Rockezine.com interview with Iced Earth on Jun 01, 2001

with Matthew on Jun 01, 2001

The long-awaited new Iced Earth album is finally there. It features eleven tracks, including a cover version of Iron Maiden`s "Transylvania". The music echoes the lyrical themes (notorious monsters in literature, film or legends). It has elements that are dark, epic and haunting, as well as those that are fast and furious. Time for R-E-Z to ask singer Mathew Barlow some questions about the latest news concerning Iced Earth!
		Hi Matthew. How are you feeling and where are you now? Well, I`m in Dortmund right now and feeling mighty good. Thanks. Jon has done some two weeks of interviews and so now it`s my turn. I try and answer every question with the same professional attitude. You guys deserve decent answers. Luckily, the reactions from the press have been very good so far and we`re glad to hear that. We`re the album of the month in at least one European magazine, the Metal Hammer in Germany.
		I know you`re touring Europe in September this year. What are the plans for The States? It`s planned to tour The States in August and it will be a headlining tour. We`ll do this headlining thing also in Europe. This means we`ll play shows from 2,5 to 3 hours! There will be a lot of set changes and stuff to really give the fans what they deserve.
		Matthew, what are the further plans for this year? Will Iced Earth be shooting a video? Some people think a video doesn`t cost that much, but it does. So, we won`t be shooting one of those. If we do, we`d have to pay for it ourselves and this is not a good idea. We`ll just concentrate on this new album and really tour a lot. We`ll do as much shows as possible and want to deliver 200% quality.
		Can you tell me a bit more about the lyrics? What`s "Ghost Of Freedom" about for instance? Yes, drawing from legend, literature, film, and perhaps even real life, individual songs of "Horror Show" tell the stories of nightmarish creatures like Dracula, Frankenstein and the Mummy, all seen through the darkened vision of Iced Earth. Also featured are the Wolfman, the Phantom of the Opera, Jekyll and Hyde, Jack the Ripper, Damien (The Omen) and the Creature from the Black Lagoon.
		Die-hard fans of Iced Earth may be aware of our longtime fascination with the subject of horror; in the early days of the band, such themes were tightly tied in with both the music and the presentation. But, it`s all fantasy, don`t worry, haha. "Ghost Of Freedom" is kind of a patriotic song. We`re proud to be Americans and so this song is about our pride.
		What`s your writing and recording procedure? Well, Jon writes almost all the stuff and pre-produces it. So, we`re very well prepared entering the studio. He just locks himself up. It`s a musical workaholic. Jon also came up with the characters on this new album, although I wrote the lyrics from five songs. With every album, I write some more.
		What`s your relationship with label Century Media like? Well Johan, it`s not that good. This is our last album we did with them and were happy about this. I won`t tell you any details, but it`s better for us to move on to another partner. We need more support for the albums and tours we want to do in the future. At this moment, CM gives us some tour support, but it`s not enough. So, we partly pay for this tour ourselves.
		Are you also playing countries like Japan or Brasil later on this year? I think the metal fans overthere will love the I.E. music. We first want to create a solid base in The States and Europe. After this, we`ll try and get this stable situation also in other countries. Japan and Brasil will be cool to conquer, that`s for sure. After we`ll have the solid base there, we`ll also tour these countries. But, I think we need some people overthere who are into the local scene and believe in what we as Iced Earth do. This is called the music business, a necessary evil.
		How is the health situation from Jon at this moment? He had some real troubles with his neck last year? Yeah, it`s still a bit risky. He will be limited as far as headbanging on stage is concerned. It`s just too dangerous for him to do that.
		Matthew, please tell me something about your voice and the way you use it. Do you practice every day? I`m just not able to practice my voice every day. It would be great though. I still work in a restaurant together with my wife and so I have little time to really concentrate on my vocals. We`re just too busy, haha. I had some professional training two years ago. For six months, I learned about being creative within your own limitations and stuff like that. It was a classical training. I personally try to achieve the same level as Halford, Tate or Dickinson.
		What`s the story on Jon`s Demons and Wizards project? And, have you ever felt the urge to do some solo thing yourself? I think Jon will problably do another D&W thing after this tour is over. I have been asked to do certain solo things in the past, but it was never a good time for it. It has to be beneficial to Iced Earth, that`s for sure. Otherwise I won`t do it.
		I took a look at your website and noticed that the forum was closed. Is there a special reason for this? Yes, there is. Some people kept on talking insulting shit about other good bands, not just Iced Earth and also took cheap shots at former members of the band. It`s not fair. We love to communicate with our fans through the website, but it`s not cool to insult each and everyone around the band.
		Matthew, my last two questions for you. Is it difficult to work a normal job in a restaurant, returning from a very succesful tour like you did last year? And, any last comment? No, it`s not that hard. You have to remain calm and be yourself at all times. But, being on tour gives you this enormous adrenaline rush and this sometimes makes it hard being home again. When you`re on stage, you`re not yourself. It`s me, but then in a "larger than life" environment. Any last comment? Well, thanks a lot Johan for your interest in Iced Earth and we`ll give you guys a great show in Tilburg on the 7th of September!
		(Johan Godschalk)