Iced Earth - Declaration Day (Live Graspop 2008)

[@sergiomarketweb]

awesome performance, Barlow is s genius!

[@SkIzOjImBo]

Yeah he's really something. He have passion, he's a really nice singer.

[@Sodhats]

That's got to be difficult, a baritone singing a song written for a tenor in what sounds like almost entirely reinforced falsetto. He does it incredibly though.

[@BryanNWT]

this is definately my fav song with ripper. im glad to see matt singing it as well. kick ass!!!

[@ReverseVampire]

you have to admit, he nailed those really high notes during the last verse... that 'pure evil' voice coming out.

[@barbaralee55]

Iced é perfeitooooooooo!!!

[@kardia.1714]

demais!

[@mrmontana87]

i saw them in october and barlow was amazing \m/.i will miss this man's voice dearly he is such an amazing vocalist and ripper was great too.i like em both.\m/

[@fatherovterror666]

finally a decently shot video of this song live

[@rulooooooooomaiden]

forever the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@vwmaniacs]

2:57 till the end is fuckin amazing!

[@powerpromotionsjax]

WOW!!

[@slckls1]

I think he can do it, don't forget this isn't a studio recording, it's an open venue. and he had a sinus infection that day...props to him for still doing so well

[@AnubisDark]

The Glorious Denim

[@AcidRainAgain]

Mat Barlow is the voice of Iced Earth...foreva!!Hey mr.Schaffer YOU FUCKING LOST IT!!!!

[@4everPalmeirense]

Damn guys, Matthew Barlow and Tim Owens represents metal with iced earth! We must be united and dont discussing who is better or no...i've hope that IE make a concert with both singers some day!!! ...sorry my english guys

[@Manectric7]

I am SOOOOOOO obsessed with the intro!!!! :D

[@javodeoz]

@IcedEarthaholic so true man, I hear ya, i feel exactly the same.

[@myicedsoul]

I love all this Ripper vs Barlow talk. It cracks me up. Both are great singers and have their own strengths. I saw them play this at Powerfest, Barlow's first show back, and Graspop was about a month later. He's obviously not going to be as comfortable singing Ripper's songs compared to the ones he has done in the studio. Which is why when he sang Setian Massacre live he did a much better job. Sad to see him leave again though.

[@akkaBL]

HELL YEAH!!!!! \m/

[@javodeoz]

@Canonjac that's what ive said this whole time, and people thinking he lost his breath. This man is trained to sing and run around, it is exactly as Canonjac says.

[@stormrider322]

Man even with him screwing up that last high part... it was amazing.

[@phoebehoughton6698]

From someone who has the same highest chest note as Barlow, this is a really tough song to sing. It's hard to reach the note in chest voice and it's tough to sing in your mix like that for so long. I think he did fairly well considering he was sick and the precarious placement of the verse melody. It's not that he can't sing as high as Ripper but the timbre is completely different. Listen to a baritone sing a note and have a tenor sing the same note and the overtones make it sound completely different.

[@SkIzOjImBo]

Yeah, he can sing the high part in most of the song. He don't use falcetto, it's a full voice strong hitting and a different tone. I can't believe that guy exist in the metal. We are so lucky man.

[@marcelo.bassalo]

What is the note?

[@Broodkast8]

We don't know, but holy shit is what we're used to.

[@maxmolodtsov]

Declaration Day spontaneous lyrics ;) 3:19 - 3:25 0_o Always wonder what was Matt singing during the last verse instead of "We forced King George down to his knees..."? He forgot the lyrics but it was fun he didn't stop and continued with some high screams.

[@DavidKinner]

@jmeadowbrooks Completely agree, but Ripper's emotion on this song, and When the Eagle Cries is amazing.

[@RiggerMantis]

Lyrical error aside - what singer hasn't done that at least once? - Barlow absolutely OWNED this song.

[@lordmorgoth7]

yeah, barlow is better in that way, yet you know ripper intensity is something barlow cannot easy reach. im not saying one is better than other, im saying one is better for battle inspiring and another to make an epic image of dracula singing (barlow) however i rather barlow for singing imagine a duet of barlow ripper live with schaffer on stormrider vocals hell... that would be awesome

[@SkIzOjImBo]

Cant agree more. Barlow got that ghost voice like. He own Iced Earth.

[@teo_sk]

@sokinikos23 yes, I agree that Barlow uses head voice for this, but Ripper's falsetto is disputable.. If it's really a falsetto, it's really strong :)

[@cubby3o5]

@tenakakhan1985 It's like the lead singer of Dethklok said when they were wondering if they had any songs about comets "Who the hell cares. No one can understand a fucking word I'm saying anyway."

[@thewarriorfan84]

@Canonjac I thought he sang the first verse twice.

[@RaveEpic]

It's not so much that they can't deliver, it's because Matt is getting older, I think. Matt could deliver that back in the 90's. Alive in Athens was really awesome.

