Iced Earth - The Coming Curse (Ripper Version)

[Matackable]

This version sounds very processed. Not into it at all if I'm to be honest. The original has that punch and grit that this one just lacks.

[SoulsofFury1]

I like this version of the song, though if I'm honest, I miss the... grunt, I suppose you could call it?... at the end of each line of the chorus sung by Matt Barlow.

[neonato1806]

Not good as the original but still good. Ripper makes it sound more sinister but it just sounds so

epic with Barlow... and the piano intro is awesome too

[ifindthisoffensive]

Am I the only one who feels like the exact correspondence between the drums and guitar riffing that invariable occurs when Iced Earth re-records older songs tends to ruin the feel (see also: Dante's Inferno)?

[Georgeous129]

@ifindthisoffensive thats exactly how i felt about the dantes inferno remake. i've only listened to that version once. the only person who SHOULD sing that song is Matt himself

[KitchouaTembo]

@Georgeous129 Dante's inferno with Stu is totally insane! Try to pay attention to the Lucifer part along with the "Down, be still thy cursed wolf", the styx part. This is just too good to pass!

[xmetalbassx]

I like the original's music much better, and Barlow's voice. But this one's good too.

[nubira97]

my god the scream!!! ripper Definitely got it !!!

[Vagelis1821]

i prefer the original's tune.But this also kick ass

[samael1981]

The Ripper is very talented and has his very prominant place in metal. But he sounds like a pissed off transexual in this song...

[sandersondf1]

Barlow is not human.. Owen is just a human

[Envythedamned]

@sandersondf1 A FUCKIN GREED

[cubby3o5]

watch?v=dPKggTPdnVI is alot better. Tim actually sings it in a high voice like it's supposed to be.

[agentcamo]

This is Barlow's song forsure, But Barlow cant sinf Ten Thousand strong so they're equal

[MasiukA]

To sum it up:

The ripper is good for the power metal high pitched stuff.

Barlow is good for the thrashy deep voice stuff.

This is Barlow's song and neither can touch each other's work. Ever heard Barlow try to sing Ten Thousand Strong??

[MetalKen]

@MasiukA

Yeah, Barlow fucking nails the scream at the beginning and sounds awesome throughout. 

[MasiukA]

@MetalKen the ripper sounds a million times better in ten thousand strong. but barlow sounds better in this song for sure. tim sounds retarded in this song

[bran8337]

this is version is all right iam a huge ripper fan dont get me wrong i just could never get into it, the barlow version is fucking awesome

[jarryj1995]

Combine this epic drumming with barlow's vocals and this song is god.

[Laufeyjarsonr]

Great version of the song, but I miss the Bass Guitar, which was really cool in the original



[Brutalslamgrinder]

Matt Barlow is as melodic as Tim Owens. But while Owens own a higher voice (which is not used here, shame on him, it had been great!) Barlow has more power in his voice

[shadowlorde]

i like this version better than the original because you can hear the bass drum better and hear that it's following the guitar rhythm (a bit tricky to play ) compared to the original where i think he's just playing 8ths underneath

[sanosukke]

D=

This song is RUINED!!!!!!

Matthew Barlow's vocals are much much much more suited for this song.

And WTF is wrong with the drums? Not to mention the guitars and ALL THE REST.

The original is way better.

[Lavaminer4]

Sounds like shit compared to the original... lol No rythm... at all... I still like both singers and the various players, but this is pure fail... sorry.

[SweetOdinsRavens]

@Lavaminer4 That's what I was thinking. Barlow and Ripper are both awesome, but Matt's voice is waaaaaaay better suited for this while Ripper is suited for higher parts. Like if they did a song where there was a war with angels and demons then Barlow should be the demon commander and Ripper should be the angel commander

[Nursesaids]

Original is miles better.

[MrBrawlerkid]

This is great! I like both Ripper and Matt ( I wish now that Matt could sing ``Attila´´´that would be badass)

[TheCrackedBrick]

Old version. Definitely old version.

[Lokust13]

drums & guitars sound way better here. wish they would re-re-record it, with Barlow.

[UnevenElefant5]

I love this version because the drums are more pronounced, I love the drums in the chorus. Plus Ripper's voice is really deep and menacing.

[yuceataturk]

please where did you find that album cover? thats excellent..

[HailTheCradle]

I love this version! Barlow has a more romantic deep melodic voice (which is epic) But with Ripper it seems more apocalyptic. Plus this version was actually my first IE song so that's why I like it a little more than the original.

[slckls1]

I do agree...of the three songs Ripper re-did this one is my favorite but the production is terrible. the original is so much better musically. Though I will admit I am more partial to Barlow's vocals. just love the depth in his voice, and I think he has a bit more range.

[icedearth666WOLF]

where is the guitar?

[spinalstar]

This is more then likely my favorite version of my favorite iced earth song.

[fallOthewItrabIT]

sOmething wIcked C*oMEs !.!* ...*

[PrnDani]

Mucho mejor la original, pero mucho mucho

[GrimdourTheRampager]

Ripper definitely lacked power here; if he did as he did in Framing Armageddon (title track), this would've been an amazing song.

But Schafer writes for his vocalists so well they rarely work well with someone else. See When Night Falls.

[cktaresh]

The original is darker, and has more punch. The drumming as far superior to the original. But the punch came from Schaffer's guitar playing, here there's too much muting to hear the genius of the main riff.

