- Horror Show (album)
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For other uses, see Horror Show.
Horror Show Studio album by Iced Earth Released June 26, 2001 Recorded 2001 Genre Power metal, thrash metal Length 61:36 Label Century Media Producer Jim Morris
Jon SchafferIced Earth chronology Alive in Athens
(1999)Horror Show
(2001)Dark Genesis
(2001)Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating Allmusic [1]
Horror Show is the sixth studio album from the American heavy metal band Iced Earth, released June 26, 2001. It is a theme album based on classic monsters and horror-movie icons, including Dracula, Frankenstein, and the ghost from Phantom of the Opera. It was the first Iced Earth album to feature drummer Richard Christy, and the only album to feature Steve DiGiorgio on bass, though he didn't tour with the band. Horror Show is usually considered Iced Earth's only straightforward power metal release, as little of the thrash metal influence from the band's earlier works is present. This album also featured more prominent usage of Matt Barlow's multi-layered vocals as a center point for the songs.
There was a special limited-edition 2CD set. The second CD featured the instrumental track "Transylvania" (an Iron Maiden cover) along with an interview with bandleader/rhythm guitarist Jon Schaffer. There is also a single-disc version with "Transylvania", but without the interview. The song "Dracula" includes the line "the blood is the life", a quote from Deuteronomy 12:23. However, it is likely lifted from the 1992 version of Bram Stoker's Dracula which also features the line. As in "Dracula", many of the lyrics are lifted straight from the movies they were inspired by. Unlike other releases, it features much writing from Matt Barlow.
By the end of the song "Damien" there is a section where Matt's reversed voice repeats the message that is also in the middle, silent section of the song. So, if the song is played backwards, the true message can be heard. This kind of reversed voice was also done by Iron Maiden by the beginning of their song "Still Life" of their fourth studio album "Piece of Mind".
Contents
Track listing
No. Title Lyrics Music Length 1. "Wolf" (inspired by The Wolf Man films) Jon Schaffer Schaffer 5:20 2. "Damien" (inspired by The Omen films) Schaffer Schaffer 9:12 3. "Jack" (inspired by Jack the Ripper) Matt Barlow Schaffer 4:14 4. "Ghost of Freedom" (inspired by Matt Barlow's own concept [cited by the interview on disc 2]) Barlow, Schaffer Barlow, Schaffer 5:12 5. "Im-Ho-Tep (Pharaoh's Curse)" (inspired by The Mummy) Barlow Larry Tarnowski, Schaffer 4:45 6. "Jekyll & Hyde" (inspired by The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) Barlow Schaffer 4:39 7. "Dragon's Child" (inspired by Creature from the Black Lagoon) Barlow Schaffer 4:21 8. "Transylvania" (Iron Maiden cover) (instrumental) Steve Harris 4:30 9. "Frankenstein" (inspired by Frankenstein) Schaffer Schaffer 3:50 10. "Dracula" (inspired by Dracula) Schaffer Schaffer 5:54 11. "The Phantom Opera Ghost" (inspired by The Phantom of the Opera) Schaffer Schaffer 8:41 Limited Edition
The Initial Pressing was presented in a standard 2-CD jewel case with no reference to the tracks on the bonus disc (nor the disc itself) except for a sticker on the front.
Disc one
No. Title Lyrics Music Length 1. "Wolf" (inspired by The Wolf Man films) Schaffer Schaffer 5:20 2. "Damien" (inspired by The Omen films) Schaffer Schaffer 9:12 3. "Jack" (inspired by Jack the Ripper) Barlow Schaffer 4:14 4. "Ghost of Freedom" (inspired by The Patriot) Barlow, Schaffer Barlow, Schaffer 5:12 5. "Im-Ho-Tep (Pharaoh's Curse)" (inspired by The Mummy) Barlow Tarnowski, Schaffer 4:45 6. "Jekyll & Hyde" (inspired by Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) Barlow Schaffer 4:39 7. "Dragon's Child" (inspired by Creature from the Black Lagoon) Barlow Schaffer 4:21 8. "Frankenstein" (inspired by Frankenstein) Schaffer Schaffer 3:50 9. "Dracula" (inspired by Dracula) Schaffer Schaffer 5:54 10. "The Phantom Opera Ghost" (inspired by The Phantom of the Opera) Schaffer Schaffer 8:41 Disc two
No. Title Lyrics Music Length 1. "Transylvania" (Iron Maiden cover) (instrumental) Harris 4:30 2. "Interview with Jon Schaffer" (conducted by Sumit Chandra) 69:27 Personnel
- Jon Schaffer - Rhythm, Lead, Acoustic Guitars, Vocals, Mandolin, Keys
- Matt Barlow - Lead Vocals
- Larry Tarnowski - Guitar solos in all songs except "Ghost of Freedom"
- Richard Christy - Drums
- Steve DiGiorgio - Bass (Credited as 'Guest Musician')
Additional personnel
- Yunhui Percifield - Lead Vocal in "The Phantom Opera Ghost" as "Christine", Backing Vocals
- Richie Wilkison - Backing Vocals
- Rafaela Farias - Backing Vocals
- Sam King - Backing Vocals
- Jim Morris - Backing Vocals, Keys, Guitar Solo in "Ghost of Freedom"
- Howard Helm - Keys (Pipe Organ) on "The Phantom Opera Ghost"
References
Jon Schaffer · Stu Block · Brent Smedley · Troy Seele · Freddie Vidales
See the complete members listStudio albums Iced Earth · Night of the Stormrider · Burnt Offerings · The Dark Saga · Something Wicked This Way Comes · Horror Show · The Glorious Burden · Framing Armageddon · The Crucible of Man · DystopiaLive albums EPs/Singles Compilations Days of Purgatory · Dark Genesis · The Blessed and the Damned · Slave to the Dark · Box of the WickedCover albums Videos Related articles Categories:- 2001 albums
- Iced Earth albums
- Concept albums
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