[@mikeShagrath]

@AcidRainAgain you must consider that he was singing for so much time difficult songs , in my point of view i think he was a little tired and out of breathe.............. By the way Matt Barlow is really amazing

[@slckls1]

@WarriorOfSteel haha I've stuck to my opinion. I stopped following Iced Earth after I heard The Glorious Burden, found out Barlow was back a year ago and have never been happier.

[@AcidRainAgain]

2:01....his breaths are not the same anymore..

[@Fishercardinal]

If I could have a singer's voice, it would either be that of Barlow or Roy Khan. Best singers in metal.

[@murderface15g13]

With all due respect to Ripper. I would still like to hear a rerecording The Glorious Burden with Barlow.

[@MireWolf29]

@jmeadowbrooks I agree with you completely! Matt will always be the best IE singer. Although I'm really interested to hear Stu Block.

[@ZeliZeleny]

Those hights :O:O:O:O:O

[@purulence666]

he has feelings..

[@JDarkley]

Sucks that Barlow was sick, but he still gave it his all. Great voice, even when the song was written for someone much higher than him.

[@jmeadowbrooks]

@reaper1414 The whole point of Iced Earth is the deep emotional voice for most of the song then those awesome screams for emphasis of anguish or pain. Ripper can't do that, Barlow is the master at that

[@malaketh]

@Fishercardinal indeed both vocalists have the lungs of God!

[@newsted88]

LONG LIVE TIM OWENS!

[@jmeadowbrooks]

Can people please stop comparing these 2 vocalist, they have completely different styles of singing. Maybe Matt can't sing this song, or other songs that ripper did, but surely we have to give him respect that he plays a song the fans like despite that inability. The fact of the matter is Matt Barlow is best singer I know in metal music and when ripper sings barlow's stuff, he has to change the way it's sung, just like barlow tries to with this song

[@MetaloholicAvi666]

Amazing effort from Barlow, doing vocals on a Ripper song. Both are amazing vocalists but for me Matt Barlow rulz any day. Look at his stage presence with long hair or short, look at the emotion behind his vocals, i strongly feel that playing on stage specially for a lead vocalist is not simply to stand in one corner and sing well but also to compliment the band and also involve the crowd.

[@metaldave08096]

Ripper and Barlow are both awesome singers. If you don't agree with me then piss off!!!

[@greysymphonyearth]

He choked the end bad. Sounded good though. Ripper owns this song. Not even close. And I love Barlow.

[@robinBjordison]

wow 6 octaves! thats unreal! even an 8-string guitar hast "just" almost 5! one question: do you know, how many octaves Eric Adams (Manowar) got or Dani Filth (Cradle of Filth)? that would be nice to know to have a comparison and these to guys can sing also very high and pretty low!

[@Buiserd]

I was kinda afraid his head would explode from frowning that hard :P So we make a stand and pray for this declarati-SPLAT-....

[@ragw33d]

barlow done well considering this tour he was sick pritty much thru whole thing. He is probably one of the best singers in metal today even bruce dickensons voice is going over past few years he's had to change style but matt still strong as ever

[@chrisbideris2598]

MATT FUCKING BARLOW!!!!

[@erikdrummingod96]

Sounds a lot better with matt singing. Sounds natural.

[@DavidKinner]

@Guyverhoeven The funny thing though is that Barlow does reach the high notes, they just don't always sound as good as natural, but Ripper can't even attempt to go as deep as Barlow. Barlow in my opinion always was and always will be better than Ripper. He was going high way before Ripper. He covered Maiden songs perfectly. I agree with you people really needa stop bitching about Barlow. He was going high for a while he's already in his 40's.

[@javodeoz]

WHAT HAPPENED AT 1:32 ? I think he forgot the lyrics, XD lol

[@sokinikos23]

This is hard for Barlow just because it is made for Ripper's voice.BARLOW HITS HIGHER NOTES THAN RIPPER.Just check from 3:00 to 3:25.Ripper uses more the "falsetto"(which is easier to do this song),Barlow prefers full voice.They are both great.I prefer Barlow.

[@Slayerplsko]

I wish I saw him live too. Anyway, Declaration Day was written when he was still in the band, so he should be able to pull it off.

[@thewarriorfan84]

He definitely got his lyrics mixed up. Mixed up the some of the 2nd verse with the 1st verse.

[@slckls1]

@kranen1 disagree completely, I think Barlow takes a way better stab at Ripper songs than vice versa, also don't forget he was sick this day. Can't wait to see Stu Block do both their songs haha as well as Dystopia stuff of course

[@slckls1]

@WarriorOfSteel I personally stopped listening to IE when they took in the ripper. I bought the Reckoning EP and was severely disappointed. I'm ecstatic that Barlow is back. Got to see them live this year, been waiting for that since highschool. sorry guys to me he just fits the band way too well to be replaced.

[@jmorgantv]

I'd like to hear a version of this song that is down-keyed to Barlow's strengths rather than forcing him to sing above his natural vocal range. He did admirably here, but when you let Barlow be himself, he sores!

[@MireWolf29]

@Vactre1 And that, my friend, is why Matt is a god!

