Plagues of Babylon

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Plagues of Babylon
Studio album by Iced Earth
Released January 6, 2014 (Europe)
January 21, 2014 (USA)[1]
Recorded July 15 – August 8, 2013, in Principal Studios, Senden, Germany
Genre Heavy metal
Length 1:02:03
Label Century Media
Producer Jon Schaffer
Iced Earth chronology

Dystopia
(2011)		 Plagues of Babylon
(2014)

Plagues of Babylon is the eleventh studio album by the American heavy metal band Iced Earth. Released in January 2014, the album is the group's first studio release with bassist Luke Appleton and the only with drummer Raphael Saini who was a guest on the album.[2] According to rhythm guitarist and band leader Jon Schaffer, half of the album is focused on his "Something Wicked" concept, while the other half are stand alone songs.[2]

Overview

The album was originally set to be released in October 2013, but was pushed back due to Iced Earth's tour commitments in the fall.[2] The band began recording Plagues of Babylon in Germany on July 15, 2013.[2][3] On August 8, 2013, it was announced that Iced Earth had completed tracking the album.[4] On September 3, the band announced they had completed mixing and mastering Plagues of Babylon.[5] On September 25, the official track listing and album cover were released.[6]

On October 7, Iced Earth announced that would be releasing a limited edition vinyl EP entitled The Plagues.[7] The EP will contain three songs from Plagues of Babylon, and will be made available on Iced Earth's European tour with Volbeat.[7] On October 11, the lyric video for the album's title track was released.[8]

The December 2013 issue of Germany's "Metal Hammer" magazine featured the song "Peacemaker" on the attached CD[9] and the December 2013 issue of Germany's "RockHard" magazine featured the song "Among the Living Dead" on the attached CD.[10] A song titled "Spirit of the Times" was originally released by Schaffer's side project Sons of Liberty, and was re-recorded for this album's release.

The song "Highwayman" is a cover, originally written by Jimmy Webb.

On December 28, the album was leaked on Spotify, excluding the song "Highwayman"

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Metal-Temple.com [11]
Hit the Floor [12]
metal.de [13]
Metal-Hammer [14]
Stormbringer [15]
Metalfan.nl (85/100)[16]
Allmusic [17]
Metal Storm (7.4/10)[18]
About.com [19]

Plagues of Babylon has received mostly positive reviews overall from music critics. In January 2014, the album reached position #5 on the German Media Control Charts, this is the band’s highest chart position in their entire career.[20][21] The band also reached #34 on the Ultratop Charts in Belgium.[22] Meanwhile, in the US, the album sold approximately 6,300 copies in its first week to debut at #49 on the Billboard 200.[23]

Track listing

No. TitleLyricsMusic Length
1. "Plagues of Babylon"  Jon SchafferSchaffer 7:47
2. "Democide"  Schaffer, Stu BlockSchaffer, Block 5:22
3. "The Culling"  Schaffer, Troy Seele, BlockSchaffer, Seele, Block 4:26
4. "Among the Living Dead"  Schaffer, Seele, BlockSchaffer, Seele, Block 5:14
5. "Resistance"  Schaffer, Seele, Luke Appleton, BlockSchaffer, Seele, Appleton, Block 4:49
6. "The End?"  Schaffer, Appleton, BlockSchaffer, Appleton, Block 7:13
7. "If I Could See You"  SchafferSchaffer 3:55
8. "Cthulhu"  Schaffer, BlockSchaffer, Block 6:04
9. "Peacemaker"  Schaffer, BlockSchaffer, Block 5:02
10. "Parasite"  Schaffer, Seele, BlockSchaffer, Seele, Block 3:30
11. "Spirit of the Times"  SchafferSchaffer 5:05
12. "Highwayman"  Jimmy WebbJimmy Webb 3:12
13. "Outro"     0:24
Total length:
 1:02:03

Personnel

Iced Earth

  • Jon Schaffer - rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, lead guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Highwayman"
  • Troy Seele - lead guitar
  • Stu Block - lead vocals, backing vocals
  • Luke Appleton - bass guitar
  • Raphael Saini - drums

Additional musicians

  • Michael Poulsen - lead and backing vocals on "Highwayman"
  • Russell Allen - lead and backing vocals on "Highwayman"
  • Hansi Kürsch - lead vocals on "Among the Living Dead", backing vocals
  • Thomas Hackmann - backing vocals
  • Andrew Peters - backing vocals
  • Matt O'Rourke - backing vocals
  • Bonna Ross Bernal - backing vocals
  • Daniel Schmitz - marching drums
  • David Hambach - marching drums
  • Christopher Jobi - marching drums

Additional personnel

  • Eliran Kantor - cover art
  • Kevin Paul & Jon Schaffer - mixer
  • Sascha Buhren - mastered

References

Iced Earth Unleashes "Among The Living Dead"

  1. ↑ "ICED EARTH: 'Plagues Of Babylon' Release Date Confirmed, North American Tour Announced". BlabberMouth. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "ICED EARTH To Enter Studio On Monday". Blabbermouth.net. 2013-07-13. Retrieved 2013-07-13. 
  3. ↑ "ICED EARTH To Record New Album In Germany". Blabbermouth.net. 2013-05-27. Retrieved 2013-07-13. 
  4. ↑ "ICED EARTH Completes Recording New Album". Blabbermouth.net. 2013-08-08. Retrieved 2013-08-15. 
  5. ↑ "ICED EARTH Completes Mixing And Mastering New Album". Blabbermouth.net. 2013-09-03. Retrieved 2013-09-26. 
  6. ↑ 's+Daily+Headlines) "'Plagues Of Babylon' Cover Artwork, Track Listing Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. 2013-09-25. Retrieved 2013-09-25. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "ICED EARTH To Release Limited-Edition 'The Plagues' Vinyl EP". Blabbermouth.net. 2013-10-09. Retrieved 2013-10-12. 
  8. ↑ "ICED EARTH: Lyric Video For 'Plagues Of Babylon' Title Track". Blabbermouth.net. 2013-10-11. Retrieved 2013-10-12. 
  9. ↑ "Dezember Heft 2013". Metal-Hammer.de. 2013-12-01. Retrieved 2013-12-01. 
  10. ↑ "RH #319". RockHard.de. 2013-12-01. Retrieved 2013-12-01. 
  11. ↑ http://www.metal-temple.com/site/catalogues/entry/reviews/cd_3/i_2/iced-earth-plagues-of.htm
  12. ↑ http://www.hitthefloor.com/music/rock-metal/review-iced-earth-plagues-babylon-album/
  13. ↑ http://www.metal.de/heavy-metal/review/iced-earth/56167-plagues-of-babylon/
  14. ↑ http://www.metal-hammer.de/reviews/alben/article513879/iced-earth-plagues-of-babylon.html
  15. ↑ http://www.stormbringer.at/reviews.php?id=10143
  16. ↑ http://www.metalfan.nl/reviews.php?id=7980
  17. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/plagues-of-babylon-mw0002602870
  18. ↑ http://www.metalstorm.net/pub/review.php?review_id=12239
  19. ↑ http://heavymetal.about.com/od/icedearth/fl/Iced-Earth-Plagues-Of-Babylon-Review.htm
  20. ↑ Fayyazi, Mohsen. "ICED EARTH: Highest Chart Entry Of Band’s Entire Career: #5 On German Media Control Charts". metalshockfinland.com. Retrieved 18 January 2014. 
  21. ↑ "Iced Earth, Plagues Of Babylon". German Media Control Charts. Retrieved 18 January 2014. 
  22. ↑ "Iced Earth - Plagues Of Babylon". Ultratop.be. Retrieved 19 January 2014. 
  23. ↑ "ICED EARTH's 'Plagues Of Babylon' Cracks U.S. Top 50". Retrieved 30 January 2014. 

External links

Iced Earth
Studio albums
Live albums
Cover albums
Extended plays
Singles
Songs
Compilations
Box sets
Video albums
Tours
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