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Days of Purgatory [2 Disc]

 
Album Review: Days of Purgatory [2 Disc]
 

  • Artist: Iced Earth
  • Rating: StarStarStarStar
  • Release Date: July 15, 2003
  • Type: Lyrics are included with the album, Compilation (best of)
  • Genre: Rock

Review

A somewhat controversial release, Days of Purgatory contains re-recorded versions of 15 songs originally featured on Iced Earth's unevenly produced early albums -- the sort of thing that drives musical purists up the wall. However, because it also unearths a few long lost demos for studio resurrection, it also arguably offered the best starting point for those first discovering Iced Earth, until the release of 2004's nearly flawless The Blessed and the Damned greatest-hits set, that is. Now, if that information doesn't already have you immediately checking out The Blessed and the Damned, the fact remains that Days of Purgatory still serves its primary purpose: revamping that quality-challenged material with superior sound quality and musicianship, most notably from vocalist Matthew Barlow. All aspects of Iced Earth's songwriting are presented herein: energetic staccato riffing, dual-guitar harmonies, melodic acoustic passages, complex arrangements, and plenty of double kick drums. These are combined most effectively on "Colors," "When the Night Falls," and "Angel's Holocaust," but it's probably the outstanding "Desert Rain," with its atmospheric guitar intro, and the epic nine-minute "Travel in Stygian" that show Iced Earth at their inventive best. [Days of Purgatory was also made available in a two-disc, 20-track edition.] ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide

Tracks



CD 1

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Enter the Realm Jon Schaffer Iced Earth (0:54)
Colors Tom Schaffer, Randall Shawver Iced Earth (5:04)
Angels Holocaust Jon Schaffer Iced Earth (5:45)
Stormrider Jon Schaffer, Randall Shawver Iced Earth (3:55)
Winter Nights Jon Schaffer Iced Earth (3:55)
Nightmares Jon Schaffer Iced Earth (3:30)
Before the Vision Jon Schaffer, Randall Shawver, Dave Abell Iced Earth (1:23)
Pure Evil Jon Schaffer, Randall Shawver Iced Earth (6:18)
Solitude Jon Schaffer, Randall Shawver Iced Earth (1:44)
The Funeral Tom Schaffer, Randall Shawver Iced Earth (6:16)
When the Night Falls Jon Schaffer Iced Earth (7:50)


CD 2

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Burnt Offerings Jon Schaffer, Randall Shawver Iced Earth (7:23)
Cast in Stone Jon Schaffer, Matthew Barlow, Randall Shawver, Dave Abell Iced Earth (6:00)
Desert Rain Jon Schaffer, Dave Abell Iced Earth (6:38)
Brainwashed Jon Schaffer, Randall Shawver Iced Earth (5:22)
Life and Death Tom Schaffer, Randall Shawver Iced Earth (6:07)
Creator Failure Jon Schaffer, Matthew Barlow, Randall Shawver, Dave Abell Iced Earth (6:05)
Reaching the End Jon Schaffer Iced Earth (1:10)
Travel in Stygian Jon Schaffer Iced Earth (9:27)
Dante's Inferno Jon Schaffer Iced Earth (16:19)
Iced Earth Tom Schaffer Iced Earth (5:29)

Credits

Iced Earth (Main Performer), Michael Haynes (Photography), Howard Helm (Keyboards), Tom Morris (Recording), Kent Smith (Keyboards), Mark Prator (Mastering), Jon Schaffer (Guitar (Rhythm)), Jon Schaffer (Vocals), Jon Schaffer (Lyricist), Jon Schaffer (Producer), Jon Schaffer (Recording), Matthew Barlow (Vocals), Matthew Barlow (Lyricist), Randall Shawver (Guitar), Roger "The Hammer" Huff (Keyboards), James Macdonough (Guitar (Bass)), Jim Ward Morris (Remixing), Jim Ward Morris (Mastering), Jim Ward Morris (Mixing), Jim Ward Morris (Re-Produced), Jim Balent (Artwork), Jason Jensen (Artwork), Brent Smedley (Drums), Philipp Schulte (Production Coordination)
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Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more