Iced Earth at the Gramercy Theater

Stu Block

Based out of Tampa, Florida, guitarist Jon Schaffer formed his vision of a thrash metal/power metal band in 1984 with a short-lived band called the Rose and then in 1985 with Purgatory, which in 1988 changed its name to Iced Earth. The band has changed personnel over 20 times, with the present lineup consisting of Schaffer, vocalist Stu Block, lead guitarist Jake Dreyer, bassist Luke Appleton, and drummer Brent Smedley. Iced Earth's 12th and most recent studio album, Incorruptible, was released on June 16, 2017.

Celebrating 30 years as Iced Earth, Schaffer and his current bandmates headlined at the Gramercy Theatre tonight with a solid set of headbangers. The set included six songs from the band's most recent album, but the majority of the music came from the band's 1990s albums. Amid brain-crushing riffs and avalanche-styled rhythms, Block's vocal range was impressive, from screeching high notes to singing deep from the gut. Several times Block risked climbing on top of Smedley's drum cage and sang from high above. After nearly two hours of riveting, rocking heavy metal, the concert wrapped with a more somber closure, as Block dedicated "Watching Over Me" to "anyone in your life who has passed" but also "for life," and invited youth from the audience to join the band onstage.

Visit Iced Earth at www.icedearth.com.

Setlist:

1. Great Heathen Army
2. Burning Times
3. Dystopia
4. Black Flag
5. Seven Headed Whore
6. I Died for You
7. Vengeance Is Mine
8. Brothers
9. Dracula
10. Raven Wing
11. Stormrider
12. Angels Holocaust
13. Travel in Stygian
14. Encore:
15. Clear the Way (December 13th, 1862)
16. Watching Over Me