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)
The Awakening
Iced Earth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Revelations coming threat
Sand of time dark intent
Devise creeds breeds discontent
Prophecy, stars collide
Born is he who turns the tide
Ancient rage, vehemence
Indignation and torment
Dark equation, astrology
Armageddon, the reckoning
Revelation, astral beast
Armageddon, the reckoning
Shallow views, intolerance
Jewish, Muslim, Protestant
The root of man's insolence
Lies in fear and arrogance
A valid threat if they unite
Moses, Muhammad, Jesus Christ
Born of man with second sight
Twist their words we will divide
Dark equation, astrology
Armageddon, the reckoning
Revelation, astral beast
Armageddon, the reckoning
If humans learn what's truly at stake
And of the birth of Set Abominae
Their primitive minds, a maddened state, no
Frame it as the Elder deemed
Frame it our way
Framing Armageddon!
Framing Armageddon!
Framing Armageddon!
Framing Armageddon!
The lyrics of Iced Earth's song The Awakening express a sense of apocalyptic dread and a warning of the catastrophic consequences of humanity's tendency towards intolerance and arrogance. The first verse speaks of the passing of centuries and the approach of a prophesied threat, with time itself being likened to a dark force with ominous intent. The second verse goes on to address the divisions between religious faiths, with a warning that even the most disparate beliefs could lead to a dangerous unity if they felt threatened. The chorus repeats the themes of Armageddon and the reckoning, with the astral beast standing in for the Biblical Antichrist.
The third and final verse of the song provides a ray of hope, however faint, in the form of Set Abominae. While the name may sound like something out of a Lovecraftian horror story, in the context of the song it represents a knowledge or understanding that could prevent the coming storm. The line "Frame it our way" suggests that the singer believes humans must take control of their own destiny, rather than being at the mercy of prophecies or supernatural forces.
Overall, The Awakening is a powerful warning about the dangers of extremism and intolerance, as well as a call for humanity to take responsibility for its own fate. The dark imagery and apocalyptic tone are reminiscent of classic heavy metal, and the lyrics are likely to resonate with anyone who feels a sense of unease about the state of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Centuries pass step by step
Time moves forward slowly but surely
Revelations coming threat
The future holds uncertain danger
Sand of time dark intent
The passing of time can be ominous and foreboding
Devise creeds breeds discontent
Religious beliefs can cause division and strife
Prophecy, stars collide
The universe is unpredictable and full of mysteries
Born is he who turns the tide
A powerful individual will emerge to change the course of events
Ancient rage, vehemence
The anger and intensity of past events still resonate
Indignation and torment
Feelings of anger and suffering persist
Shallow views, intolerance
Narrow-mindedness and lack of acceptance lead to conflict
Jewish, Muslim, Protestant
The three Abrahamic religions often clash
The root of man's insolence
Pride and arrogance are the cause of human conflict
Lies in fear and arrogance
The real issue is fear and overconfidence
A valid threat if they unite
Their combined power could be dangerous
Moses, Muhammad, Jesus Christ
Founders and prophets of the Abrahamic religions
Born of man with second sight
These figures were believed to have divine insight and foresight
Twist their words we will divide
Misinterpretation and manipulation of religious teachings cause division
If humans learn what's truly at stake
If people understand the gravity of the situation
And of the birth of Set Abominae
And the emergence of a powerful evil entity
Their primitive minds, a maddened state, no
Their lack of knowledge and understanding will not serve them well
Frame it as the Elder deemed
Present the situation as the powerful beings who came before us intended
Frame it our way
Manipulate the situation to our advantage
Framing Armageddon!
Using current events to set the stage for a future apocalypse
Framing Armageddon!
Taking advantage of chaos and uncertainty to further our own goals
Framing Armageddon!
Manipulating the situation to bring about an end to the world
Framing Armageddon!
Using fear and uncertainty as a tool for personal gain
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JON SCHAFFER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind