The Glorious Burden

Infobox Album |
Name = The Glorious Burden
Type = studio
Artist = Iced Earth


Released = January 12, 2004
Recorded = Morrisound Studios Tampa, Florida
Genre = Heavy metal, power metal
Length = Disc 1: 46:51 Disc 2: 31:56
Label = SPV
Producer = Jim Morris Jon Schaffer
Reviews =
*Allmusic rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusicguide.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:slkxikksbb79~T1 link]
*RockReview rating|9|10 [http://www.rockreview.co.uk/reviewdetail.php?id=195 link]
Last album = "The Reckoning"
(2003)
This album = "The Glorious Burden"
(2004)
Next album = "The Blessed and The Damned"
(2004)

"The Glorious Burden" is the seventh studio album by the American heavy metal band Iced Earth. It is a concept album, which explores various moments in American military history, such as the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Revolutionary War, and American Civil War. It also pays tribute to world events such as World War I, the World Trade Center attacks and the ravages of Attila the Hun.

The album's centerpiece is the last three songs which together form a trilogy entitled "Gettysburg (1863)". Each song represents one day in the Battle of Gettysburg, which is the largest battle ever conducted in the Western Hemisphere and considered the turning point in the American Civil War. [Thinkquest.org page about Battle of Gettysburg [http://library.thinkquest.org/17525/main.htm] ]

This album features the debut of lead singer Tim 'Ripper' Owens, formerly of Judas Priest. The album was first recorded with Matt Barlow on vocals, but band leader Jon Schaffer was not satisfied with his performance. Due to the events of September 11th, Barlow became more interested in law enforcement than the music business, and according to Schaffer "Matt's heart was not in it and it showed in his performance."Jon Schaffer explanation of Matt Barlow's departure. [http://web.archive.org/web/20040205100629/www.icedearth.com/bandboard/messages/12.html] ] As a result, Matt left the band and the album was shelved until a new vocalist could be found. However, some of Barlow's initial recordings remain on the record as backing vocals, and is credited with co-writing two songs.

Tim Owens, who at that time was still in Judas Priest, was asked to do the vocals as a side project. However, he joined the band full time after Judas Priest reunited with Rob Halford.

This record is the only Iced Earth album to feature Ralph Santolla on lead guitars. This was the last studio album for bassist James MacDonough and drummer Richard Christy. Additionally, "The Glorious Burden" is the first Iced Earth album to draw considerable thrash metal influence since the band's third album, "Burnt Offerings".

The album was released in 3 different formats: a limited edition 2-CD version in digipak format, an American version and a European version.Metal-Rules interview with Tim Owens. Jan. 26, 2004 [http://metal-rules.com/interviews/IcedEarth-Ripper-Jan2004.htm] ] See the tracklist for the differences.

"The Reckoning (Don't Tread on Me)", "Declaration Day", and the acoustic version of "When the Eagle Cries (Unplugged)" were all released as music videos.

Track listing

Limited Edition Digipak Version

Disc 1

tracklist

lyrics_credits = yes
music_credits = yes

title1 = The Star-Spangled Banner
lyrics1 = (instrumental)
music1 = Francis Scott Key
length1 = 1:14

title2 = Declaration Day
lyrics2 = Jon Schaffer
music2 = Schaffer
length2 = 4:59

title3 = When the Eagle Cries
lyrics3 = Schaffer
music3 = Schaffer
length3 = 4:06

title4 = The Reckoning (Don't Tread on Me)
lyrics4 = Schaffer
music4 = Schaffer
length4 = 4:57

title5 = Greenface
lyrics5 = Schaffer
music5 = Schaffer
length5 = 3:03

title6 = Attila
lyrics6 = Matt Barlow, Schaffer
music6 = Barlow, Schaffer
length6 = 5:36

title7 = Red Baron/Blue Max
lyrics7 = Tim Owens
music7 = Schaffer
length7 = 4:05

title8 = Hollow Man
lyrics8 = Schaffer
music8 = Schaffer
length8 = 4:25

title9 = Valley Forge
lyrics9 = Schaffer
music9 = Schaffer
length9 = 4:46

title10 = Waterloo
lyrics10 = Barlow, Schaffer
music10 = Barlow, Schaffer
length10 = 5:50

title11 = When the Eagle Cries (Unplugged)
lyrics11 = Schaffer
music11 = Schaffer
length11 = 3:35

