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)
Desert Rain
Iced Earth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Life is like the burning sand so I'm told
The time is coming near when solitude appears
Take the chains of oppression away
Through the sands of time I'm marching on
The blistering rays of hate strengthen me
The violent mass has shown my destiny
[Chorus]
The desert rain is changing me
It's called on me to rise
A world of hate and malice
Yes, that's the way it seems
The hour glass is running out
The serpent rides with me
We shall rise and conquer
Crushing all that's weak
All that's light is burning out
The serpent rides with me
[Chorus]
The lyrics of Iced Earth's "Desert Rain" offer a mix of introspection and rebellion. The first lines suggest a sense of apathy or detachment towards the outer world, betrayed by the decreasing empathy in the singer's mind. The metaphor of life as burning sand alludes to the harshness and senselessness of existence, in some way foreshadowing the subsequent references to hate and malice. The singer seems resigned to the inevitability of solitude, waiting for it to come closer, but also eager to free himself from the chains of oppression that hinder his growth.
The second stanza brings up the central theme of the song, that of rage and violence as a means of empowerment. The sand now becomes a metaphor for time, as the singer marches on through it, and the hate he faces becomes a source of strength and motivation. The violent masses, that embody the injustice of the world, have revealed his destiny, as if it were a call for rebellion. The rhetorical question "Does all of this justify the rage inside" hints at a possible inner struggle, whether violence is the righteous answer or not.
The chorus introduces a new metaphor, that of the desert rain, which symbolizes change and transformation. The singer seems to embrace the challenge and to respond to the call of the rain, to rise and become something else. The following stanzas depict a violent rebellion against the world, against all that's weak and light, and an alliance with the serpent, which embodies both power and evil. The final chorus reinforces the idea of transformation, suggesting that the desert rain has not only changed but also called for the singer's rise.
Overall, the lyrics of "Desert Rain" showcase a complex mix of nihilistic attitudes and empowering beliefs, anchored in an imagery of sand, hate, and rain. The song seems to resonate with the broader themes of Iced Earth's oeuvre, which often include struggles for freedom, power, and self-realization.
Line by Line Meaning
The sympathy in my mind is growing cold
I am becoming less and less empathetic towards others
Life is like the burning sand so I'm told
Life is difficult and challenging
The time is coming near when solitude appears
I am soon to be alone
Take the chains of oppression away
I desire freedom from oppression
Through the sands of time I'm marching on
I am moving forward despite the challenges of life
The blistering rays of hate strengthen me
Hatred fuels me and empowers me
The violent mass has shown my destiny
My path has been determined by the violent masses
Does all of this justify the rage inside
I question if my anger is justified
The desert rain is changing me
The challenging environment is causing me to transform
It's called on me to rise
I must push myself to succeed
A world of hate and malice
The world is full of negativity and aggression
Yes, that's the way it seems
This is how it appears to me
The hour glass is running out
Time is running out
The serpent rides with me
I am accompanied by danger
We shall rise and conquer
We will succeed and overcome
Crushing all that's weak
We will defeat anything that is too fragile to withstand us
All that's light is burning out
Anything positive is fading away
The serpent rides with me
I am still accompanied by danger
The desert rain is changing me
The challenging environment continues to cause me to transform
It's called on me to rise
I must continue to push myself to succeed
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Capitol CMG Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID H LANZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Leather Scarecrow
One of the most underrated metal bands ever in my opinion. Sounds like thrashy Iron Maiden to me in some parts.
Ivan Vujacic
This song is a masterpiece, as is the album. Pure art. My favorite album of Iced Earth.
V. Va
2:42 Holy shit Super Mario Land World 1-3.
Ma We
Exactly! Great find!
kmvoss
One of them literally played it over a winter and wrote it into the song. Genius.
TheJessMan
I had this OG version back in High School. Summed up my angst and frustration at the world. Now I’m listening to it and it still hits that nerve within my soul! 🤘🏻
Despondencymusic
This album is from an alternate dimension where Iced Earth is part of the BIG 5.
Melissa Mcswain
The sand keeps falling the penile gland. Say something about it and the food.
erick acuna
big 6, with testament too!
samomac
This is the only Iced Earth album I’ve listened to over all these years and it’s staying that way because it’s pretty much perfect.