The Glorious Burden

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The Glorious Burden
Studio album by Iced Earth
Released	January 12, 2004
Recorded	Morrisound Studios Tampa, Florida
Genre	Heavy metal, Power metal
Length	Disc 1: 46:51 Disc 2: 31:56
Label	SPV
Producer	Jim Morris Jon Schaffer
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link RockReview link
Iced Earth chronology
The Reckoning (2003) The Glorious Burden (2004) The Blessed and The Damned (2004)

The Glorious Burden is the eighth studio album by the American heavy metal band Iced Earth. It is a concept album, which explores various moments in American military history, such as the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Revolutionary War, and American Civil War. It also pays tribute to world events such as World War I, the World Trade Center attacks and the ravages of Attila the Hun.

The album's centerpiece is the last three songs which together form a trilogy entitled Gettysburg (1863). Each song represents one day in the Battle of Gettysburg, which is the largest battle ever conducted in the Western Hemisphere and considered the turning point in the American Civil War. ^[1]

This album features the debut of lead singer Tim 'Ripper' Owens, formerly of Judas Priest. The album was first recorded with Matt Barlow on vocals, but band leader Jon Schaffer was not satisfied with his performance. Due to the events of September 11th, Barlow became more interested in law enforcement than the music business, and according to Schaffer "Matt's heart was not in it and it showed in his performance."^[2] As a result, Matt left the band and the album was shelved until a new vocalist could be found. However, some of Barlow's initial recordings remain on the record as backing vocals.

Tim Owens, who at that time was still in Judas Priest, was asked to do the vocals as a side project. However, he joined the band full time after Judas Priest reunited with Rob Halford.

This record is the only Iced Earth album to feature Ralph Santolla on lead guitars. This was the last studio album for bassist James MacDonough and drummer Richard Christy. Additionally, The Glorious Burden is the first Iced Earth album to draw considerable thrash metal influence since the band's third album, Burnt Offerings.

The album was released in 3 different formats: a limited edition 2-CD version in digipak format, an American version and a European version. ^[3] See the tracklist for the differences.

"The Reckoning (Don't Tread on Me)", "Declaration Day", and the acoustic version of "When the Eagle Cries (Unplugged)" were all released as music videos.

Contents 1 Track listing 1.1 Standard edition 1.1.1 Disc 1 1.1.2 Disc 2: Gettysburg (1863) 1.2 American edition 1.3 European Version 2 Personnel 3 Notes

[edit] Track listing

All songs written by Jon Schaffer, except where noted.

[edit] Standard edition

[edit] Disc 1

1. "The Star-Spangled Banner" (Francis Scott Key) – 1:14
2. "Declaration Day" – 4:59
3. "When the Eagle Cries" – 4:06
4. "The Reckoning (Don't Tread on Me)" – 4:57
5. "Greenface" – 3:03
6. "Attila" (Matt Barlow, Schaffer) – 5:36
7. "Red Baron/Blue Max" (Tim Owens, Schaffer) – 4:05
8. "Hollow Man" – 4:25
9. "Valley Forge" – 4:46
10. "Waterloo" (Barlow, Schaffer) – 5:50
11. "When the Eagle Cries (Unplugged)" – 3:35

[edit] Disc 2: Gettysburg (1863)

1. "The Devil to Pay" – 12:13 (references "When Johnny Comes Marching Home," "The Star Spangled Banner" and "Dixie")
2. "Hold at All Costs" – 7:06
3. "High Water Mark" – 12:36

[edit] American edition

1. "The Star-Spangled Banner" (Key) – 1:14
2. "Declaration Day" – 4:59
3. "When the Eagle Cries" – 4:06
4. "The Reckoning (Don't Tread on Me)" – 4:57
5. "Greenface" – 3:03
6. "Attila" (Barlow, Schaffer) – 5:36
7. "Red Baron/Blue Max" (Owens, Schaffer) – 4:05
8. "Hollow Man" – 4:25
9. "Valley Forge" – 4:46
10. "The Devil to Pay" – 12:13
11. "Hold at All Costs" – 7:06
12. "High Water Mark" – 12:36

[edit] European Version

1. "Declaration Day" – 4:59
2. "When the Eagle Cries" – 4:06
3. "The Reckoning (Don't Tread on Me)" – 4:57
4. "Attila" (Barlow, Schaffer) – 5:36
5. "Red Baron/Blue Max" (Owens, Schaffer) – 4:05
6. "Hollow Man" – 4:25
7. "Valley Forge" – 4:46
8. "Waterloo" (Barlow, Schaffer) – 5:50
9. "The Devil to Pay" – 12:13
10. "Hold at All Costs" – 7:06
11. "High Water Mark" – 12:36

[edit] Personnel

• Jon Schaffer - Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Backing Vocals
• Tim 'Ripper' Owens - Lead Vocals
• Ralph Santolla - Lead Guitar
• James MacDonough - Bass Guitar
• Richard Christy - Drums

with:

• Jim Morris - Guitar solos on "When The Eagle Cries" and "When The Eagle Cries (Unplugged)"
• Matt Barlow - Backing Vocals
• Sam King - Backing Vocals
• Jeff Day - Backing Vocals
• Howard Helm - Piano
• Susan McQuinn - Flute & Piccolo
• Michael LoBue - Bagpipe
• Prague Philharmonic Orchestra - Gettysburg (1863) Trilogy

Cover art by Leo Hao.

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Thinkquest.org page about Battle of Gettysburg [1]
2. ^ Jon Schaffer explanation of Matt Barlow's departure.[2]
3. ^ Metal-Rules interview with Tim Owens. Jan. 26, 2004 [3]

v • d • e Iced Earth Jon Schaffer · Matt Barlow · Brent Smedley · Troy Seele · Freddie Vidales See: Iced Earth former members Studio albums Iced Earth · Night of the Stormrider · Burnt Offerings · The Dark Saga · Something Wicked This Way Comes · Horror Show · The Glorious Burden · Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked Part 1) · Revelation Abomination (Something Wicked Part 2) Live albums Alive in Athens EPs/Singles Enter the Realm · The Melancholy EP · The Reckoning · Overture of the Wicked · I Walk Among You Compilations Days of Purgatory · Dark Genesis · The Blessed and the Damned · Slave to the Dark Cover albums Tribute to the Gods Videos Gettysburg (1863) · Alive in Athens Related articles Discography · Set Abominae · Demons & Wizards · Pyramaze