Disc 2: Gettysburg (1863)

tracklist

lyrics_credits = yes
music_credits = yes

title1 = The Devil to Pay
note1 = references "When Johnny Comes Marching Home," "The Star Spangled Banner" and "Dixie"
lyrics1 = Schaffer
music1 = Schaffer
length1 = 12:13

title2 = Hold at All Costs
lyrics2 = Schaffer
music2 = Schaffer
length2 = 7:06

title3 = High Water Mark
lyrics3 = Schaffer
music3 = Schaffer
length3 = 12:36

American Version

tracklist

lyrics_credits = yes
music_credits = yes

title1 = The Star-Spangled Banner
lyrics1 = (instrumental)
music1 = Key
length1 = 1:14

title2 = Declaration Day
lyrics2 = Schaffer
music2 = Schaffer
length2 = 4:59

title3 = When the Eagle Cries
lyrics3 = Schaffer
music3 = Schaffer
length3 = 4:06

title4 = The Reckoning (Don't Tread on Me)
lyrics4 = Schaffer
music4 = Schaffer
length4 = 4:57

title5 = Greenface
lyrics5 = Schaffer
music5 = Schaffer
length5 = 3:03

title6 = Attila
lyrics6 = Barlow, Schaffer
music6 = Barlow, Schaffer
length6 = 5:36

title7 = Red Baron/Blue Max
lyrics7 = Owens
music7 = Schaffer
length7 = 4:05

title8 = Hollow Man
lyrics8 = Schaffer
music8 = Schaffer
length8 = 4:25

title9 = Valley Forge
lyrics9 = Schaffer
music9 = Schaffer
length9 = 4:46

title10 = The Devil to Pay
lyrics10 = Schaffer
music10 = Schaffer
length10 = 12:13

title11 = Hold at All Costs
lyrics11 = Schaffer
music11 = Schaffer
length11 = 7:06

title12 = High Water Mark
lyrics12 = Schaffer
music12 = Schaffer
length12 = 12:36

European Version

tracklist

lyrics_credits = yes
music_credits = yes

title1 = Declaration Day
lyrics1 = Schaffer
music1 = Schaffer
length1 = 4:59

title2 = When the Eagle Cries
lyrics2 = Schaffer
music2 = Schaffer
length2 = 4:06

title3 = The Reckoning (Don't Tread on Me)
lyrics3 = Schaffer
music3 = Schaffer
length3 = 4:57

title4 = Attila
lyrics4 = Barlow, Schaffer
music4 = Barlow, Schaffer
length4 = 5:36

title5 = Red Baron/Blue Max
lyrics5 = Owens
music5 = Schaffer
length5 = 4:05

title6 = Hollow Man
lyrics6 = Schaffer
music6 = Schaffer
length6 = 4:25

title7 = Valley Forge
lyrics7 = Schaffer
music7 = Schaffer
length7 = 4:46

title8 = Waterloo
lyrics8 = Barlow, Schaffer
music8 = Barlow, Schaffer
length8 = 5:50

title9 = The Devil to Pay
lyrics9 = Schaffer
music9 = Schaffer
length9 = 12:13

title10 = Hold at All Costs
lyrics10 = Schaffer
music10 = Schaffer
length10 = 7:06

title11 = High Water Mark
lyrics11 = Schaffer
music11 = Schaffer
length11 = 12:36

Personnel

Iced Earth

* Jon Schaffer − lead & rhythm guitars, backing vocals
* Tim 'Ripper' Owens − lead vocals
* Ralph Santolla − lead guitar
* James MacDonough − bass guitar
* Richard Christy − drums

Guest appearances

* Jim Morris − guitar solos on "When the Eagle Cries" and "When the Eagle Cries (Unplugged)"
* Matt Barlow − backing vocals
* Sam King − backing vocals
* Jeff Day − backing vocals
* Howard Helm − piano
* Susan McQuinn − flute, piccolo
* Michael LoBue − bagpipe
* Prague Philharmonic Orchestra − Gettysburg (1863) Trilogy

Other

* Leo Hao − cover art

Notes