Iced Earth is an American heavy metal band from Tampa, Florida, formed in 1985, by guitarist and main songwriter Jon Schaffer. Originally founded under the name "Purgatory", Iced Earth released their debut album in 1990. Since then, the band have released a total of ten studio albums, four EPs, three compilations, three box sets, one live album and one covers album. After releasing two studio albums in 1990 and 1991, respectively, Iced Earth took ... See more [+] a three year layoff, from 1992 to 1995, after which the band returned with new lead vocalist Matt Barlow. Iced Earth went on to release four studio albums with Barlow, between 1995 and 2001 respectively; 1995's Burnt Offerings, 1996's The Dark Saga, 1998's Something Wicked This Way Comes and 2001's Horror Show. After Horror Show, Barlow quit the band and joined the police force, while Iced Earth continued on with Tim "Ripper" Owens, of Judas Priest-fame, on vocals. With Owens, the band released two studio albums (2004's The Glorious Burden and 2007's Framing Armageddon), until late 2007, when it was announced that Matt Barlow would be rejoining the band, after five years apart. Iced Earth recorded the album The Crucible of Man with Barlow in 2008, but in 2011 it was announced that he would leaving the band once again, this time for good. Later that year, Into Eternity frontman Stu Block was announced as Iced Earth's new lead vocalist. Dystopia, Block's first album with the group, was released in October 2011, and was met with a very positive response, with some critics calling Dystopia one of Iced Earth's best albums. Since its inception, Iced Earth has had numerous line-up changes, with founder Jon Schaffer staying as the only constant member. As of 2012, there have been over twenty musicians in and out of Iced Earth since it's formation in 1985 (see: List of Iced Earth band members for more details). Currently the band is composed of rhythm guitarist Jon Schaffer, drummer Brent Smedley, lead guitarist Troy Seele, singer Stu Block and bassist Luke Appleton.
