Iced Earth

Nothing screams “heavy metal!” like Valley Forge, howls “rock on!” like the Red Baron or elicits headbanging quite like Waterloo. Huh? Just roll with it, dude. Because it’s not common to find a pack of leather-clad long-hairs that gives operatic dissertations on the Battle of Gettysburg and throws up devil horns with equal fervor. Nor is it typical for a guitarist to operate a collectibles store called Spirit of ’76 that sells $500 sculptures of Stonewall Jackson. Then again, how many lead singers have had their life stories loosely adapted for a Marky Mark movie? Surprise! Not that many. But the men of Iced Earth haven’t survived the rigors of some twenty years in heavy metal for nothing. Guitarist Jon (Spirit of ’76) Schaffer has infused his history jones into the band’s ambitious albums, and singer Tim “Ripper” Owens (who, à la Rock Star, fronted Judas Priest for six years after being discovered in a cover band) adds a polished snarl. Now if only they would sing about the Louisiana Purchase. That would fucking rock.