The Blessed and the Damned

Infobox Album
Name = The Blessed and the Damned
Type = Compilation album
Artist = Iced Earth


Released = August 10, 2004
Recorded = 1991-2001
Genre = Power metal
Thrash metal
Length = 2:04:48
Label = Century Media
Producer =
Reviews = * Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusicguide.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:5gk9kextdq7z~T1 link]
Last album = "The Glorious Burden"
(2004)
This album = "The Blessed and the Damned"
(2004)
Next album = "Overture of the Wicked"
(2007)
Misc = Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = Alternate album cover
Type = compilation


Lower caption = "The Damned" cover version of the album

"The Blessed and the Damned" is a double CD best of compilation album by the American heavy metal band Iced Earth. The CD-booklet can be reversed, to show either angels or demons on the cover. The booklet also includes Jon Schaffer's comments on previous albums and his life. Even though the CD was released after "The Glorious Burden", the biography in the booklet makes no mention of it. This is probably due to the fact that Iced Earth left their record label Century Media Records prior to "The Glorious Burden", and signed with SPV. In turn, Century Media released this compilation album.

Ironically, the album is ended with the song Violate, taken from the album Alive in Athens. Thus it is a live version, and is ended with the opening riff from Iron Maidens The Trooper - the album ends with an Iron Maiden riff.

Track listing

Disc 1

tracklist
lyrics_credits = yes
music_credits = yes
extra_column = Original album

title1 = Burning Times
extra1 = "Something Wicked This Way Comes"
lyrics1 = Matt Barlow, Jon Schaffer
music1 = Barlow, Schaffer
length1 = 3:43

title2 = Wolf
extra2 = "Horror Show"
lyrics2 = Schaffer
music2 = Schaffer
length2 = 5:20

title3 = The Hunter
extra3 = "The Dark Saga"
lyrics3 = Schaffer
music3 = Schaffer
length3 = 3:55

title4 = Curse the Sky
extra4 = "Iced Earth"
lyrics4 = Schaffer
music4 = Randall Shawver, Schaffer
length4 = 4:43

title5 = Melancholy (Holy Martyr)
extra5 = "Something Wicked This Way Comes"
lyrics5 = Schaffer
music5 = Schaffer
length5 = 4:44

title6 = Stormrider
extra6 = "Night of the Stormrider"
lyrics6 = Schaffer
music6 = Shawver, Schaffer
length6 = 4:48

title7 = Burnt Offerings
extra7 = "Burnt Offerings"
lyrics7 = Schaffer
music7 = Shawver, Schaffer
length7 = 7:21

title8 = Travel in Stygian (live)
extra8 = "Alive in Athens"
lyrics8 = Schaffer
music8 = Schaffer
length8 = 9:06

title9 = Dark Saga
extra9 = "The Dark Saga"
lyrics9 = Schaffer
music9 = Schaffer
length9 = 3:43

title10 = Written on the Walls
extra10 = "Iced Earth"
lyrics10 = Gene Adam
music10 = Adam, Shawver, Schaffer, Dave Abell
length10 = 6:07

title11 = Damien
extra11 = "Horror Show"
lyrics11 = Schaffer
music11 = Schaffer
length11 = 9:11

Disc 2

tracklist
lyrics_credits = yes
music_credits = yes
extra_column = Original album

title1 = Angels Holocaust
extra1 = "Night of the Stormrider"
lyrics1 = Schaffer
music1 = Schaffer
length1 = 4:54

title2 = Desert Rain
extra2 = "Night of the Stormrider"
lyrics2 = Schaffer
music2 = Schaffer, Abell
length2 = 6:38

title3 = Last December
extra3 = "Burnt Offerings"
lyrics3 = Schaffer
music3 = Schaffer
length3 = 3:23

title4 = Watching Over Me
extra4 = "Something Wicked This Way Comes"
lyrics4 = Schaffer
music4 = Schaffer
length4 = 4:26

title5 = Pure Evil (live)
extra5 = "Alive in Athens"
lyrics5 = Schaffer
music5 = Shawver, Schaffer
length5 = 6:37

title6 = The Path I Choose
extra6 = "Night of the Stormrider"
lyrics6 = Schaffer
music6 = Shawver, Schaffer
length6 = 5:55

title7 = I Died for You
extra7 = "The Dark Saga"
lyrics7 = Schaffer
music7 = Schaffer
length7 = 3:47

title8 = Disciples of the Lie
extra8 = "Something Wicked This Way Comes"
lyrics8 = Schaffer
music8 = Schaffer
length8 = 4:04

title9 = When the Night Falls
extra9 = "Iced Earth"
lyrics9 = Schaffer
music9 = Schaffer
length9 = 7:50

title10 = Jack
extra10 = "Horror Show"
lyrics10 = Barlow
music10 = Schaffer
length10 = 4:12

title11 = Iced Earth
extra11 = "Iced Earth"
lyrics11 = Schaffer
music11 = Schaffer
length11 = 5:23

title12 = Violate (live)
extra12 = "Alive in Athens"
lyrics12 = Schaffer
music12 = Schaffer
length12 = 4:12

Personnel

* Jon Schaffer − rhythm guitar, backing vocals on all songs. vocals on Track 6 on Disc 1
* Matt Barlow − vocals on Tracks 1-3, 5, 7-9, and 11 on Disc 1; Tracks 3-5, 7-10, and 12 on Disc 2
* Gene Adam − vocals on Tracks 4 and 10 on Disc 1; Track 11 on Disc 2
* John Greely − vocals on Track 6 on Disc 1
* Randall Shawver − lead guitar on Tracks 3-4, 6-7, and 9-10 on Disc 1; Tracks 1-3, 6-7, 9, and 11 on Disc 2
* Larry Tarnowski − lead guitar on Tracks 1-2, 5, 8, and 11 on Disc 1; Tracks 4-5, 8, 10, and 12 on Disc 2
* Dave Abell − bass on Tracks 3-4, 6-7, and 9-10 on Disc 1; Tracks 3, 6-7, and 11 on Disc 2
* James MacDonough − bass on Tracks 1, 5, and 8 on Disc 1; Tracks 1, 2, 4-5, 8, 9 and 12 on Disc 2
* Steve DiGiorgio − bass on Tracks 2 and 11 on Disc 1, and Track 10 on Disc 2
* Mark Prator − drums on Tracks 3 and 9 on Disc 1; Track 7 on Disc 2
* Richey Secchiari − drums on Track 6 on Disc 1; Track 6 on Disc 2
* Mike McGill − drums on Tracks 4 and 10 on Disc 1; Track 11 on Disc 2
* Richard Christy − drums on Tracks 2 and 11 on Disc 1; Track 10 on Disc 2
* Brent Smedley − drums on Tracks 1, 5, and 8 on Disc 1; Tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, and 12 on Disc 2
* Rodney Beasley − drums on Track 7 on Disc 1; Track 3 on Disc 2

* Cover art by Leo Hao.