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 Last Laugh
Iced Earth Lyrics
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Yes dear friend listen up well
The power I've given I can take as well
I am your father destroyer of the light
I've taken your soul and have given you life
You are the damned condemned by my hand
My son creature of the night
You warm my soul
And deep in you as I make my hole
God won't save you
Your souls been sold
I am your father destroyer of the light
I've taken your soul and have given you life
You are the damned condemned by my hand
My son creature of the night
Extending, now you rise
Tormented, soul of fire
Deception, in my eyes
Your life, your life is mine
My new born son burn now with anger
I command and you must follow
Fly now and do battle
The heavens fall, mankinds disaster
In your hour of darkness
You warm my soul
God won't save you
Your souls been sold
I am your father destroyer of the light
I've taken your soul and have given you life
You are the damned condemned by my hand
My son creature of the night
Extending, now you rise
Tormented, soul of fire
Deception, in my eyes
Your life, your life is mine
The lyrics of "Last Laugh" by Iced Earth are about a father figure who has taken control over someone's life, and is now commanding them to do his bidding. The lyrics are written in a dark, ominous tone, with the father figure describing himself as the "destroyer of light" and the person they've taken under their control as their "creature of the night". The lyrics describe the father figure's power over the person's soul, which they have taken and given life to, making them their personal slave. This person's life is now in the father's hands, and they are just a puppet to carry out the father's orders.
Throughout the song, the father continues to assert his control over the person. They command them to "fly now and do battle", showing that the father has some kind of grand plan that the person must follow. The lyrics repeat the idea that the person's soul has been sold and that God won't be able to save them now. The ending of the song is particularly ominous, with the father claiming that the person's life is now theirs to control completely.
"Last Laugh" is a song that reflects the darkness prevalent in some genres of heavy metal music. The father figure in the lyrics is often interpreted as being the devil or some other malevolent force looking to take control of people's lives. The song's dark themes and sinister lyrics make it a popular choice for rock and metal fans who enjoy music that is intense and aggressive.
Line by Line Meaning
My personal quest is to make your life hell
I have made it my goal to make your life a living nightmare.
Yes dear friend listen up well
Pay attention closely, my dear friend.
The power I've given I can take as well
I have given you power, but don't forget that I can take it away at any time.
I am your father destroyer of the light
I am like a father to you, but instead of nurturing you, I am destroying everything good in your life
I've taken your soul and have given you life
I have stripped away your humanity and replaced it with something far darker.
You are the damned condemned by my hand
You are cursed, and it is my doing that has brought this upon you.
My son creature of the night
You are now like a monster, one of the creatures of the night.
In your hour of darkness
When you are at your lowest and most vulnerable,
You warm my soul
I take pleasure in seeing you suffer, it makes me feel good.
And deep in you as I make my hole
As I continue to manipulate and control you, I am digging deeper into your soul.
God won't save you
Even if you think you can rely on God to help you, he won't.
Your souls been sold
Your soul belongs to me now, you have given it up to me willingly or unwillingly.
Extending, now you rise
You are extending yourself beyond your limits.
Tormented, soul of fire
Your soul is in constant torment and pain, like a burning fire that never goes out.
Deception, in my eyes
When I look at you, I am constantly lying and deceiving you.
Your life, your life is mine
I own your life now, it belongs to me completely.
My new born son burn now with anger
I have created you anew, and now I want you to feel anger and hatred.
I command and you must follow
You are my puppet, and you will do as I say.
Fly now and do battle
I want you to go out and fight, to cause more destruction and pain.
The heavens fall, mankinds disaster
You are causing so much destruction that it is as if the heavens themselves are falling, and mankind is suffering as a result.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: HOWARD KAYLAN, NITA GARFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind