Horror Show is the sixth studio album from the American heavy metal band Iced Earth, released June 26, 2001. It is a concept album based on classic monsters and horror-movie icons, including Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Phantom. It was the first Iced Earth album to feature drummer Richard Christy, and the only album to feature Steve DiGiorgio on bass, though he did not tour with the band. Horror Show is usually considered Iced Earth's only straightforward power metal release, as little of the thrash metal influence from the band's earlier works is present. This album also featured more prominent usage of Matt Barlow's multi-layered vocals as a center point for the songs.
There was a special limited-edition two-disc set. The second disc included the instrumental track, "Transylvania", an Iron Maiden cover, along with an interview with bandleader/rhythm guitarist Jon Schaffer. There is also a single-disc version with "Transylvania", but without the interview. The song "Dracula" includes the line "the blood is the life", a quote from Deuteronomy 12:23. However, it is likely lifted from the 1992 version of Bram Stoker's Dracula which also features the line. As in "Dracula", many of the lyrics are lifted straight from the movies they were inspired by. Unlike other releases, it features much writing from Matt Barlow.
By the end of the song "Damien" there is a section where Jon's reversed voice repeats the message that is also in the middle, silent section of the song. So, if the song is played backwards, the true message can be heard. This kind of reversed voice was also done by Iron Maiden in the beginning of their song "Still Life" of their fourth studio album Piece of Mind.
Track listing
- "Wolf" (inspired by The Wolf Man films) Jon Schaffer Schaffer 5:20
- "Damien" (inspired by The Omen films) Schaffer Schaffer 9:12
- "Jack" (inspired by Jack the Ripper) Matt Barlow Schaffer 4:14
- "Ghost of Freedom" (inspired by Matt Barlow's own concept [cited by the interview on disc 2]) Barlow, Schaffer Barlow, Schaffer 5:12
- "Im-Ho-Tep (Pharaoh's Curse)" (inspired by The Mummy) Barlow Larry Tarnowski, Schaffer 4:45
- "Jekyll & Hyde" (inspired by The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) Barlow Schaffer 4:39
- "Dragon's Child" (inspired by Creature from the Black Lagoon) Barlow Schaffer 4:19
- "Transylvania" (Iron Maiden cover) (instrumental) Steve Harris 4:23
- "Frankenstein" (inspired by Frankenstein) Schaffer Schaffer 3:50
- "Dracula" (inspired by Dracula) Schaffer Schaffer 5:54
- "The Phantom Opera Ghost" (inspired by The Phantom of the Opera) Schaffer Schaffer 8:41
Track 6 ("Jekyll & Hyde")'s official title misspells the name of the character as "Jeckyl".
The Initial Pressing was presented in a standard two-disc jewel case with no reference to the tracks on the bonus disc (nor the disc itself) except for a sticker on the front. Because "Transylvania" is moved out of the track list, "Dragon's Child" has its full ending, increasing its length.
Disc one
- "Wolf" Schaffer Schaffer 5:20
- "Damien" Schaffer Schaffer 9:12
- "Jack" Barlow Schaffer 4:14
- "Ghost of Freedom" Barlow, Schaffer Barlow, Schaffer 5:12
- "Im-Ho-Tep (Pharaoh's Curse)" Barlow Tarnowski, Schaffer 4:45
- "Jekyll & Hyde" Barlow Schaffer 4:39
- "Dragon's Child" Barlow Schaffer 4:21
- "Frankenstein" Schaffer Schaffer 3:50
- "Dracula" Schaffer Schaffer 5:54
- "The Phantom Opera Ghost" Schaffer Schaffer 8:41
- "Transylvania" (Iron Maiden cover) (instrumental) Harris 4:30
- "Interview with Jon Schaffer" (conducted by Sumit Chandra) 69:27
Recording information:
Mixed and mastered at Morrisound Studios in Tampa, Florida in late January-early February, 2001.
Drums and principal rhythm guitars parts for "Horror Show" were recorded in December, 2000 at Morrisound Studios.
All additional recordings done at "Schaffer Sound" Studios "in a dungeon somewhere in Indiana" in January, 2001.
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