After a two-year gap, Iced Earth return with one of the most visionary albums of the year. With the addition of former Judas Priest vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens, Iced Earth have put together what can only be described as a tour de force.

‘The Glorious Burden’ is the bands ninth full-length studio album and is the one that I think will make people sit up and take note of the band. Guitarist and main man Jon Schaffer uses his knowledge as a history enthusiast to venture this album into his world of fascination over the US military history and superpower status.

The album opener ‘Declaration Day’ sets the standard for the rest of the album as it delivers a heavy dose of power and melody. Tim Owens vocals convey the clout that an album of this type needs. ‘When the Eagle Cries’ tells of the atrocities of 9/11 and speaks of a nation’s strength and hope. ‘The Reckoning’ is a monster of a track with a motivational guitar intro and the almost anthemic chorus is one of the highlights of the album.

‘Attila’ tells of the tales of the mighty Hun leader and his quest for world domination. A most ambitious topic for a rock track but still Schaffer and co. pull it off magnificently. Then there is the ‘Red Baron / Blue Max’ that goes that little bit further with pulverizing guitars and ear splitting vocals. ‘Hollow Man’ mellows things out a bit.

‘Waterloo’ and ‘Valley Forge’ have a definite Iron Maiden feel about them. The album closer ‘Gettysburg (1863)’ is 32 minute epic that is spit into three parts and is enhanced with the inclusion of the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. It’s all about the story of specific events that occurred during the 3 days of the battle of Gettysburg (from the struggle of General Buford, Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain's defence of Little Round Top, to Picketts charge) as can only be described as a masterpiece of song writing as is a worthy ending to a fantastic album.