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)
Angels Holocaust
Iced Earth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thoughts of hate and anger fill my soul
The charred remains of the holy rollers
Scream repentance though it's far too late
I fight back the laughter at what I see
The suffering healers false destined prophecy
The brainwashed fools born again of a thousand lies
Hate filled screams break the silence
Terrifying dreams filling up your head
Blasphemy thrusting out, in the masses it reigns
The mask of hypocrisy is slowly unveiled
Fear the angels holocaust, they're screaming
Dreams of pain forever entering your head
Death and hatred loathing, on mankind it feeds
Earth is dead and gone now, we've brought it to an end
For the last time I've been betrayed
Never again will I subject myself to this hypocrisy
Something is drawing me to the other side
Only time will tell my true destiny
The lyrics of Iced Earth's song Angels Holocaust paint a picture of a post-apocalyptic wasteland, where the singer walks through a blackened forest filled with hate and anger. The remains of the holy rollers who preach repentance are now charred, making their message far too late. The suffering healers' destined prophecy was false and the singer cannot help but fight back laughter at their foolishness. The brainwashed fools who were born again a thousand times were never aware that yesterday was the end of their lives.
The lyrics are a commentary on the dangers of religious fanaticism and the hypocrisy of those who preach repentance, but fail to acknowledge the consequences of their actions. The phrase "angels holocaust" refers to the destruction caused by these religious fanatics who are blinded by their devotion and commit acts of violence in the name of their faith. The imagery of the song is meant to shock the listener into questioning the validity of religious zealotry and the cost of blindly following a false prophet.
Line by Line Meaning
As I walk through the blackened forest
Walking through the midst of darkness
Thoughts of hate and anger fill my soul
The mind consumed with intense negative emotions
The charred remains of the holy rollers
What's left behind of the religious fanatics
Scream repentance though it's far too late
Crying out for forgiveness when it's already too late to be saved
I fight back the laughter at what I see
Suppressing amusement at the sight before me
The suffering healers false destined prophecy
The misguided predictions of those who claim to heal
He didn't think yesterday of the end of his life
He didn't anticipate the end of his existence the day before
The brainwashed fools born again of a thousand lies
Those who have been deceived and indoctrinated with countless falsehoods
Hate filled screams break the silence
Shouts of intense animosity pierce the quietness
Terrifying dreams filling up your head
Frightening nightmares taking over the mind
Blasphemy thrusting out, in the masses it reigns
An irreverent attitude dominating society
The mask of hypocrisy is slowly unveiled
Gradually revealing the true nature of double standards
Fear the angels holocaust, they're screaming
Beware of the destruction brought about by celestial beings who are crying out
Dreams of pain forever entering your head
Visions of agony constantly invading one's thoughts
Death and hatred loathing, on mankind it feeds
The notion of demise and animosity thriving on humanity
Earth is dead and gone now, we've brought it to an end
The planet is now a lifeless, inanimate object, and it's our doing
For the last time I've been betrayed
One has experienced betrayal for the final time
Never again will I subject myself to this hypocrisy
Promising never to tolerate falsehood and double standards again
Something is drawing me to the other side
Feeling a pull towards the unknown realm
Only time will tell my true destiny
The future is unknown, and I must wait to learn my fate
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
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