It is true that there is no real limit to the magnitude of a passionate band when writing and recording an album. I think that there is nothing better. Sometimes even the live experience cannot overcome the degree of emotions when creating something fresh and putting it together. There are times, by reading between the lines, when it is possible to feel the band's dedication through its material, letting its deluge of power swarm into one's mind. One of those bands that I have always been able to fathom its excitement and intensity within the essence of the songs is ICED EARTH. The longstanding enormity, no matter how many musicians came and went along the way, always triumphed. "Incorruptible", the new album of the American veterans, via Century Media Records, is the next in line token of Metal in its highest order, a continuation of the band's constant shaped legacy.

"Incorruptible" took me back in time to the band's earlier efforts such as "Something Wicked This Way Comes" and "The Glorious Burden", as it was bound to become a sort of weird mixture between the two relics. The songwriting hasn't changed much in comparison to previous releases, which clearly shows that Jon Schaffer has a vast knowledge exactly which buttons to push when writing and composing a song, and also by being a great lyricist. The structure of each of the songs, even the last epos, may appear to be a picture of something linear with complexity, yet they walk the walk of the previous material that gone gold. This means that Schaffer's songwriting pattern is working and it is not closer to be out of the ordinary. What's more interesting is that "Incorruptible" actually felt as if it was a concept album, as I perceived the atmosphere bestowed in the tunes to be rather similar, even in the toughest iron fist on the list, yet it is not. Coming to think of it, I was pleased that it wasn't.

Ranging from the robust energies and heaviness, which made me a crazed follower of band more than fifteen years, through the climactic echoes to the alleviating moments, ICED EARTH is everywhere. As if setting the listener on a journey through the ever shifting mindset of their creation, their resolve be done. The riffs are a feast for sore ears, lead vocals that tears flesh and a rhythm section that is a steady as a rock. Experience has its toll. However, there was another reason for the band's latest achievement. Recently ICED EARTH was embraced by the coming of Jake Dreyer (ex-WHITE WIZZARD / WITHERFALL) to man the lead guitar position. I listened to the guy on the new WITHERFALL album and I was fueled, he killed it, oh boy he did. Such tremendous abilities aren't that common in lead guitar players, as not every average lead guitar joe is a wizard. ICED EARTH are lucky to have him and he is in luck to be a part of such an organization he can run his immaculate shredding abilities in. On "Incorruptible" he became to be one of the key reasons why this album turned out to be so marvelous.

On to my overall observation of the tracks. "Clear the Way (December 13th, 1862)", which portrays the unfortunate fate of the Irish Brigade in the Battle of Fredericksburg of the American Civil War, is a mind blowing epos of true Metal art. The first song that came to my mind while listening was "Hold At All Costs" from "The Glorious Burden", yet the former is a much stronger suit, highly emotive, encrusted by amazing music, which other than Stu Block's usual vocal deliverance, does the talking as well. I was truly captivated, one of the band's greatest works. "Raven Wing" is a spiritual rising, under the wing of the raven, ICED EARTH sends another dramatic message with an amazing chorus that is a sure sing-along. "Seven Headed Whore" is the band's heaviest song on the album, a sharp edged killer, which might remind some of you of "Disciples Of the Lie" or "My Own Savior", about the break the boundary between US Power and Thrash Metal. If you are looking for an energetic mosher to bash your walls, this is it. "Black Flag" may turn out to be ICED EARTH's first pirate song, yet not in the sense of the trendy Folk Metal, on the contrary, such a blazing ferocity meld with the band's sense towards high level lyrics and championed choruses, it is no less than a winning card in the deck. Also highly recommended: "Defiance", "The Relic (Part 1)" and "Brothers".

It would appear to me that ICED EARTH of the last decade has been striking gold, writing albums that should become one with the classics. "Incorruptible" joins the fold today.