Plagues of Babylon

2014 studio album by Iced Earth

Plagues of Babylon

Studio album by

Iced Earth

Released| January 6, 2014
Recorded| July 15 – August 8, 2013
Studio| Principal Studios, Senden, Germany
Genre|

* Power metal
* heavy metal
* thrash metal

Length| 62:03
Label| Century Media
Producer| Jon Schaffer
Iced Earth chronology
| Live in Ancient Kourion
(2013)  | Plagues of Babylon
(2014)  | Incorruptible
(2017)

|
|

Plagues of Babylon is the eleventh studio album by 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.[1] 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.[1]

## Overview

[edit]

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.[1] The band began recording in Germany on July 15, 2013, at Principal Studios.[1][2] On August 8, 2013, it was announced that the band had completed tracking the album.[3] On September 3, the band announced they had completed mixing and mastering Plagues of Babylon.[4] On September 25, the official track listing and album cover were released.[5]

On October 7, Iced Earth announced that would be releasing a limited edition vinyl EP entitled The Plagues.[6] The EP will contain three songs from Plagues of Babylon, and will be made available on Iced Earth's European tour with Volbeat.[6] On October 11, the lyric video for the album's title track was released.[7]

The December 2013 issue of Germany's Metal Hammer magazine featured the song "Peacemaker" on the attached CD[8] and the December 2013 issue of Germany's RockHard magazine featured the song "Among the Living Dead" on the attached CD.[9] 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.

## Reception

[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
Metal-Temple.com| [10]
Loudwire| [11]
metal.de| [12]
Metal-Hammer| (5/7)[13]
Stormbringer| [14]
Revolver Magazine| [15]
Allmusic| [16]
Metal Storm| (7.4/10)[17]
About.com| [18]
Blabbermouth.net| (7.5/10)[19]
Powermetal.de| [20]

Plagues of Babylon received mostly positive reviews overall from music critics. In January 2014, the album reached position No. 5 on the German Media Control Charts. This is the band's highest chart position in their entire career.[21][22] The band also reached No. 34 on the Ultratop Charts in Belgium.[23] Meanwhile, in the US, the album sold approximately 6,300 copies in its first week to debut at No. 49 on the Billboard 200.[24]

## Track listing

[edit]

No.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

1.| "Plagues of Babylon"| Jon Schaffer| 7:47
2.| "Democide"|

* Schaffer
* Stu Block

| 5:22
3.| "The Culling"|

* Schaffer
* Troy Seele
* Block

| 4:26
4.| "Among the Living Dead"|

* Schaffer
* Seele
* Block

| 5:14
5.| "Resistance"|

* Schaffer
* Seele
* Luke Appleton
* Block

| 4:59
6.| "The End?"|

* Schaffer
* Appleton
* Block

| 7:13
7.| "If I Could See You"| Schaffer| 3:55
8.| "Cthulhu"|

* Schaffer
* Block

| 6:04
9.| "Peacemaker"|

* Schaffer
* Block

| 5:02
10.| "Parasite"|

* Schaffer
* Seele
* Block

| 3:30
11.| "Spirit of the Times" (Sons of Liberty cover)| Schaffer| 5:05
12.| "Highwayman" (Jimmy Webb cover)| Jimmy Webb| 3:12
13.| "Outro" (unlisted)|  | 0:24
Total length:| 1:02:13

## Personnel

[edit]

Iced Earth

* Stu Block – lead vocals, backing vocals
* Jon Schaffer – rhythm and lead guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Highwayman"
* Troy Seele – lead guitar
* Luke Appleton – bass

Additional musicians

* Raphael Saini – drums
* 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

Production and design

* Eliran Kantor – cover art
* Kevin Paul and Jon Schaffer – mixing
* Sascha Buhren – mastering

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d "ICED EARTH To Enter Studio on Monday". Blabbermouth.net. July 13, 2013. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
2. ^ "ICED EARTH To Record New Album in Germany". Blabbermouth.net. May 27, 2013. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
3. ^ "ICED EARTH Completes Recording New Album". Blabbermouth.net. August 8, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
4. ^ "ICED EARTH Completes Mixing And Mastering New Album". Blabbermouth.net. September 3, 2013. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
5. ^ "'Plagues of Babylon' Cover Artwork, Track Listing Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. September 25, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
6. ^ a b "ICED EARTH To Release Limited-Edition 'The Plagues' Vinyl EP". Blabbermouth.net. October 9, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
7. ^ "ICED EARTH: Lyric Video For 'Plagues Of Babylon' Title Track". Blabbermouth.net. October 11, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
8. ^ "Dezember Heft 2013". Metal Hammer. December 1, 2013. Retrieved December 1, 2013.
9. ^ "RH No. 319". RockHard. December 1, 2013. Retrieved December 1, 2013.
10. ^ "Iced Earth – Plagues of Babylon". metal-temple.com. Archived from the original on March 1, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
11. ^ "Iced Earth, 'Plagues of Babylon' – Album Review". Loudwire. January 28, 2014.
12. ^ Michael Stalling. "Iced Earth". Metal.de. Archived from the original on March 15, 2016. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
13. ^ "Iced Earth :: Plagues of Babylon". Metal Hammer. December 23, 2013.
14. ^ Dragonslayer. "ICED EARTH – Plagues of Babylon – Review bei Stormbringer.at". stormbringer.at.
15. ^ "Review: Iced Earth — Plagues of Babylon". Revolver.
16. ^ Gregory Heaney. "Plagues of Babylon". AllMusic.
17. ^ "Iced Earth – Plagues of Babylon review – Metal Storm". metalstorm.net.
18. ^ "Iced Earth – Plagues of Babylon Review". About.com Entertainment. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
19. ^ Horn, Jr., Ray Van (March 3, 2014). "CD Reviews – Plagues of Babylon Iced Earth – Blabbermouth.net". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
20. ^ "Iced Earth | Plagues of Babylon Review – Powermetal.de". Powermetal.de. January 3, 2014. Retrieved 2014-12-28.
21. ^ Fayyazi, Mohsen (January 14, 2014). "ICED EARTH: Highest Chart Entry Of Band's Entire Career: #5 On German Media Control Charts". metalshockfinland.com. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
22. ^ "Iced Earth, Plagues of Babylon". German Media Control Charts. Archived from the original on July 7, 2014. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
23. ^ "Iced Earth – Plagues of Babylon". Ultratop.be. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
24. ^ "ICED EARTH's 'Plagues of Babylon' Cracks U.S. Top 50". January 29, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2014.

## External links

[edit]

* Iced Earth Unleashes "Among The Living Dead"

* v
* t
* e

Iced Earth

* Jon Schaffer

* Gene Adam
* Matt Barlow
* James MacDonough
* Steve Di Giorgio
* Richard Christy
* Ralph Santolla
* Tim "Ripper" Owens
* Bobby Jarzombek
* Dennis Hayes
* Stu Block
* Jake Dreyer
* Jon Dette
* Brent Smedley

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
* The Crucible of Man: Something Wicked Part 2
* Dystopia
* Plagues of Babylon
* Incorruptible

Live albums|

* Alive in Athens
* Live in Ancient Kourion

Cover albums|

* Tribute to the Gods

Extended plays|

* Overture of the Wicked
* 5 Songs

Compilations|

* Days of Purgatory
* Dark Genesis
* The Blessed and the Damned

Songs|

* "Dante's Inferno"
* "The Reckoning"
* "Setian Massacre"
* "I Walk Among You"

Related articles|

* Discography
* Members
* Sons of Liberty

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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