Hi, you guys!
I´ve got one question:
What is wrong with the Red Baron?
I don´t know how many of you people are into German history, but I am a German history student, so I think I can utter my opinion here:
I think the idea of making a song about the Red Baron is great!
First of all it´s a cool idea, because it is a non-american character. I think the European fans (and Iced Earth HAS the most fans in Europe, I suppose) will get into the concept a lot better, when there are also European themes on the record. Sorry, but an opus about Gettysburg might be extremely interesting for American fans, but if there is only American history on the album, the European fans might not get into it so well. (Even though American history is not about half as long as the European, so "old Europe" would have much more to tell)
The next thing is: Who said that a song about the Red Baron cannot be "in your face"?
The Red Baron was a fighter pilot in WWI, who was famous for his honour and fairness even among the British and French troops. So, if there is a song about honour, pride, glory(what you guys seem to like) etc. then it is about the Red Baron.
Not to get into the wrong direction: I am a pacifist and I am usually not the one to celebrate war heroes or other things like that.
I think we must decide about what theme is good or not, when we have heard the album, the music is most important.
And one word about Slayer: I like Slayer´s music very much, but I think the way they do lyrics about war or similar themes is crap!
Especially Angel Of Death is extremely sick! They write about Concentration Camps and Holocaust in an extremely unsensitive and provocative way, which I cannot support! Millions of people were killed and the cruelty was unimaginable. This is the darkest chapter in our German history and I don´t think I need a comment like this from Slayer about this subject.
The thing is: Why shouldn´t Iced Earth do a song about the Red Baron who stands for all those things like honour and glory?