ICED EARTH have announced that BRENT SMEDLEY will be stepping down from drum duty in ICED EARTH for personal family reasons. The new drummer will be RAPHAEL SAINI and will be performing with the group starting this summer.
“I have family members that are elderly and frail and need my help here in Jacksonville”, Brent Smedley says. “It’s been one of the hardest decisions of my life but I simply cannot commit to the kind of schedule the band deserves and requires so I decided to ask permission to step down from my post.”
“Brent has been a valued member of the group for a long time. We thank him for his contributions, friendship and energy and wish him all the best for the future. We want to welcome Raphael with open arms and are expecting for our fans to give him the welcome he deserves” – ICED EARTH.
ICED EARTH just released a concert from their “WORLD DYSTOPIA TOUR” in many different formats, including BluRay, DVD and CD. Entitled “LIVE IN ANCIENT KOURION” it shows the band playing to a rabid, packed house in an ancient amphitheater in Cyprus and storming through an encompassing setlist of both fan favourites and deep catalog material.
The summer will be spent recording and mixing a new studio album entitled “PLAGUES OF BABYLON” and playing various summer festivals. A headline tour has been announced kicking off in January 2014.
After recently releasing their first official DVD/Blu-Ray, Live In Ancient Kourion, ICED EARTH is now ready to reveal the album title and track-listing for their upcoming album! Band leader Jon Schaffer comments about this new release:
“The new ICED EARTH studio album is expected to have a late 2013 release date. It will be titled ‘Plagues Of Babylon’ and we are very excited about how killer things are sounding this early in the writing/demo process. Below are some of the song titles that will appear on the album.
1.) Plagues of Babylon
2.) Democide
3.) Among The Living Dead
4.) The Resistance 5.) If I Could See You 6.) Peacemaker 7.) Cthulhu 8.) Parasite I expect this album will be something very special! Stay tuned for breaking news about ICED EARTH’s mega-packed schedule and coming tour dates.
Thanks again for your continued support of the band! We love you guys!
ICED EARTH’s first officially recorded DVD/Blu-Ray, Live In Ancient Kourion, will hit stores tomorrow, April 16, in North America! For this live release, the band recorded an epic 2.5 hour show in a 6,000 year old amphitheatre on the island of Cyprus.
In celebration of tomorrow’s release, ICED EARTH has uploaded the live video for the song “Anthem,” which offers fans yet another preview of this stunning live release: http://youtu.be/PO21sYoST2c
For more previews of Live In Ancient Kourion, click the links below:
ICED EARTH’s first officially recorded DVD/Blu-Ray, Live In Ancient Kourion, will hit stores April 16 in North America (and April 15 in Europe)! For this live release, the band recorded an epic 2.5 hour show in a 6,000 year old amphitheater with an incredible, unique atmosphere. To give fans a preview of this must-have DVD, ICED EARTH has now teamed up with Brave Words.com to premiere the live track “Damien”: http://www.bravewords.com/news/200770
For another preview of Live In Ancient Kourion, click here to watch “Dystopia” live from ancient Kourion; the full DVD trailer can also be viewed here.
Live In Ancient Kourion is available for pre-order now in various stunning formats here.
ICED EARTH live:
08.06.2013 – Burning Sea Festival – Croatia
20.06.2013 – Metalfest – Germany
21.06.2013 – Dokk’em Open Air Festival – Netherlands
ICED EARTH’s first officially filmed headline show, “Live In Ancient Kourion”, will hit stores on April 15 in Europe and April 16 in North America via Century Media. This incredibly powerful package will come to you in various configurations and, a first for Century Media Records, also on Blu-ray disc. The limited-edition deluxe book features the main show and a plethora of bonus content on DVD and a Blu-ray disc, as well as the entire concert on a 2CD set (4 discs in total). You can also enjoy the audio version of the full concert in a 3LP gatefold vinyl package or as a 2CD set. A standard DVD and digital audio download will also be available.
A performance clip of the song “Dystopia”, taken from the forthcoming DVD, can be seen below:
Iced Earth – “Live In Ancient Kourion”
The setlist for ICED EARTH’s August 19, 2012 concert was as follows…
Since Dystopia was released in October of 2011, ICED EARTH has been on the attack in a big way, playing more shows in the past year than in the previous ten years…combined!
ICED EARTH main man Jon Schaffer: “I feel this is a testament to a new beginning, a new energy and a rock solid determination that will see us taking the music of ICED EARTH to every corner of the globe; spreading the awareness of our brand of metal in a way that hasn’t been done before. I’ve never been more proud of this band, our crew, and the people behind the scenes that are responsible for much of our success.”
Early on in the World Tour the band decided that they wanted to capture this newfound energy and passion on film. The biggest question was deciding where to film. There were so many great shows and audiences around the world that it was very challenging to decide which city to choose for this special event. When the offer came in to film at the ancient Kourion Theater in Limassol, Cyprus, they were immediately attracted to that idea. The history and culture there, as well as the Cypriot audience, which the band experienced in December 2011, solidified the decision to film the DVD in Cyprus. Filming and recording a 2 1⁄2 hour show in an amphitheater that is 6000 years old and is not set-up for a rock concert, paired with 40-degree Celsius heat, were just some of the obstacles to overcome. But the finished product makes up for any of the challenges that the band and crew faced on that special night.
ICED EARTH’s first officially filmed headline show “Live In Ancient Kourion” will hit stores on April 15th (USA April 16th), 2013! This incredibly powerful package will come to you in various configurations and, a first for CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS, also on Blu-Ray disk! The Limited Edition Deluxe Book features the main show and a plethora of bonus content on DVD and a Blu-Ray Disc, as well as the entire concert on a 2 CD set (4 discs in total!). You can also enjoy the audio version of the full concert in a 3 LP gatefold Vinyl package or as a 2 CD set. A standard DVD and Digital Audio Download will also be available.
Get the first glimpse of this historic ICED EARTH show by checking out the DVD trailer on ICED EARTH’s official YouTube channel:
See ICED EARTH live:
08.06.2013 – Burning Sea Festival – Croatia
20.06.2013 – Metalfest – Germany
21.06.2013 – Dokk’em Open Air Festival – Netherlands
On another grey and miserable December day which hosts the weather that has sparked inspiration for many power metal songs, making it the perfect scenario for tonight’s gig in the intimate Camden Underworld. Tonight hosting a global invasion of the genres finest the scene has to offer. Read the rest of this entry »
The mighty Jalometalli Open Air Metal festival strikes back once again with a killer line-up to maintain its metallic lofty status on the Finnish festival map. The festival is known for relying on an old school metal approach offering traditional metal to extreme metal with classic metal to the extreme black metal. The festival also paid attention to young rising and local bands who played the small third stage. That was unique and thankfully most of the bands sounded killer. The Metal Rules team hit the grounds of Oulu to see several absolutely killer bands. The whole Jalometalli as a festival is so unique and one of kind that anyone reading this article should take a glance at the offering of the festival. Here is a brief article on the fest.
Bloodstock Friday, it’s nearly 7pm and I’m here with Brent Smedley drummer from Iced Earth, who just recently done their set today on the Main Stage with new singer Stu Block playing a good mixture of material old and new! Read the rest of this entry »
Former ICED EARTH members Matt Barlow (vocals) and Freddie Vidales (bass, guitar), along with ex-NEVERMORE drummer Van Williams, have set ASHES OF ARES as the name of their brand new project.
Within months of their departures from the iconic metal bands ICED EARTH and NEVERMORE, the trio came together with a renewed drive to create a sound which is a true collaboration of their personal influences, ideas and visions. Armed with the knowledge acquired through years of the writing, touring and recording cycle, and with the support of an army of loyal fans across the globe, ASHES OF ARES is poised to carve out a new legacy and stand alongside those who have helped pave the way.
A new taste of what is to come can be heard in the YouTube clip below.
Commented Barlow: “Well, though we are still in the early stages of progress, we are really excited about what we are hearing thus far. We hope that you have patience with us as we continue with this creative process and search for a record label that will help us bring our music to you all in the best way. Thanks for all your support…. More to come!”
Barlow announced his retirement from ICED EARTH in March 2011, citing his commitment to his family and the need for the group to tour more as the reasons for his exit.
Matt Barlow: Pic courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/redoppressor
Vidales left ICED EARTH earlier this year for reasons which were not disclosed. He says, “I know from the outside it seems nuts to leave a band with so much going for it, but from the inside it made a lot of sense to me.” He adds, “I did not leave because Matt left or so we could work on this [new project], I also did not leave because of the heavy touring. I was actually glad that the touring had picked up. My reasons are private. The guys in the band know, and that’s all who need to know.”
Williams and guitarist Jeff Loomis announced their departure from NEVERMORE in April 2011 due to personal differences with the band’s lead singer, Warrel Dane, and bassist, Jim Sheppard.
Matt Barlow: Pic courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/redoppressor
Former ICED EARTH members Matt Barlow (vocals) and Freddie Vidales (bass, guitar) have joined forces with ex-NEVERMORE drummer Van Williams in a brand new project which is currently working on original material. A short taste of what is to come can be heard in the YouTube clip below.
