Before the high-profile power metal project will hopefully treat us with a superb power metal experience, I catch the last three songs of the Thursday opening gig by local Copenhagen band KONVENT. The four girls play a solid and well-received round of growling doom metal. Check out their Bandcamp, if you can find the time to do so.
The thing about today’s programme here at Copenhell is this: I’m not really hot for Tool, Slash, Stone Temple Pilots, and I’m leaving the reviews of those to my good colleague, Mia. There are basically two bands I’m looking forward to today, namely DEMONS & WIZARDS and VLTIMAS. With so little on my schedule, I’m of course counting on these two bands for sublime experiences!
During the late 80s and 90s, the main bands of Jon Schaffer and Hansi Kürsch were on the rise. Both ICED EARTH and in particular BLIND GUARDIAN enjoyed greater and greater popularity amongst power metal fans. The guitarist and the singer/bassist had long been been friends, but in 1997, the idea of actually joining forces arose, and in 1998, it finally became reality. The debut, Demons & Wizards, was released in 2000 to some critical acclaim as well as commercial success.
Five years later, the second album, Touched by the Crimson King, was released, and again, the reception was positive, although the commercial success never reached that of neither Iced Earth, nor Blind Guardian.
Power metal fans have been eager for more material from the two gentlemen, however, their busy schedules have prevented them from further collaboration. Until now. Remastered versions of the two albums have been released, the summer is booked, festival appearances are lined up, and Copenhell have bagged the package.
As the band appear, it becomes clear that this is indeed a fusion of Blind Guardian and Iced Earth plus keyboarder/producer Joost Van Den Broek. Schaffer and Kürsch share the stage with Jake Dreyer (guitar, Iced Earth), Marcus Siepen (bass, Blind Guardian guitarist) and Frederik Ehmke (drums, Blind Guardian).
Power metal isn’t quite as big in Denmark as it is in Germany, but, still, there’s a sort-of decent show for a Thursday afternoon before people are off from work, and the reception is warm. Demons & Wizards return the favour with a solid set of songs from the two albums. The setlist is, not surprisingly, spiced up with two songs from the Iced Earth and Blind Guardians catalogue, namely “Burning Times” from Something Wicked This Way Comes and “Welcome to Dying” from Tales from the Twilight World.
Schaffer appears on stage as a stately gentlemen, these days sporting short, silver-grey hair and ditto beard. One’s thoughts are lead to pictures of 19th century US generals. Kürsch, on the other hand, looks like your local bank clerk who’s taking the day off in slightly more casual clothes than usual. As much his voice has grown into something amazing since the first time I saw Blind Guardian in 1991, he always was the odd one out on stage, almost like the calm and slightly boring anti-thesis to the show around him. But it’s OK! He delivers.
Demons & Wizards is a great way of beginning the day, and as we head away from the Hades stage to the next musical endeavours, I keep humming the melodic masterpiece “Fiddler on the Green”. Great piece of music, that one.
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ICED EARTH releases ENTER THE REALM first time on vinyl
On April 12th, 1989 US metal institution ICED EARTH entered the worldwide metal scene by storm with the release of their first and only demo, “Enter the Realm”. Now, on April 12th , 2019, exactly 30 years after its original release, ICED EARTH re-issues this very fine example of real and uncompromising US metal on CD, digitally and – most importantly – on vinyl for the very first time!
Mastered from original sound sources, “Enter the Realm” is an essential release for every real metal fan. A historical document that highlights the importance of ICED EARTH for the worldwide metal scene.
The “Enter The Realm – EP” will be available in the following formats:
Ltd. Digipak CD
Black and colored vinyl (with 180 gram vinyl, etching, inlay and poster)
Digitally
The vinyl version will be available in the following colours:
Black vinyl: unlimited
Transparent sun yellow: Limited to 100 copies, exclusively available at CM Distro EU
Red vinyl: Limited to 300 copies, exclusively available at various mailorder stores
Lilac vinyl: Limited to 200 copies, exclusively available at Nuclear Blast
White vinyl: Limited to 200 copies, exclusively available at EMP
Transparent blue vinyl: Limited to 200 copies, exclusively sold by the band *
* this version includes a copy of the original demo tape inlay from 1989, signed by Jon Schaffer, Gene Adam and Greg Seymour
Tracklisting:
1. Enter the Realm (0:56)
2. Colors (5:04)
3. Nightmares (3:42)
4. To Curse the Sky (4:45)
5. Solitude (1:43)
6. Iced Earth (5:33)
Pre-Order here: https://IcedE.lnk.to/EnterTheRealm
ICED EARTH Line-Up 1989
Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Greg Seymour – drums
Gene Adam – vocals
Dave Abell – bass guitar
Randy Shawver – lead guitar
ICED EARTH Line-Up 2019
Jon Schaffer – Rhythm, Lead Guitars, Vocals
Stu Block – Lead Vocals
Brent Smedley – Drums, Percussion
Luke Appleton – Bass Guitar, Vocals
Jake Dreyer – Lead Guitar
ICED EARTH online
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“… it’s pretty clear that there’s still enough potential in Iced Earth to finally reach the festival headliner status.”
ROCK HARD 03/18 (live review Schlachthof, Wiesbaden DE)
After the triumphant tour in January/February 2018 US metal legends ICED EARTH will return to Europe for a six week festival run, in continuous support of their new album “Incorruptible”. If you missed the masters of real US metal on their headliner tour, don’t make the same mistake twice!
Photo: Marco Gräff (Hellfire Magazin)
ICED EARTH’s “Incorruptible”, justly considered a modern classic in the band’s great back catalogue, has received raving reviews all over the globe. With tracks such as “Black Flag”, “Raven Wing”, “Seven Headed Whore” or the album’s epic ending track “Clear The Way (December 13th, 1862)”
ICED EARTH have managed to write songs that will easily stand the test of time, being on par with the band’s classic tracks from an almost 30 years spanning career.
ICED EARTH live
21.06.18 (BE) Dessel – Graspop Metal Meeting
22.06.18 (DE) St. Goarshausen – Rockfels Open Air
23.06.18 (FR) Vaureal – Le Forum
24.06.18 (FR) Clisson – Hellfest
26.06.18 (NL) Alkmaar – Victorie
27.06.18 (NL) Hengelo – Metropool
28.06.18 (DE) Jena – F-Haus
29.06.18 (DE) Dischingen – Rock am Härtsfeldsee
30.06.18 (CH) Winterthur – Gaswerk
01.07.18 (IT) Novara – Phenomenon
03.07.18 (AT) Wörgl – Komma
04.07.18 (CH) Luzern – Schürr
07.07.18 (ES) Barcelona – Rockfest
10.07.18 (AT) Graz – Dom im Berg
11.07.18 (SI) Ljubljana – Kino Siska
12.07.18 (CR) Zagreb – Pogon Jedinstvo
13.07.18 (HU) Dunaújváros – Rockmarathon
14.07.18 (AT) Vienna – Szene
16.07.18 (PL) Cracow – Kwadrat
17.07.18 (PL) Warschau – Progresja
19.07.18 (DE) Dresden – Eventwerk
20.07.18 (DE) Fritzlar – Rock am Stück
21.07.18 (DE) Weil am Rhein – Baden in Blut
25.07.18 (DE) Berlin – SO36
26.07.18 (DE) Kiel – Pumpe
27.07.18 (DE) Bremen – Tivoli
28.07.18 (DE) Pyras – Pyras Open Air
ICED EARTH online
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialIcedEarth
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Today Seattle metal legend SANCTUARY are joining label mates ICED EARTH on an extensive tour of North America and Canada. As previously announced, following the unfortunate loss of one of metal’s most revered vocalists, Warrel Dane, these upcoming shows will act as a tribute to his musical legacy with guest vocals to be performed by Joseph Michael (Witherfall). In addition to that, SANCTUARY have now completed their line-up with Joey Concepcion (Armageddon, The Absence) as second guitarist.
“We’re proud to announce that master shredder Joey Concepcion will be joining us on our 2018 US tour honoring our brother Warrel Dane,” says guitarist Lenny Rutledge.
Joey Concepcion adds:
“I’m very stoked to be playing with SANCTUARY on their upcoming tour, I’ve been a fan since I was in high school listening to “Into The Mirror Black”. I’m looking forward to playing these songs live and honoring the legacy of Warrel Dane.”
