Plagues of Babylon
Iced Earth · 2014
62 min · 13 tracks · heavy metal
A relentless fusion of thrash aggression and melodic power metal, steeped in dark themes and intricate storytelling.
Top tracks — play these first
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Plagues of Babylon Start here — The title track establishes the album's grand narrative with its epic length and intricate musical arrangement, encapsulating the overarching themes of chaos and despair.
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Democide — This track features aggressive riffs paired with thought-provoking lyrics about societal decay, showcasing the band's ability to blend heaviness with meaningful commentary.
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Cthulhu — Drawing inspiration from H.P. Lovecraft's mythos, this song combines atmospheric elements with powerful instrumentation, reflecting Iced Earth's talent for creating immersive narratives through music.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album combines aggressive thrash elements with melodic storytelling, creating a solid yet familiar heavy metal experience.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a title track that sets a dark, aggressive tone, followed by a series of fast-paced songs that maintain high energy.
- The last three tracks slow down the tempo significantly, providing a contrast to the preceding intensity and allowing for thematic resolution.
- 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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6/10
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
- dynamic journey with resolution
- wave-like pacing with intensity
- thematic storytelling throughout experience
- intricate guitar work appreciation
- cathartic release of tension
Maybe skip if you
- prefer instant gratification tracks
- avoid lengthy conceptual pieces
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Deep Cut — Solid entry in their catalog, showcasing thematic depth but not widely recognized outside dedicated fans.
- Themes
- societal decay· Lovecraftian horror· chaos and despair
- Career context
- Released on January 1, 2014, 'Plagues of Babylon' is Iced Earth's eleventh studio album, following their critically acclaimed 'Dystopia' from 2011. At this point in their career, the band was solidifying their reputation for thematic concepts and complex compositions, while also facing lineup changes that influenced the album's sound and direction.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Blind Guardian· Nevermore· Judas Priest
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Democide
The bridge shifts perspective to question the motives behind humanity's self-destruction.
This structural change emphasizes a critical moment of introspection, making listeners confront uncomfortable truths about societal choices.
Tracklist
- 1 Plagues of Babylon Start here 7:47
- 2 Democide 5:22
- 3 The Culling 4:26
- 4 Among the Living Dead 5:14
- 5 Resistance 4:59
- 6 The End? 7:14
- 7 If I Could See You 3:56
- 8 Cthulhu 6:04
- 9 Peacemaker 5:02
- 10 Parasite 3:30
- 11 Spirit of the Times 5:06
- 12 Highwayman 3:12
- 13 Outro 0:25
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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