to “Incorruptible”, Schaffer said:

"Well, he came at the end of… for about the last month or so of pre-production… maybe a little bit more… five weeks… and we worked on his vocal parts. We do it like Stu and I normally do it. Some of the stuff we write together. I mean, I write the musical arrangements and do all that — he doesn't play any instruments — but he comes in… At the end of the writing process is when we focus on his parts. And the lyrics that we worked on together, on a song called “Brothers”, which is about our brotherhood, (between) Stu and I and within the band…

We've gone through a lot of shit together and we've had a lot of great times together, but the bond is very strong, and that's clear. So it's just a song, really, for us. And then he wrote the lyrics for “The Great Heathen Army”. I'm trying to think… I can't think of 'em, man; I have to look at the list (of songs). But usually, he goes to an area and works, and I go in my area and work. And, like I said, on some songs we collaborate sometimes. On this one, the only we did was “Brothers”… We work in the way we always work. And it's a very cool chemistry."

The first song released was "Seven Headed Whore" on April 28 followed by "Raven Wing" on April 29, the album's opening track "Great Heathen Army" on May 19, and finally "Clear the Way (December 13th, 1862)" on June 13.

The cover artwork for the disc (as well as additional illustrations to every song) was created by David Newman-Stump from Skeleton Crew Tattoo (pencil illustrations) and Roy Young (colors).

Critical Reception:

Loudwire states “Incorruptible” has moments of greatness that hearken back to the band's '90s glory days, but also a few underwhelming moments. “Incorruptible” sold 5,675 copies in the first week of its release in the United States. Sales were slightly lower than their 2014 release, “Plagues of Babylon”. However, the album debuted higher at #42. The album won a 2017 Metal Storm Award for Best Power Metal Album.

Incorruptible Tour:

In support of “Incorruptible”, Iced Earth trekked through Europe earlier in 2017 before heading back stateside for their North American tour with support from Sanctuary and Kill Ritual.

The run began on Feb. 22 in Indianapolis, Ind. and branches out west and up into Canada before battering the Pacific Coast, riding through the lower half of the U.S., up the East Coast, ultimately coming full circle as the bands wrapped things up in Chicago over one month later on March 29.

Personal Note:

My son Jake and I got the tickets for this show as soon as they went on sale. It was the first date on the North American leg of the “Incorruptible” Tour. The show was held at the Deluxe At Old National Centre, Indianapolis, Indiana On Thursday, February 22, 2018.

I have always been a huge fan of Sanctuary since I first heard “Battle Angels”. Warrel Dane is and will always be my favorite vocalist and lyricist (next to Rob Halford, of course). I was devastated to learn of his passing. We thought for sure that Sanctuary would cancel being on this tour. I was pleasantly surprised that they decided to continue and tour in memorial of Warrel.

Joseph Michael (Witherfall), in spite of all of the naysayers, did a tremendous job filling Warrel shoes. And they are hard shoes to fill. He will never be Warrel but, he brought Sanctuary’s songs to the crowd with grace and style. He didn’t try to be Warrel. He did the songs his way, only higher than his usual pitch you hear on Witherfall’s albums.

The Mighty Iced Earth!! What can I say? I’ve been a fan since “Burnt Offerings”. I’m more of a fan of the Matt Barlow era. But, Stu Block is killer in his own right. I do love the albums he is on. He brings it live also, giving 100%. I loved every minute of their live set.

And of course, this was Jake (my son) and I’s third show together. He was smiling, head banging and singing the whole night.

Lenny Rutledge gave me one of his signature guitar picks and his copy of Sanctuary’s setlist. Brent E. Smedley gave me one of his drumsticks.

R.I.P. Warrel “Wally” Dane (March 7, 1961 - December 13, 2017)

This was Iced Earth’s Setlist for the show:

Great Heathen Army

Burning Times

Dystopia

Black Flag

Seven Headed Whore

I Died for You

Vengeance Is Mine

Brothers

Last December

Raven Wing

Birth of the Wicked

Prophecy

The Coming Curse

Stormrider

Angels Holocaust

Travel in Stygian

Encore:

Clear the Way (December 13th, 1862)

Watching Over Me

Ghost Dance (Awaken the Ancestors)

Iced Earth’s “Incorruptible” Tour Lineup:

Stu Block - Vocals

Jon Schaffer - Guitar, Vocals

Brent “Deadly” Smedley - Drums

Jake Dreyer- Lead Guitar

Luke Appleton - Bass

Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:

Click this link to listen to “Incorruptible” via Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/incorruptible/1221495863

Click this link to watch the lyric video for “Seven Headed Whore”: https://youtu.be/Sneo7yuIYFo

Click this link to watch the official music video for “Black Flag”: https://youtu.be/IUMDcVMiduY

Click this link to follow Iced Earth on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialIcedEarth

Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells