Horror Show (album)

For other uses, see Horror Show.
Horror Show
Studio album by Iced Earth
Released June 26, 2001
Recorded 2001
Genre Power metal, thrash metal
Length 61:36
Label Century Media
Producer Jim Morris
Jon Schaffer
Iced Earth chronology
Alive in Athens
(1999)		 Horror Show
(2001)		 Dark Genesis
(2001)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Metal Storm(7.4/10)[2]

Horror Show is the sixth studio album from the American heavy metal band Iced Earth, released June 26, 2001. It is a theme album based on classic monsters and horror-movie icons, including Dracula, Frankenstein, and the ghost from Phantom of the Opera. It was the first Iced Earth album to feature drummer Richard Christy, and the only album to feature Steve DiGiorgio on bass, though he did not tour with the band. Horror Show is usually considered Iced Earth's only straightforward power metal release, as little of the thrash metal influence from the band's earlier works is present. This album also featured more prominent usage of Matt Barlow's multi-layered vocals as a center point for the songs.

There was a special limited-edition 2-CD set. The second CD featured the instrumental track " Transylvania" (an Iron Maiden cover) along with an interview with bandleader/rhythm guitarist Jon Schaffer. There is also a single-disc version with "Transylvania", but without the interview. The song "Dracula" includes the line "the blood is the life", a quote from Deuteronomy 12:23. However, it is likely lifted from the 1992 version of Bram Stoker's Dracula which also features the line. As in "Dracula", many of the lyrics are lifted straight from the movies they were inspired by. Unlike other releases, it features much writing from Matt Barlow.

By the end of the song "Damien" there is a section where Jon's reversed voice repeats the message that is also in the middle, silent section of the song. So, if the song is played backwards, the true message can be heard. This kind of reversed voice was also done by Iron Maiden by the beginning of their song "Still Life" of their fourth studio album "Piece of Mind".

Track listing

No. TitleLyricsMusic Length
1. "Wolf" (inspired by The Wolf Man films)Jon SchafferSchaffer 5:20
2. "Damien" (inspired by The Omen films)SchafferSchaffer 9:12
3. "Jack" (inspired by Jack the Ripper)Matt BarlowSchaffer 4:14
4. "Ghost of Freedom" (inspired by Matt Barlow's own concept [cited by the interview on disc 2])Barlow, SchafferBarlow, Schaffer 5:12
5. "Im-Ho-Tep (Pharaoh's Curse)" (inspired by The Mummy)BarlowLarry Tarnowski, Schaffer 4:45
6. "Jekyll & Hyde" (inspired by The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde)BarlowSchaffer 4:39
7. "Dragon's Child" (inspired by Creature from the Black Lagoon)BarlowSchaffer 4:21
8. "Transylvania" (Iron Maiden cover)(instrumental)Steve Harris 4:30
9. "Frankenstein" (inspired by Frankenstein)SchafferSchaffer 3:50
10. "Dracula" (inspired by Dracula)SchafferSchaffer 5:54
11. "The Phantom Opera Ghost" (inspired by The Phantom of the Opera)SchafferSchaffer 8:41
Total length:
 61:36

Limited Edition

The Initial Pressing was presented in a standard 2-CD jewel case with no reference to the tracks on the bonus disc (nor the disc itself) except for a sticker on the front.

Disc one

No. TitleLyricsMusic Length
1. "Wolf" (inspired by The Wolf Man films)SchafferSchaffer 5:20
2. "Damien" (inspired by The Omen films)SchafferSchaffer 9:12
3. "Jack" (inspired by Jack the Ripper)BarlowSchaffer 4:14
4. "Ghost of Freedom" (inspired by The Patriot)Barlow, SchafferBarlow, Schaffer 5:12
5. "Im-Ho-Tep (Pharaoh's Curse)" (inspired by The Mummy)BarlowTarnowski, Schaffer 4:45
6. "Jekyll & Hyde" (inspired by Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde)BarlowSchaffer 4:39
7. "Dragon's Child" (inspired by Creature from the Black Lagoon)BarlowSchaffer 4:21
8. "Frankenstein" (inspired by Frankenstein)SchafferSchaffer 3:50
9. "Dracula" (inspired by Dracula)SchafferSchaffer 5:54
10. "The Phantom Opera Ghost" (inspired by The Phantom of the Opera)SchafferSchaffer 8:41

Disc two

No. TitleLyricsMusic Length
1. "Transylvania" (Iron Maiden cover)(instrumental)Harris 4:30
2. "Interview with Jon Schaffer" (conducted by Sumit Chandra)   69:27

Personnel

Additional personnel

Charts

Monthly

Year Chart Position
2001 Poland (ZPAV Top 100) 59[3]

References

  1. ↑ Allmusic review
  2. ↑ http://www.metalstorm.net/pub/review.php?review_id=210
  3. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20010826111230/http://www.zpav.pl/bestsellery/best.html
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