[lgalicki]

One more thing guys. This version has been down tunned. I don't know why. I believe this is the main reason Owens doesn't sound so good on this one.

[laynestaley1990]

@lgalicki i thats the reason that they did it. ripper CANNOT sing low like barlow so as crazy as it sounds they lowered the tuning and it alows him to hit a range higher then the original but not too high as to sound strage like it would if they kept the tuning... either way i like both but barlow owns.

[lgalicki]

@laynestaley1990

I'm sorry man, but I don't think this is the reason. I believe Jon was trying to have a different sound for this version. I love Barlow, but Owens is still technically better. He has a wider range and is more technically trained. I'm not saying Barlow is bad. Matt is 100% and Owens is 101%! I'm sure they never down tunned any songs for Owens when playing live. The problem with Owens in IE is that Barlow was (and is) IE's trademark. It's impossible to replace a trademark.

[laynestaley1990]

@lgalicki no you dont understand. THAT IS THE reason. there is an interview with jon shaffer bout ripper leaving the band and he says it... Ripper has a HIGHER range not a wider.. ripper has never sang as low as barlow. and Barlow was better than ripper even before he had voice lessons. ripper lacks any emotion in this song. dont get me wrong hes a great singer but you compare this to the original song and ripper sounds like an amature. there is no "technically better" i prefer barlows voice

[lgalicki]

@laynestaley1990 You contradict yourself. First you say Ripper can't reach Barlow's highs and that's why the song has been down tunned, then you say Ripper has a higher range.

There IS "technically better". If you take vocal lessons, you'll see that, as with any other instrument, there are techniques which can be used to perform things more easily. I've seen IE live and Barlow failed during Dracula. Ripper performs this song much more relaxed because he has better technique.

[lgalicki]

@laynestaley1990 I agree with you in one thing, though. Barlows lows sound better.

[lgalicki]

I love Brent's drumming on this! The way he uses the double bass in the first riff is awesome! His variations are awesome too! Prator was a below average drummer. Too bad he played this song like Prator in Alive in Athens.

[Blackdeath093]

this song and divide and devour are a whole lot alike

[blackkamus16]

I really like ripper´s style, but Barlow's version y much more better

[IcedEarth1211]

Barlow has an amazing range and he feels the vocals more, although there are a few songs where I prefer Rippers growling voice.

[ultimatemanofwar]

what the fuck !!!!! i preffer the original with barlow...ripper shouldn't sing this song , this version sucks not to mention the lack of feeling... ......call me a narrow-minded or whatever but there can only be one number one and is Matt Barlow !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mrsloppy050]

either version doesnt matter as long as it is performed by the one and only iced earth

[SilverbackGorillaman]

His is good, but Barlow is the best.

[FriedBacon86]

Barlow or Owens, this song rocks! (Ok, I do prefer the original, but this is badass too!)

[InventorOfMetal]

Aggree

[kudurrumaqlu]

seriously you so right man like no diss to him its not his fault guitar rhythm has nummed down

[maumau161]

But I have to say the drums sound awesome.^^

[KingTrueBaby]

@maumau161 I miss the piano intro as well.

[LordRevan107]

Loved the middle choral section. I hate the way Owens does "I AM YOUR ANTICHRIST I WILL DESTROY MANKIND." He's got energy or emotion there. And a lot of the melodic tones were taken out of the guitars too, which sucks. Barlow did much better. The outro is much cooler this time though. That recouring female voice through the Something Wicked albums and here is just haunting and beautiful. (she's in "Invasion, Awakening, Behold the Wicked Child", and this)

[VulpeRenard]

The outro's pretty cool, but I just can't get behind this song. I've tried, but I feel like the energy in Barlowe's version isn't present in this one. This one feels just stepped through and too uniform.

[xveraxjoanx]

ahh great song..saw em live this spring

FUCK how am i gonna wake up 2moz?! its so tempting to stay online and listen to metal =P

[beerthirst]

Thats awesome man, but i still prefer the barlow version, ripper uses too much effects on his voice.

Greetings !!

[tinyb7]

this is the first version of this song i heard i kinda like it a little more

[JaoquinQ]

does iced earth have any guitar solos or did i miss it? cause i never hear any

[666JSchaffer666]

some songs do, but they are more of a riff driven band more that a virtuosic, crazy shredding type of band.

[JaoquinQ]

its still badass though i might learn some on guitar

[DDoiS]

why dont you shut tha fuck up ?

[JaoquinQ]

and what the fuck is your problem?

[DDoiS]

why dont you shut tha fuck up too ?

[JaoquinQ]

? if your trolling your doing a terrible job

[DDoiS]

shhhhhhh dont tell...

[runewalsh6661983]

@JaoquinQ listen to the normal something wicked trilogy and ull hear the solos then listen to the ripper versions to hear the different solos

[laynestaley1990]

@JaoquinQ they have have plenty of solos burnt offerings, desert rain, angels haulocaust , dantes inferno ect.... but yea they dont need solos thier brutal enough lol..

[Damien9607]

@JaoquinQ They do when they feel like it's necessary, but not every song will have one. Usually you'll get a really intense chord progression, and not much more.

[MrMetalManMe]

yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhh awesome! my fave version! check out my iced earth jack cover and my top 10 iced earth vids dude 8) \m/

[InventorOfMetal]

even though i prefer it with barlow,i think this is quite good too!!