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.... and the most important thing in his life is.... not Iced Earth, - so Jon Schaffer. At least not, since his daughter was born 2 1/2 years ago. And she got the priority. But second comes Iced Earth and after then nothing in a while. No surprise, because those two things dominate his life. One of them for 23 years now, the other and more important now for just about 2 1/2 years. 
Powermetal is the stylistic, Mr. Schaffer followes since the beginning of his carriere, a musicstyle, which unfortunately only exists on the edge of the generell musiclandscape. But thanks god, we got Europe, more specifically described, it's Germany and maybe Greece, where this music still has got a faithfull following.
Like I always use to say, - each kinda music has got it's right to be here. It's just always a matter of the so called flavour of the month, apart from bands and musicians who own cult status. Iced Earth certainly belong to the establishment now, but cult status hasn't been reached yet at Jon Schaffer's project, where everybody and everything is exchangeable, exept himself. But for four years now, he's got Timothy Owen (Ex-Judas Priest) in his boot, and this guy now tends to become indispensable thanks to his great voice,- which, to be honest would'nt be a disatvantage, would it?!
And there is one more premiere for the alterego of Iced Earth on this current european tour. It's the first time, he is seperated from his daughter for a longer while. And as hard as his metal music is, so it's thousand times harder to be away from home now. But life goes on, and it's time now to present the powermetal of Iced Earth again including a fresh line up and a new album .

Unfortunately only about 600 headbanger know about this and have gathered at the Backstage Werk here in Munich tonight. To less to celebrate a complete success, to many to be ignored. 

The start goal is given be the finnish god of war Turisas. At least, that's what the name of this heavenly bowling brother means, which is used by Mathias „Warlord“ Nygård (voc), Jussi Wickström (voc/git), Tuomas Tude Lehtonen (Drums), Hannes „Hanu“ Horma (Bass), Olli Vänskä (Geige), Janne „Lisko“ Mäkinen (Accordeon) und Antti Laurila (Accordeon) who try to give their best with this mixture of Heavy Metal and finnish folk. They are trying to combine the music with the visual image. But it ain't easy, because not everybody of the fans here do like those ethnic influences. I for my part think, they are quite interesting, thanks to all those aspects, which get surely stuck in some people's memory. Highlight within the 30 minute stint is a quite funny coverversion of Boney M's 'Rasputin'. Despite the alienate effect, there is a 100% recognition. Let's take it straight - Coverversions of other songs are only interesting, when they sound somehow different. 
Operation done making place for the canadian alltime metal classics of Annihilator.

http://www.turisas.com/

Just having been here not too long ago, supporting Trivium Jeff Waters and Co. is back again now, as a supportact again, and once again - miles too short.....
Like described in the last review, this band is sort of a methusalem in the biz. And whatever Jon Schaffer is for Iced Earth, Jeff Waters is for Annihilator. Tow egos, two individuals, who stand for a pseudonym. I do luv this band very much, but I do also miss out on something, acoustically and also visually. I just think, Jeff should get a fifth man in the band with a suitable voice. I don't wanna say, Jeff can't sing, because he surely can, but it is not the same like in the past. Like I said before, somehow the non plus ultra for storming the peak of musical epic is missing. Within those 45 minutes tonight we get eight songs  presented, - lots of old stuff, a little bit of new material (see setlist) . And the finale once again is 'Alice In Hell', the ultimate hymn of Annihilator. And I don't think, anything will change this for the next 10 years as long as Jeff Waters and Annihilator exist. 
http://www.annihilatormetal.com/

Okay, it’s time for Iced Earth  and their topics about sin, heaven and hell, antichrists, battle and apocalypsis. You can realize, that Jon Schaffer is bothered by many things, who he trys to include in his music. Yeah of course, entertainment comes first on stage. Because noone really goes for the lyrics at an explosive show of Iced Earth. But we go for the voice of Tim 'Ripper' Owens. The man who definately would be every mother in law's darling with his look which hasn't got much to do with Heavy Metal. It's like Lemmy's (non existing) favour for strawberry juice... Don't worry, that's only surface, because as soon as Timmy opens his mouth, he freaks out most of the other Heavy Metal figaros in the world. Named Timothy by the tourmanager, he needs his strenght for his vocals, that's why the physical condition is spared out. It's time for tea and metalic energy, practiced by Mr.Schaffer in the old common style. The rest, how shall I describe best...? ... is there to make the band complete. The new man on the bass is Dennis Hayes, the second guitar is played by Troy Seele both beeing in the band for just a few months, and last but not least Drummer Brent Smedley, who was in the band in the past, and is now back again for about one year.  

No, we can't complain about this performance of Iced Earth, by  overlooking some soundproblems in the beginning and the fact, that powermetal does currently not fit in the trend fashion. For me personally it's a bit too much of true heavy metal, and if I didn't have my second job by beeing Mr.Schöwe's capdriver, then Iwould have escaped at the encores,- just to make sure, to escape first out of the parkingslots. But for the fans it has been certainly a good night out and they are  pleased with what the received. And that's what we call the live insurance for the band, don't we....?!
http://www.icedearth.com/                                                        
                                                                               A few Off Stage snapshots can be viewed 
here

click on the pic below for more Live Pictures