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)
Epilogue
Iced Earth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Messiah to my own and sent to slay
I am pure embodied rage
Made of a million souls that dearly paid
The icy pulse that's pumping' through my veins
Sanctifies the end of human ways
I am pure embodied rage
I am the weapon that strikes
In the hearts of man I thrive
Feeding their fear with lies
I will devour I will divide
I am the god of hellfire
Inside of every man there lives a liar
Before their gods they cower
I will divide I will devour
Antichrist or harbinger of fate
Prophet and priest born of the ancient rage
I will assassinate their way
Annihilation of the human race
I am the weapon that strikes
In the hearts of man I thrive
Feeding their fear with lies
I will devour I will divide
I am the god of hellfire
Inside of every man there lives a liar
Before their gods they cower
I will divide I will devour
The lyrics of Iced Earth's song "Epilogue" revolve around the idea of a powerful being, possibly an antichrist or a harbinger of fate, who is filled with anger, rage and a desire to divide and conquer humanity. The first two lines of the song depict the being forging its own path through time, while simultaneously proclaiming itself to be a messiah sent to slay. The use of the word "messiah" in this context is interesting, as it is usually associated with benevolence and hope, whereas here it connotes violence and destruction.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the being's power and its desire to feed on humanity's fear and lies, leading to its ability to divide and devour. The lyrics speak of the being as a god of hellfire and a destroyer of humanity, who will annihilate the human race. The final verse, which mentions the being as a prophet or a priest, highlights that it is not just an agent of destruction, but also a figure who is revered and followed by many.
Overall, the lyrics of "Epilogue" paint a picture of a violent, powerful and malevolent being, who is capable of spreading fear and chaos amongst humanity. It could be interpreted as a critique of human nature, as the being is depicted as being born out of the rage and suffering of a million souls who were unjustly slain.
Line by Line Meaning
Through the folds of time I forge the way
As I travel through time, I am determined to create a path for myself
Messiah to my own and sent to slay
I believe that I am meant to be a savior, sent to destroy my enemies
I am pure embodied rage
I am completely consumed by anger and malice
Made of a million souls that dearly paid
My existence is formed by the suffering and sacrifice of countless souls
The icy pulse that's pumping' through my veins
My chilling, relentless energy signifies the end of humanity
Sanctifies the end of human ways
By embodying this icy pulse, I am blessed with the power to bring about the end of humanity
Born of a million souls unjustly slain
My creation is the result of the unjust death of countless innocent individuals
I am the weapon that strikes
I am a tool of destruction, capable of great harm
In the hearts of man I thrive
My power lies in exploiting man's weaknesses and fears
Feeding their fear with lies
I manipulate humanity by perpetuating falsehoods and stoking their anxieties
I will devour I will divide
My ultimate goal is to annihilate humanity and instill discord
I am the god of hellfire
I represent a force of destruction and evil
Inside of every man there lives a liar
All humans have a capacity for deceit and dishonesty
Before their gods they cower
Even deities are no match for my power and influence
I will divide I will devour
Once again, my objective is to destroy and create chaos
Antichrist or harbinger of fate
I am either the opposite of Christ or a messenger of destiny
Prophet and priest born of the ancient rage
My actions are guided by ancient hatred and wrath
I will assassinate their way
I will eliminate their path and obliterate any hope for their cause
Annihilation of the human race
My mission is to utterly eradicate humanity
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JON SCHAFFER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind