Iced Earth is a band that has never received the kind of attention they deserve. I first discovered them in the world of comic books, as they has done a concept album based on Todd McFarlane's Spawn. It was a good album, one I liked better when I revisited it years later  when the followup album came out, the phenomenal Something Wicked This Way Comes, which is where this story begins. It was 1998 when this album was unleashed, and now, nearly ten years later, that era of Iced Earth's history is being revisited and reimagined.

That Something Wicked This Way Comes album was closed with an epic trilogy of songs that tell a tale of events in the distant past which are having a dire effect on the present. Together the songs were called the "Something Wicked Trilogy," comprised of "Prophecy," "Birth of the Wicked," and "The Coming Curse." They were not my favorite songs on the disk, but there was no denying the punch they packed coming on the tail end of the preceding ten songs. This album remains my favorite release, though there really isn't a stinker in the bunch.

The performance of the three songs on that 1998 album were beyond compare, from the spot on guitarwork from Iced Earth mastermind Jon Schaffer to the amazing vocals from Matthew Barlow. What really drew me, initially, to the band was Barlow's vocals, despite being the third vocalist in three albums for the band, he fits like a glove. The heavy power metal fronted by this powerfully emotional voice that was like an emotive chameleon sliding between the heartfelt and moving and an aggressive in your face style. His work on this trilogy is a great example of what he could do. Unfortunately, he has left the band in favor of other pursuits, which brings us to the present day.

This year, a revamped lineup has returned to the "Something Wicked Trilogy," expanding the tale and taking us to the next evolutionary step in Iced Earth's history. Primary songwriter/guitarist and leader of the band Jon Schaffer (similar to how Megadeth is really Dave Mustaine's Megadeth, Iced Earth is Jon Schaffer's Iced Earth) is turning the "Something Wicked" concept into a story arc that will span two full length albums.

Before we can get to that, however, there is a little thing of the band having a new vocalist, one who did not perform the original songs. Now, to help the continuity, and expand on Schaffer's vision, the original trilogy has been completely re-recorded, from the ground up, to feature new vocals. The current singer is Tim "Ripper" Owens, who was previously a member of Judas Priest, replacing Rob Halford after he had left the band. He has appeared on one album thus far, the excellent The Glorious Burden (though it did take a little while to get used to the vastly different voice).

Iced Earth has recently released an EP called Overture of the Wicked. Comprised of four tracks, it leads with a variation on a single that will appear on the next full length, Framing Armageddon, as well as the new version of the "Something Wicked" trilogy. While it only has four tracks, it is showing Iced Earth at the top of their game. This EP is intense and does a good job at increasing my anticipation of the next album.