The Fiddler
Just Do It.
It's to be quite expected that the tens of thousands of fans who have listened to the SWTWC trilogy a combined 100-thousand times or more with Matt on vocals would have an adverse reaction to hearing it sung by someone else, especially by someone (Tim Owens) who's vocal style is very different than the original (Matt Barlow).
That kind of reaction is a tribute to how much Matt's efforts were loved by the fans. Unfortunately, for many of these fans, Matt made a conscious decision to leave Iced Earth and pursue a more stable and rewarding career in law enforcement. The subsequent investment Matt made in his future has now returned dividends. He is now employed by a local community law enforcement agency close to his childhood roots. His new career provides a solid, reliable source of income and benefits for his family. And now, in 2007, Matts new career has provided him with an opportunity to return to music part-time (Pyramaze), not having to worry if there will be enough sales or commission from the music to pay the bills in his future. It's a great fit for him as he doesn't need to commit 100% to music as he would have with Iced Earth. In Tim Owens, Jon gets a vocalist who is committed to pursing a career in music 100% of the time. Iced Earth didn't get to where it is today by working part-time.
Quite likely, the new song (10,000 Strong) on the single, Overture of the Wicked, will be met with more acceptance than the re-recorded trilogy (also on the single) because the fans never had a chance to hear anyone else but Tim sing it. Metal fans new to Iced Earth hearing the SWTWC trilogy for the very first time on the new single will probably find it very exciting -- just as current fans did when they first heard the trilogy with Matt behind the mic. Why? They didnt have any other version to judge it against.
The same holds true for the 18 new songs to be released later this year (Framing Armageddon) and the 12 new songs to be released in 2008 (Revelation Abomination). All 30 of these songs are totally new compositions. Matt has never recorded vocals for any of these songs - only Tim has. The songs werent even put to paper when Matt left Iced Earth. To immediately dismiss this huge body of forthcoming original material from Iced Earth based on a very different one-off re-recording of a classic trio of songs that wont even appear on the forthcoming albums seems like a premature thing to do. Such snap judgments separate the casual fan from the die-hard fan.
When Matt left the band, Jon had a decision to make. Does he just scrap the entire Set Abominae concept story because Matt has moved on, or does he think the fans want him to continue forward with the story even though it will be recorded with a new vocalist? I'm glad he has chosen to continue. Will everyone be happy with the change? Certainly, no. Will everyone be happy that the trilogy was re-recorded? Certainly, no. Will the Barlow-era discs still be available for old and new fans to enjoy? Certainly, yes.
Time continues to move on and people continue to move on with time. As with any band fortunate to survive two decades in this industry, Iced Earth will see fans come and go. One artist cannot satisfy 100% of the people 100% of the time. However, if time is any indication, the legion of loyal Iced Earth fans will only continue to grow.
The Fiddler
That kind of reaction is a tribute to how much Matt's efforts were loved by the fans. Unfortunately, for many of these fans, Matt made a conscious decision to leave Iced Earth and pursue a more stable and rewarding career in law enforcement. The subsequent investment Matt made in his future has now returned dividends. He is now employed by a local community law enforcement agency close to his childhood roots. His new career provides a solid, reliable source of income and benefits for his family. And now, in 2007, Matts new career has provided him with an opportunity to return to music part-time (Pyramaze), not having to worry if there will be enough sales or commission from the music to pay the bills in his future. It's a great fit for him as he doesn't need to commit 100% to music as he would have with Iced Earth. In Tim Owens, Jon gets a vocalist who is committed to pursing a career in music 100% of the time. Iced Earth didn't get to where it is today by working part-time.
Quite likely, the new song (10,000 Strong) on the single, Overture of the Wicked, will be met with more acceptance than the re-recorded trilogy (also on the single) because the fans never had a chance to hear anyone else but Tim sing it. Metal fans new to Iced Earth hearing the SWTWC trilogy for the very first time on the new single will probably find it very exciting -- just as current fans did when they first heard the trilogy with Matt behind the mic. Why? They didnt have any other version to judge it against.
The same holds true for the 18 new songs to be released later this year (Framing Armageddon) and the 12 new songs to be released in 2008 (Revelation Abomination). All 30 of these songs are totally new compositions. Matt has never recorded vocals for any of these songs - only Tim has. The songs werent even put to paper when Matt left Iced Earth. To immediately dismiss this huge body of forthcoming original material from Iced Earth based on a very different one-off re-recording of a classic trio of songs that wont even appear on the forthcoming albums seems like a premature thing to do. Such snap judgments separate the casual fan from the die-hard fan.
When Matt left the band, Jon had a decision to make. Does he just scrap the entire Set Abominae concept story because Matt has moved on, or does he think the fans want him to continue forward with the story even though it will be recorded with a new vocalist? I'm glad he has chosen to continue. Will everyone be happy with the change? Certainly, no. Will everyone be happy that the trilogy was re-recorded? Certainly, no. Will the Barlow-era discs still be available for old and new fans to enjoy? Certainly, yes.
Time continues to move on and people continue to move on with time. As with any band fortunate to survive two decades in this industry, Iced Earth will see fans come and go. One artist cannot satisfy 100% of the people 100% of the time. However, if time is any indication, the legion of loyal Iced Earth fans will only continue to grow.
The Fiddler