On Beyond Fear’s debut, Iced Earth (former Judas Priest) singer Tim “Ripper” Owens finally assumes principal songwriting duties, crafting a power-metal tour de force that’s a nearly flawless homage to the new wave of British heavy metal and thrash that Owens and company cut their teeth on. It also suggests that Owens’ former associates would’ve benefited from his creative input. The album promises to translate well live, with younger metalheads discovering metal’s past while their longhaired dads relive the glory years.
This article appears in Sep 20-26, 2006.