After The Dark Saga, which was something of a disappointment to me overall, I had my doubts about other earlier Iced Earth material, including "Burnt Offerings". I needn't have worried, as this is an album of wide range, and full in tune with the best of Iced Earth. In this offering, Iced Earth simply exude raw aggression and darkness and they do what they do very well.

Matthew Barlow's vocals are right on target, and the music itself lends complexity and anger to the overall feel. Jon Schaffer is right on form and at his best throughout the album's tracks. The range is also wide, going from very soft, almost quiet tracks, to high level raging metal of epic and pounding proportions. The range is also true within the songs themselves, a single song making use of a range of musical and vocal styles. The result is a sequenced journey through each song and through the album overall.

I have to mention the culmination of the album in the massive "Dante's Inferno", a roughly 16 minute metal fest that again uses a range of music and vocals to take the listener through the nine circles of Hell. The song is excellently crafted and executed, making the album worth buying for this song alone. However, the other songs are all up to the same standard.

Along with other CD's, like Horror Show, "Burnt Offerings" is a mature and deafening assault on the senses. It is a well-written example of the genre of old school metal. Well worth it to new fans and older fans alike.

this is a must have metal album. totally unique and awesome band, i just feel compelled to tell the world about these guys. matt barlowe has an awesome voice, and jon shaffer is an awesome musician. to describe their sound they sound like if iron maiden and old metallica joined forces. they are heavy and fast like metallica and melodic and epic like iron maiden. dante's inferno is the pinicle track on the album, an awesome 16 minute epic. I beseech each and every metal fan out there, if you have not heard this band before you need to start listening to them now. start out with this album, then go for night of the stormrider or dark saga.

First I'm going to say this is what Metal is supposed sound like! DARK, Heavy, Ripping... Take Judas Priest add some Iron Maiden and the Aggression of Slayer/Metallica ( Master of Puppets ), and you have Iced Earth! This band is one of the best things that happened to Metal! This cd is awesome, everysong Kills! but the Epic Matserpiece "DANTES INFERNO"
is why I bought this cd, my God what a ride...All i can say if you LOVE Metal like me you "HAVE" to buy this cd. 5 Stars Plus!!

Pretty good album, here. They did well with Barlow. You can tell, from a lot of IE's music throughout their entire catalog, that they're big thrash fans. It goes without saying. Dante's Inferno is undoubtedly the highlight here. Now, having read the book, this song obviously doesn't compare with one of the the classic stories of history. That said, this song is awesome. It fits together well, the music fits with the story, and it just flat out rocks. Beyond this song, the rest of the album is very good. The majority of the other songs are good without being standouts. Last December is the best of the middle tracks. The title track is awesome, 2nd to the ending track. Good intro, great throughout. The only real problem with the album, at least in the thrashy parts, is the huge Bay Area tribute. Most of the songs in the middle could be lifted from assorted Bay Area albums, excepting Barlow's vocals. Listen to the title track: one of the riffs was lifted straight from the song Master of Puppets (2:59). Besides the worship of other bands causing a drop in originality, the rest of the album is great. Check it out if you like thrash or power, although this is more on the thrashy side.

there are two versions to this album and i ordered the version that was displayed and i was sent the wrong one!