Feel free to check out a track from Concepcion’s solo album “Alignment” (2017): https://youtu.be/Lrjvxd14658
Regarding the tour, Lenny Rutledge states:“SANCTUARY has decided to continue on with the ICED EARTH tour to pay tribute to our brother Warrel Dane. The set will consist of many old and some newer songs performed with the utmost respect and quality to honor our friend. Please join us in this farewell as we celebrate Warrel’s musical legacy with SANCTUARY. We look forward to sharing this tribute with all of you.” A full list of dates can be found as follows:
#2/22 Indianapolis, IN – Deluxe
#2/23 Cincinnati, OH – Bogarts
#2/24 Louisville, KY – Mercury Ballroom
#2/25 Milwaukee, WI – Turner Ballroom
#2/26 Minneapolis, MN – Music Hall
#2/27 Omaha, NE – Sokol Underground
#2/28 Denver, CO – Summit Music Hall
#3/2 Edmonton, AB – Starlite Room
#3/3 Calgary, AB – Marquee Beer Market & Stage
#3/4 Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theater
#3/5 Seattle, WA – El Corazon
#3/7 Sacramento, CA – Ace of Spades
#3/8 Los Angeles, CA – Belasco Theater
#3/9 San Diego, CA – House of Blues
#3/10 Anaheim, CA – Parish @ House of Blues
#3/11 Phoenix, AZ – The Pressroom
#3/13 San Antonio TX – Aztec Theatre
#3/14 Dallas, TX – House of Blues
#3/15 Houston, TX – House of Blues
#3/16 New Orleans, LA – Parish @ House of Blues
#3/17 Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
#3/18 Charlotte, NC – Underground
#3/19 Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage
#3/21 Wilmington, DE – The Queen
#3/22 New York, NY – Gramercy Theatre
#3/23 Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
#3/24 Quebec City, QC – Imperial Bell
#3/25 Montreal, QC – Corona Theater
#3/26 Toronto, ON – Phoenix Theater
#3/27 Cleveland, OH – Cambridge Room @ House of Blues
#3/28 Detroit, MI – St. Andrew’s Hall
#3/29 Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge ## with Iced Earth & Kill RitualTickets and further details can be found at http://www.enterthesanctuary.com
SANCTUARY recently released the official prequel to 1988’s classic debut “Refuge Denied”, “Inception” on Century Media Records, which showcased several previously lost recordings from their 1986 studio session that had now been restored, remixed and remastered by Chris “Zeus” Harris (Queensryche). A lyric video featuring early 80’s live footage can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zw2Y4VE40Ec
Formed in 1985, SANCTUARY were signed to Epic Records with the help of Megadeth guitarist Dave Mustaine and released two records, “Refuge Denied” (1988) and “Into The Mirror Black” (1990). The band disbanded in 1992 as members Warrel Dane (vocals) and Jim Sheppard (bass) went on to form the highly successful metal act Nevermore with acclaimed guitarist Jeff Loomis. SANCTUARY reunited in 2010 and appeared at several festivals worldwide before returning to the studio to record their acclaimed full-length comeback album “The Year The Sun Died” for Century Media Records in 2014. Warrel Dane tragically passed away on December 13th, 2017 due to a heart attack while recording his second solo album in São Paulo, Brazil.
SANCTUARY online
]]>‘Stargazer’ opens fast, and I immediately hear that Mrs. Cruz is a good singer. She’s a mix of Sabina Edelsbacher (Edenbridge) and Amy Lee (Evanscence). Aaron Sluss adds some nice bass parts and the guitar duo of Camden Cruz and Kevin Byrd finishes it off with some tight riffs and excellent solos. At times the riffs are quite thrashy, creating a musical style mix of Helloween, Cellador, Edenbridge, and Iced Earth. There are no ballads, just speed, power, and headbanging stuff. Variety and melody are two other aspects I have to add. The song writing is okay, and there is not a track to fill up the album. ‘The Tales of Deathface Ginny’ is flourished by nice choir singing parts, which forms a fine contrast with the heavy riffs.
At the end of the over 50 minutes music, I can conclude that I like the album. Speed, melody, heavy riffs, good female singing, nice solos, and nicely written songs are everything good music needs. Take a listen to this fourth birth of Seven Kingdoms if bands like Helloween, Edenbridge, Iced Earth, or Cellador are favorites in your collection.
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