Commented Barlow: “Well, though we are still in the early stages of progress, we are really excited about what we are hearing thus far. We hope that you have patience with us as we continue with this creative process and search for a record label that will help us bring our music to you all in the best way. Thanks for all your support…. More to come!”
Iced Earth leader Jon Schaffer has posted the following:
“Hello brothers and sisters! It is my honor to share some great news with you: Iced Earth will be supporting VOLBEAT on a North American tour starting on June 18th, 2012. The bill is rounded off by HELLYEAH!
I’m completely stoked, Volbeat is one of my all-time favorite bands, and Michael and the boys are great people. There is a lot of mutual respect and admiration, and I think we are in for a hell of a good time! This will be a package that won’t soon be forgotten, I’m sure of that.
I want to thank Volbeat for the invitation, and I look forward to many years of laying down the metal as both bands continue to grow and reach new audiences around the world.
We will see you on the road soon!”
Tour dates include:
June
18 – Toronto, ON – Kool Haus
19 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore
21 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
23 – Clifton Park, NY – Northern Lights
26 – Saint Paul, MN – Myth
27 – Winnipeg, MB – Burton Cummings Theatre
29 – Weyburn SK – Crescent Point Place
30 – Gibbons, AB – Boonstock 2012
July
8 – San Francisco, CA – The Warfield
10 – Anaheim, CA – The Grove
11 – Tempe, AZ – Marquee Theatre
12 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues
15 – Colorado Springs, CO – City Auditorium
As previously reported, Iced Earth are adding on more shows to their massive World Dystopia Tour.
The show in Bangalore, India on June 16th is a first visit to India for the band and the show on August 19th in Limassol marks a much-clamored return to Cyprus, only eight months after their last show there. The show is being filmed and recorded for an upcoming DVD/CD release.
ICED EARTH Live In Cyprus
“The decision of where to do the next IE live album and DVD was not an easy one. We have experienced so many amazing audiences around the world that we really wish we could film them all. However, the electricity and atmosphere of the first show in Cyprus was so killer that we are convinced this is the best place to do our next DVD. Who knows what the future holds? There will be many more albums and touring cycles… your city may be next,” says Jon Schaffer.
In other news, bass player Freddie Vidales has announced he will leave Iced Earth after the Chinese shows this April.
Due to the band’s massive touring commitments, there was immediate need for a replacement and Luke Appleton (of FURY UK, with whom Iced Earth toured in Europe last winter) has stepped up to the plate and will be joining the tour in time for the show in India.
Iced Earth’s complete tour schedule can be viewed at this location.
Stage8 Productions will record ICED EARTH’s August 19th show at the ancient Kourion Amphitheater, outside Limassol in Cyprus, for an upcoming CD / DVD release.
Tickets for the show are limited to 1,500. Further details at this location.
Go to this location for Iced Earth’s complete 2012 tour schedule.
The North American leg of Iced Earth’s 2011-2012 World Dystopia Tour has just barely gotten underway. But the band has already been booked to play the Bloodstock Festival this August.
“We are looking forward to returning to Bloodstock in 2012, our second time after 2008. The UK shows we played on the European leg of our World Dystopia Tour last fall were some of the best on the tour and we cannot wait to bang our heads with the UK minions again!” says Jon Schaffer of ICED EARTH.
At Bloodstock, Iced Earth will share the stage with metal stalwarts Behemoth, Alice Cooper, Paradise Lost, Dimmu Borgir, Hatebreed, Anvil, and many others.
Released October 2011 via Century Media Records, Dystopia – Iced Earth’s 10th studio album – debuted at #67 on the Billboard Top 200 chart and has since received rave reviews from fans and critics alike. Revolver named Dystopia one of the 20 Best Albums of 2011 and declared, “Twenty years after releasing their self-titled debut, this Florida fivesome has never sounded better.”
Iced Earth’s North American co-headline tour with Symphony X concludes March 11 in Clifton Park, New York. At that point, Iced Earth plays five more dates without Symphony X. (See the Iced Earth web site for complete list of tour dates.)
Jon Schaffer formed Iced Earth in Tampa, Florida, in 1984. Since then, Iced Earth has released 10 studio albums, one live album, two compilations, three boxed sets, and several DVDs. Thanks to massive worldwide sales — and rabidly loyal fans – Iced Earth has earned a seat in the pantheon of America’s most successful heavy metal bands.
Iced Earth is: Jon Schaffer (rhythm, lead and acoustic guitars/backing vocals), Stu Block (lead vocals), Freddie Vidales (bass guitar/backing vocals), Troy Seele (lead guitar) and Brent Smedley (drums).
