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)
Vengeance Is Mine
Iced Earth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A ghoul of blackened torment, sullen atrocity
A kindred soul to the devils own, malignance personified
Cast from his fire he molests the purest light
Profaner to humanity menaced by flesh and bone
Screams of the unknown youth to him the sweetest tone
Undying in his will to kill his bloodlust is profound
[Chorus]
For all the young lives you have slain
Fear now you shall obtain
Vengeance is mine
For every young one that has died
Your psychopathic genocide
Vengeance is mine
I shall do what the law won't do, I can make the sacrifice
In the names of these bodies which held such precious life
Mine is not to ask forgiveness this deed I've proudly done
Without God without the devil this time I have won
The song "Vengeance is Mine" by Iced Earth is a story about a ghoul of blackened torment. The first few lines introduce a dark character who is personified as malignance, banished from his own fire, and preys on the purest light he can find. He is an enemy to humanity and enjoys the screams of the innocent. His will to kill is relentless and the singer, who is the singer of the story, knows that he must bring him down for the blood of the lamb.
The chorus is a statement of the singer's intention to bring the ghoul down and obtain vengeance for all the young lives he has taken. The lyrics convey a sense of anger and determination as the singer decides to take matters into his own hands in the name of justice. He is not seeking forgiveness for his actions, as he believes he has done what must be done to protect innocent lives. The song ends with a final declaration of victory, as the singer claims to have won this battle without the help of either God or the devil.
Overall, the song is a powerful tale of one man's struggle against the darkness that can lurk within humanity. It is a story of vengeance and justice, and the singer's unwavering commitment to protecting the innocent at all costs.
Line by Line Meaning
Hear now this story of the man that should not be
Listen to the tale of the man who should not exist
A ghoul of blackened torment, sullen atrocity
This creature, full of misery and horror, is an abomination
A kindred soul to the devils own, malignance personified
They are like the devil himself, evil incarnate
Cast from his fire he molests the purest light
Banished from hell, he now corrupts that which is pure and good
Profaner to humanity menaced by flesh and bone
He destroys human life and is a threat to all in his path
Screams of the unknown youth to him the sweetest tone
He takes pleasure in the innocent's cries of agony
Undying in his will to kill his bloodlust is profound
He will never stop killing and his desire for blood runs deep
For the blood of the lamb I've got to bring him down
I must stop him, no matter the cost, to avenge those he has killed
[Chorus]
For all the young lives you have slain
You will pay for every innocent life you took
Fear now you shall obtain
You will finally know fear
Vengeance is mine
I will have my retribution
For every young one that has died
For every child that you killed
Your psychopathic genocide
Your murderous, psychopathic rampage
Vengeance is mine
I will have my revenge
I shall do what the law won't do, I can make the sacrifice
I will do what I must, even if it means breaking the law or sacrificing myself
In the names of these bodies which held such precious life
I do this for the innocent lives that were taken
Mine is not to ask forgiveness this deed I've proudly done
I don't seek forgiveness for this act, I am proud of what I have done
Without God without the devil this time I have won
Neither God nor the devil were involved, but I still emerged victorious
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
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