I may, in previous reviews, have shown a penchant for Iced Earth. Admittedly I may also have mentioned how much I enjoyed the contribution of Tim Owens on vocals but it would be fair to say that I’m a bit of a long term fan of the band. Therefore it pains me to have to admit that The Crucible of Man is, despite Matt Barlow's reinstatement, “for the fans,” a clunker almost from start to finish. 

It dawned on me when I was typing the song titles that I couldn’t remember a single one of them despite having listened to the album almost constantly since it arrived. I desperately wanted to like what the latest incarnation of Iced Earth had delivered despite the hideous way in which Owens was ousted – surely main man Jon Schaffer would come up with something special for the return of everyone’s favourite rock & roll lawman Matt Barlow? No, no and thrice no. 

Barlow acquits himself well, his vocals are strongand he shows decent control but despite his efforts everything is let down by a set of leaden songs, dull melodies and a surprisingly tinny drums sound. There is far too much filler – even the single I Walk Alone is weak and the best song on the record, surprisingly enough, is the ballad A Gift or a Curse which also has the best guitar solo as well. One top tune however is by no means enough to stop this album joining Judas Priest in the year’s list of big disappointments.