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)
Stormrider
Iced Earth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I see the break ahead
As though the sky has burst in flames
Before the storm I dread
Lightning breaks across the sky
Blackish blue at night
Riders ride on dismal clouds
Storming demons travel through the night
The time is almost here
I lay in a jacket of steel
My scream no one hears
I can feel the storm approaching
The pain is its' reality
The death I breathe is in the air
I feel no more, no longer care
The trumpets sound as I break free
This vision I see just can't be me
What is this that I have done
Why am I the chosen one
Fight on, grab on
Storm rider
Storm rider
Now the rider rides through the night
The time is almost here
As I lay wrapped in steel
My scream no one hears
Help me, through this hell inside
My life's my own, it's my pride
Carry on my solid dream
Save me from this horrid scream
Fight on, grab on
Storm rider
Storm rider
The lyrics of Iced Earth's song "Stormrider" describe a journey of a protagonist through the astral planes who sees a storm approaching. The storm seems ominous and dreadful to the singer, and he sees lightning break across the sky that is a blackish blue in the night. The riders are on dismal clouds, and he screams at heavens light. The storming demons travel through the night, and the time is almost here. The singer is in a jacket of steel, and his scream is silent. He can feel the storm approaching, and the pain is its' reality. The death is in the air, and he no longer cares.
The trumpets sound, and the vision he sees cannot be him. The singer is chosen to fight as the storm rider. He rides through the night, and his screams remain unheard as he is wrapped in steel. He begs for help to get out of the hellish situation, but no one comes to his rescue. The solid dream carries on, saving him from the horrid scream. The song portrays the singer's fight against the storm, which seems to be too powerful, and he is all alone in the battle.
Line by Line Meaning
As I travel through the astral plains
As I journey through a realm beyond physical existence
I see the break ahead
I recognize an impending change or challenge
As though the sky has burst in flames
As if the heavens have caught fire
Before the storm I dread
I fear the dangers ahead
Lightning breaks across the sky
Electricity ruptures through the atmosphere
Blackish blue at night
The darkness is made blue by the lightning's flash
Riders ride on dismal clouds
A group of horsemen move on gloomy formations
I scream at heavens light
I shout to the celestial body's radiance
Storming demons travel through the night
Malevolent creatures surge through the darkness
The time is almost here
The arrival of something significant is imminent
I lay in a jacket of steel
I am protected by a sturdy covering
My scream no one hears
My vocalization is not heard by anyone else
I can feel the storm approaching
I sense the approaching turmoil
The pain is its' reality
The agony is the actuality of it
The death I breathe is in the air
The notion of dying is inescapable
I feel no more, no longer care
I am devoid of emotions and do not concern myself anymore
The trumpets sound as I break free
Brass instruments play as I liberate myself
This vision I see just can't be me
This image I witness cannot be myself
What is this that I have done
What have I accomplished to reach this point?
Why am I the chosen one
Why was it that I was picked and no one else?
Fight on, grab on
Storm rider
Storm rider
Persist and hold onto your convictions, storm rider, storm rider
Now the rider rides through the night
The equestrian moves through the evening
The time is almost here
The moment of truth is imminent
As I lay wrapped in steel
While I am protected by metal
My scream no one hears
My outcry is unheard
Help me, through this hell inside
Assist me with this internal torment
My life's my own, it's my pride
My existence is my own and something that I am proud of
Carry on my solid dream
Continue my unshakable desire
Save me from this horrid scream
Rescue me from this horrible sound
Fight on, grab on
Storm rider
Storm rider
Persist and hold onto your convictions, storm rider, storm rider
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: JON SCHAFFER, RANDALL SHAWVER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind