Iced Earth is an American heavy metal band formed in Tampa, Florida and cur… Read Full Bio ↴Iced Earth is an American heavy metal band formed in Tampa, Florida and currently based in Columbus, Indiana. They were formed in 1984 under the name the Rose, then Purgatory, by guitarist and main songwriter Jon Schaffer and original drummer Greg Seymour. Iced Earth released their debut album in 1990 and have since released twelve studio albums, four EPs, three compilations, three box sets, three live albums and eleven music videos.

After releasing the demo EP Enter the Realm (1989) and signing to Century Media Records, the band released two full-length studio albums – Iced Earth (1990) and Night of the Stormrider (1991) – before taking a two-year hiatus from 1992 to 1994, after which the band returned with new lead vocalist Matt Barlow. Iced Earth went on to release four studio albums with him in over half a decade: Burnt Offerings (1995), The Dark Saga (1996), Something Wicked This Way Comes (1998) and Horror Show (2001).

After Horror Show, Barlow quit the band and joined the police force, while Iced Earth continued on with Tim "Ripper" Owens, formerly of Judas Priest, on vocals. With Owens, the band released two studio albums (2004's The Glorious Burden and 2007's Framing Armageddon: Something Wicked Part 1). In late 2007, Barlow rejoined the band, and they recorded one more album with him: The Crucible of Man: Something Wicked Part 2 (2008). In 2011, Barlow once again left Iced Earth, and was replaced by Into Eternity frontman Stu Block. Dystopia, Block's first album with the group, was released that October; the album received a positive response, while some critics called it one of Iced Earth's best albums. The group recorded two more albums with Block: Plagues of Babylon (2014) and Incorruptible (2017).

Before arriving at their current lineup, Iced Earth has had numerous line-up changes, with founder Jon Schaffer as the only founding member remaining. As of 2021, there have been over thirty musicians in and out of Iced Earth since its formation in 1984.

The band is composed solely of Schaffer and drummer Brent Smedley, with all other band members having departed following Schaffer's January 2021 arrest by the FBI for his involvement in the Capitol riots. Schaffer is in FBI custody on felony charges, which has generated new publicity for Iced Earth and has resulted in the band being dropped from their longtime label Century Media.

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iced_Earth

Studio albums
Iced Earth (1990)
Night of the Stormrider (1991)
Burnt Offerings (1995)
The Dark Saga (1996)
Something Wicked This Way Comes (1998)
Horror Show (2001)
The Glorious Burden (2004)
Framing Armageddon: Something Wicked Part 1 (2007)
The Crucible of Man: Something Wicked Part 2 (2008)
Dystopia (2011)
Plagues of Babylon (2014)
Incorruptible (2017)
A Narrative Soundscape (2022)

A Charge to Keep
Iced Earth Lyrics

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I must believe that just a memory now
Was the only way to know
That all those you love
Are just ripped away

And now we find the one to lead us
To a brand new day
Has this I must be with a brood of truth

Got to lead the way

Please God give me
The strength to live
(It's my charge to Keep)
Keep the sorrow
The fuel I need
(It's my charge to Keep)

And now we must wipe the tears away
Cover up are in the strength
Lost are those we can't replace
Who bring a louder faith

And all many lives I've seen him take
To bring justice on our way
We must never fault we must never fail
This is a charge to keep

Please God give me
The strength to live
(It's my charge to Keep)
Keep the sorrow

The fuel I need
(It's my charge to Keep)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Iced Earth's song "A Charge to Keep" reflect themes of loss, grief, perseverance, and hope. The opening lines suggest that the only way to truly appreciate the people we love is to experience their absence. The song then shifts to a call for a new leader who can guide the way forward. The writer of the song (presumably the lead singer, Jon Schaffer) asks for strength and acknowledges that sorrow can fuel his determination to persevere. The final verse pays tribute to those who have been lost but suggests that their memory can serve as a source of strength.

One interpretation of the song is that it is a tribute to fallen soldiers or other heroes who have sacrificed their lives for a greater cause. The idea of a "charge to keep" suggests that there is a duty or responsibility to carry on the work of those who have come before us. The references to justice, faith, and leadership suggest that this charge may be related to a specific cause or mission.

A Charge to KeepIced Earth Lyrics

A Charge to Keep
Iced Earth Lyrics