ICED EARTH: 'Overture Of The Wicked' EP Artwork Unveiled

April 7, 2007

The cover artwork for ICED EARTH's upcoming EP, "Overture of the Wicked", has been posted online at IcedEarth.com. The art was created by Felipe Machado of Final Frontier Digital Art and Nathan Perry. Due on June 5 via SPV (one day earlier internationally),the CD will feature the following track listing:

01. Ten Thousand Strong
02. Prophecy
03. Birth of the Wicked
04. The Coming Curse

Regarding the songs that appear on the "Overture of the Wicked" EP, ICED EARTH mainman Jon Schaffer recently stated, "First, the song 'Ten Thousand Strong' is the single track, and it will appear on [the upcoming full-length album] 'Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked Part 1)', albeit a bit different than the single version. Second, the 'Something Wicked' trilogy that is comprised of the songs 'Prophecy', 'Birth of the Wicked', and 'The Coming Curse' has been completely re-recorded. From the ground up this is a more vicious and more atmospheric version of the epic piece. I played all of the guitar tracks with a baritone guitar and Brent [Smedley, drums] and I are locked up like a machine gun with the double kicks following many of the detailed picking patterns. This makes for a more intense- and wicked-sounding rhythm section. All of the vocals have been redone, obviously by Tim Owens, who did a masterful job at retaining the passion and honesty of the original, and still put his stamp on it and made it his own. We also put in some teaser atmospheric things that will give you a hint of things to come on Part 1. But just a hint... we don't want to spoil any surprises."

A video for the track "Ten Thousand Strong" will be filmed a video during the coming months, most likely in June right around the band's appearance at the Sweden Rock Festival.

Schaffer is currently putting the finishing touches on a two-part concept album based on the "Something Wicked This Way Comes" story that first appeared on ICED EARTH's 1998 album of the same name. "Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked Part 1)" will be released in late August/early September, to be followed by "Revelation Abomination Something Wicked (Part 2)" in February/March 2008.

"Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked Part 1)" projected track listing:

01. Overture
02. Something Wicked (Part 1)
03. Invasion
04. Man's Motivation
05. The Setian Massacre
06. A Charge to Keep
07. Reflections
08. Ten Thousand Strong
09. Execution
10. Order of the Rose
11. The Clouding
12. Infiltrate and Assimilate
13. Retribution Through the Ages
14. Something Wicked (Part 2)
15. The Domino Decree
16. Framing Armageddon
17. When Stars Collide (Born is He)
18. The Awakening

"Revelation Abomination Something Wicked (Part 2)" projected track listing:

01. The Sacred Flames
02. Behold the Wicked Child
03. Minions of the Watch
04. A Gift or a Curse
05. I Walk Among You
06. Harbinger of Fate
07. Ancient Rage of the High Priest
08. A Gathering Threat / Time Marches On
09. Sacrificial Kingdoms
10. Something Wicked (Part 3)
11. Divide Devour
12. Conspiracy / Pilgrimage In Guile
13. Come What May

ICED EARTH has announced several European summer festival appearances beginning in early June. In addition, the band will support HEAVEN AND HELL on their U.K. tour in November. The group's schedule is shaping up as follows:

June 6-7 - Sweden Rock Festival - Sölvesborg, SWE
July 1-3 - Rockwave Festival - Malakasa, GRE
Aug. 2-4 - Wacken Open Air - Wacken, GER

With HEAVEN AND HELL, LAMB OF GOD:

Nov. 04 - Metro Radio Arena - Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
Nov. 06 - SECC - Glasgow, Scotland
Nov. 07 - Hallam FM Arena - Sheffield, UK
Nov. 09 - Manchester Evening News Arena - Manchester, UK
Nov. 10 - Wembley Arena - London, UK
Nov. 11 - Centre - Brighton, UK
Nov. 13 - NEC - Birmingham, UK
Nov. 14 - International Arena - Cardiff, UK
Nov. 15 - Arena - Nottingham, UK
Nov. 17 - Pavilions - Plymouth, UK
Nov. 18 - BIC - Bournemouth, UK

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