Let's put it this way.
Matt Barlow is pure fucking evil. That boy's voice embodies all that is ferocious, wicked, monstrous, and demonized. No better voice can be found for heavy fuckin metal. That's why I prefer him. And you listen to the ending of The Coming Curse on Alive In Athens, and you can tell the boy knows how to scream. His voice is very unique for screaming. Gritty and dirty sounding, yet announciated perfectly so you know what he is actually singing. Not many can do that. When he does the choruses on Disciples of the Lie, he's truly demonic when he screams. And on Dante's Inferno, he's basically possessed. There's no better way to say it. Especially on the Alive In Athens take. The whole "Lucifer! Betrayer of God! " part. Yup. That's the devil allright!
Ripper is the ultimate screamer. He's got a voice that makes you cringe in fear. I love Waterloo, cuz he doesn't banshee scream at all, and truly proves how powerful his voice is. I can't wait to hear how Jon will bleed his voice for everything it's got on another album written with his voice in mind. And Jon said it in an article I read: This is the voice I've always wanted for Iced Earth. I agree! The material down the line will truly prove it. Think about it... we've got the Set Abominae album just hovering in the distance! Yeah yeah, gotta wait through another Demons and Wizards album (oh.. such a chore! Heh heh!) but once that album comes, we'll all be fleeing for our lives.
Now. To truly prove Ripper's metal, we've gotta hear him sing all the old Iced Earth stuff. That'll prove everything. That'll be the knife through the heart. Once I hear him scream Slave To The Dark, and Pure Evil, and Travel In Stygian, and Wolf, and The Coming Curse.... then we'll really know.
And then it'll be too late. MOOOAAAAHHAHAHAHA!!!!