Framing Armageddon: Something Wicked Part 1
Iced Earth · 2007
77 min · 20 tracks · heavy metal
Epic storytelling collides with thunderous riffs and orchestral elements, creating a cinematic metal experience.
Top tracks — play these first
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Something Wicked, Part 1 Start here — This track sets the stage for the overarching narrative, showcasing Iced Earth's signature blend of melodic hooks and powerful riffs while introducing listeners to the central theme.
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Ten Thousand Strong — A standout anthem that encapsulates themes of war and brotherhood, it features soaring melodies and intricate guitar work that highlight the band's power metal roots.
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The Clouding — This lengthy composition exemplifies Iced Earth's ability to weave complex musical passages with storytelling, presenting a dramatic climax in the narrative arc.
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When Stars Collide (Born Is He) — The emotional centerpiece of the album, this track showcases a haunting melody paired with reflective lyrics that delve into themes of destiny and conflict.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's ambitious storytelling and orchestral elements create a compelling heavy metal experience.
What we noticed
- The album features a continuous narrative arc, with tracks transitioning seamlessly into one another to maintain the story's momentum.
- Several tracks incorporate orchestral arrangements alongside traditional heavy metal instrumentation, creating a layered sound.
- The first half of the album is dominated by aggressive riffs and fast tempos, while the second half shifts to more melodic and atmospheric sections.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- long, immersive listening sessions
- dynamic emotional journeys
- cinematic storytelling experience
- gradual builds and payoffs
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Critical Peak — Represents an ambitious narrative continuation in their established saga.
- Themes
- dystopian futures· brotherhood in battle
- Career context
- By the time 'Framing Armageddon: Something Wicked Part 1' was released in 2007, Iced Earth had established themselves as prominent figures in the heavy metal scene, following their critically acclaimed album 'The Glorious Burden'. This album marked a significant return for the band after lineup changes, notably the departure of vocalist Matt Barlow, who returned to the band for this concept-driven project.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Blind Guardian· Nevermore· Judas Priest
Tracklist
- 1 Overture 2:24
- 2 Something Wicked, Part 1 Start here 5:02
- 3 Invasion 1:00
- 4 Motivation of Man 1:34
- 5 Setian Massacre 3:48
- 6 A Charge to Keep 4:24
- 7 Reflections 1:50
- 8 Ten Thousand Strong 3:56
- 9 Execution 1:27
- 10 Order of the Rose 4:51
- 11 Cataclysm 1:30
- 12 The Clouding 9:18
- 13 Infiltrate and Assimilate 3:48
- 14 Retribution Through the Ages 4:31
- 15 Something Wicked, Part 2 2:59
- 16 The Domino Decree 6:36
- 17 Framing Armageddon 3:40
- 18 When Stars Collide (Born Is He) 4:17
- 19 The Awakening 2:01
- 20 The Coming Curse 8:01
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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