''The Crucible of Man: Something Wicked Part 2'' is the ninth studio album by American heavy metal band Iced Earth. Released in September 2008, it was the first Iced Earth album since 2001's '' Horror Show'' to feature singer Matt Barlow. ''The Crucible of Man'' is the second concept album based on guitarist-songwriter Jon Schaffer's Something Wicked Saga. It also the third album overall to feature the subject. Originally titled ''Revelation Abomination: Something Wicked Part 2'', the majority of ''The Crucible of Man'' had been written and recorded at the same time as the group's previous album, '' Framing Armageddon''. ''Crucible'' had been intended for an early 2008 release; however, Matt Barlow rejoined Iced Earth in late 2007, and work on the album had to be put-off due to Barlow's prior commitments to the band Pyramaze. ''The Crucible of Man: Something Wicked Part 2'' was released on September 5, 2008 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, on September 8 in rest of Europe, and on September 9 in North America. The album ended-up being the last Iced Earth studio album to feature bassist Dennis Hayes, as well as vocalist Matt Barlow, who once again left the band in August 2011.

Story

The album's story picks-up where the previous album, ''Framing Armageddon: Something Wicked Part 1'', left off. In an interview with Jon Schaffer, he detailed the story of ''Part 2'':

Track listing

Personnel

; Iced Earth * Matt Barlow – lead vocals * Jon Schaffer – guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, lead vocals (on track 5). co-producer * Brent Smedley – drums ; Additional musicians *Corinne Bach – backing vocals *Jason Blackerby – backing vocals *Debra Brant – backing vocals *Jeff Brant – backing vocals * Dennis Hayes – bass guitar (on tracks 3, 5, 6, 10 and 12) *Howard Helm – backing vocals *Kathy Helm – backing vocals *Jim Morris – backing vocals, guitar (on track 5) *Tom Morris – backing vocals *Todd Plant – backing vocals *Steve Rogowski – cello (on track 15) *Troy Seele – guitar (tracks 5, 6, 9) ; Additional personnel *Jim Morris – co-producer, engineer, mixer *Nathan Perry – cover and inner sleeve art *Felipe Machado Franco – cover and inner sleeve art, layout *David Newman-Stump – inner sleeve art

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Crucible of Man, The Iced Earth albums 2008 albums Concept albums SPV/Steamhammer albums