2002 has been the best year for metal since 1999. I'm satisfied to amazed by most of the 02 CDs I've bought this year. The most disappointing one, I'd say, is Blind Guardian - A Night at the Opera. I liked And Then There Was Silence a lot, so I thought the rest of the album would be good, but I was wrong. Easily the most disappointing album of the year. Worst album of the year would definitely have to be the new In Flames. Pure garbage.
And about Iced Earth, the haven't released a good album since Burnt Offerings.