ICED EARTH – Days of Purgatory
Iced Earth – Days of Purgatory (1997, Century Media Records)
1. “Enter the Realm” … 0:54
2. “Colors” … 4:50
3. “Angels Holocaust” … 4:53
4. “Stormrider” … 4:47
5. “Winter Nights” … 3:55
6. “Nightmares” … 3:42
7. “Pure Evil” … 6:33
8. “Solitude” … 1:44
9. “When the Night Falls” … 9:01
10. “Desert Rain” … 6:56
11. “The Funeral” … 6:15
12. “Cast in Stone” … 5:59
13. “Reaching the End” … 1:11
14. “Travel in Stygian” … 9:32
15. “Iced Earth” … 5:30
Band:
Matthew Barlow – Lead Vocals
Jon Schaffer – Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
Randall Shawver – Lead Guitar
James MacDonough – Bass (Tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 21)
Dave Abell – Bass (Tracks 3, 4, 7, 8, 10-20)
Brent Smedley – Drums (Tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 21)
Mike McGill – Drums (Tracks 10, 11, 13, 16)
Richey Secchiari – Drums (Tracks 3, 4, 7, 8, 14, 18, 19)
Rodney Beasley – Drums (Tracks 12,15,17,20)
Days of Purgatory is a compilation featuring many songs from Iced Earth’s early career that were re-recorded in order to have definitive versions featuring Matthew Barlow on vocals (who joined in 1994).
It was the very first Iced Earth album I ever purchased and I did it because it was recommended to me as a starting point for the band. Iced Earth was a name I kept coming across online as a great metal band and I wanted to sample them. Despite this album’s purpose to be showcase for Barlow’s vocals, it’s his vocals that have deterred me from ever becoming an Iced Earth fan. I just don’t like his sound.
I bought this album in either December ‘98 or ‘99 and I remember listening to it with a friend and we both remarked how some of the music was really cool (“Angels Holocaust” especially) but the vocals were holding it back. Truth be told, looking back, even some of the music isn’t up to snuff for me but there are a few great thrash moments.
I’ve always loved the cover though. It features the comic book character and vampire goddess Purgatori with art provided by the late Steven Hughes.
A two-disc edition was released at the same time. Too bad I didn’t know anything about it when I bought this one disc version!
Highlights: “Angels Holocaust”, “Winter Nights”, “Nightmares”, “Desert Rain”, “The Funeral”
