Night of the Stormrider [Reissue]

• Artist: Iced Earth
• Rating:
• Release Date: 2002
• Genre: Rock

Review

Florida's Iced Earth were swimming against the tide in 1992. At a time when alternative rock was wiping the rock & roll slate clean and putting hundreds of heavy metal bands out of business seemingly overnight, the band's uncompromising blend of classic metaland thrash (think Iron Maiden meets Slayer) was about as unfashionable as it got. And, to make matters worse, their sophomore effort, Night of the Stormrider, was a full-blown concept album about a man's fall from grace and subsequent questioning of organized religion. Guitarist and principal songwriter John Shaffer went to great lengths to diversify the band's already complex sonic palette, adding acoustic guitar passages and atmospheric keyboards to outstanding cuts like "Angel's Holocaust," "Before the Vision," "Pure Evil," and the awesome "Desert Rain." New vocalist John Greely has a good set of lungs and usually manages to keep up with the manic pace, but is clearly the weak link in the band's equation and would not return after this album. All in all, Night of the Stormrider was a solid effort which simply arrived at the wrong time, and, after assessing the general public's indifference, Shaffer would place Iced Earth on ice for almost three years. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Angels Holocaust	Jon Schaffer	Iced Earth
Stormrider	Jon Schaffer, Randall Shawver	Iced Earth
The Path I Choose	Jon Schaffer, Randall Shawver	Iced Earth
Before the Vision	Jon Schaffer, Randall Shawver	Iced Earth
Mystical End	Jon Schaffer	Iced Earth
Desert Rain	Jon Schaffer, Dave Abell	Iced Earth
Pure Evil	Jon Schaffer, Randall Shawver	Iced Earth
Reaching the End	Jon Schaffer	Iced Earth
Travel in Stygian	Jon Schaffer	Iced Earth

Credits

Iced Earth (Main Performer), Tom Morris (Producer), Kent Smith (Introduction), Dirk Rudolph (Layout Design), Jon Schaffer (Guitar (Rhythm)), Jon Schaffer (Vocals), Jon Schaffer (Producer), Rick Borstelman (Back Cover), Randall Shawver (Guitar), Randall Shawver (Soloist), Dave Abell (Bass), Frank Albrecht (Photography), John Greely (Vocals), Richey Secchiari (Drums), Roger "The Hammer" Huff (Keyboards)