[@DesertRainReads]

He did do a damn good job with the high notes, I will give him that, however, this song was written with Owens in mind, and me? I love Owens, and I felt he was perfect for Iced Earth when Barlow left. When Barlow returned, my feelings were mixed. Crucible of Man is a fine album though, but Barlow should definitely stick more to the material he and Shaffer wrote when he was originally vocalist with them in the first place, and leave the stuff with Owens alone.

[@BlackDizzy]

I don't understand how anyone with ears&a sense of music can actually think Ripper is better then Barlow. Yes, Ripper is awesome, he kicks ass, he's a great frontman, he's funny, he's cool and he hits powerful high notes with tremendous ease. but at the same time he's unidimensional, knows only how to scream and sing high, but can't be soft, emotional or tell a story with his voice. Matt can turn you inside out and has an incredible range (Ripper can't sing what Barlow can, but viceversa yes).

[@kevgk]

@McGuyverhoeven...thanks for the music lesson. I feel SO enriched by what you have added to my day. My point is this: Iced Earth was great with a guy who can sing. That would be Ripper. Hearing Barlow choking on the notes of the stuff that Ripper sang is top notch hilarity. He should NEVER even bother. Stick to what he has. Which, frankly, ain't much, in my opinion.

[@Spectre500]

I actually thought Barlow did better on the falsetto verse after the solo than he did on the first two, in which he seemed to be struggling. While I think this isn't a bad rendition of the song, it definately suffers from the change in vocalist, just like Burning Times did with Ripper.

[@Mjolnir1000]

I just realize he failed the first part of the song XD he repeated the part of "We'll charge into the fire" lol

[@isuckNewbton]

so fucking awsome, but matt, wrong lyrics at the end of that high part :D

[@Vazcular]

@ImTheKobold Live on a CPU sounds nowhere near as great as live in real-life. Not even comparable. I've seen IE with Barlow and Owens. Both were outstanding. Jon didn't mis one note!

[@AcidRainAgain]

mat's high notes are fake..aren't they?i mean at 3:00-3:25

[@malaketh]

its not the rippers music its iced earths music! it belongs to the band not the singer

[@Ragnaros12345]

I think he should sing the songs the same way he sings songs like Melancholy. His voice is so smooth. He shouldn't try to imitate Ripper.

[@robinBjordison]

6 octaves?? no way! singers like Myles Kennedy (Alter Bridge, Slash) and Mariah Carey (not the best example, but also one) have kinda like 4 1/2 octaves or 5 of range.... I don't think the Ripper has a vocal range of 6 octaves! but if it is so, there is nobody who can beat that!

[@javodeoz]

@4everPalmeirense we're not arguing who's better than whom. My opinion is just like the DIO vs OZZY thing in Sabbath. The songs written for Owens are not so good delivered by BArlow, and vice versa. Obviously, Barlow has an incredible vocal range, but thats other story,,.,

[@isaacX13]

@WarriorOfSteel right on who cares about ripper now its all about Barlow now.

[@ThunderCough]

@reaper1414 disagree, ripper cant hit low like barlow, barlow will always beat ripper due to the range advantage and emotion on stage

[@RaveEpic]

God damn I love Matt Barlow and Crucible of Man was fucking amazing, but Ripper's shit is just too high for him sometimes. Ripper is raw and high, Matt is more mellow and emotional, but gives that power when needed. They both rock and it's too bad the band can't have both.

[@worshippriest]

Ripper suits it better, sings it better but I prefer Matts version :D

[@spanos21]

Warrel dane has 5-6 octaves vocal range...Fucking opera lessons...xD

[@PennyDreadful1]

@kranen1 What? No! Ripper is a great screamer. Matt Barlow is the man with the voice. When Ripper sang softly he sitll sounded like a cocky screamer to me. That said Ripper CAN sing.

[@Hrimhjarta]

wow...Ripper to...this?? -sigh-

[@tenakakhan1985]

Barlow did alright with the song, but he messed up on the second verse.

[@jp0005jp]

The Long Hair looked good on Barlow, but the short hair doesnt look bad either, after having it long for so many years he needed a change i guess

[@Rotceev]

must have been hard concert... bad day maybe... he sounds like he was very exhausted. I mean the vox of course. (sry for english)

[@msadaldin]

Unlike many people I actually like Ripper but facts are facts when it comes to range, power and emotions Matt is a far better vocalist

[@dryrotdriftwood]

Warrel Dane is in a class of his own. As much as I love Ripper, Barlow, heck even Geoff Tate... none can compare to Warrel Dane. Not even talking about his range either. He's got such an incredible dynamic to his voice, and can convey every emotion across the board flawlessly. Everyone else just seems like a gimmick when pitted against Dane. No singer sends chills down my spine like he does.

[@mysticalOldBard]

uh oh barlow made a mistake but played it off pretty good lol

[@kronos911]

Matt seems to be struggling with this song.

[@brucesymphonyx666]

barlow wins = flawless victory

[@myrkvarg]

Whatever fucking people say, Ripper is a better frontman, vocalist and a singer than Barlow. Barlow is a god anyways, and almost as good!

[@GravenBG]

Damn it, Matt is a very good singer, but I don't like how he sings this song at all. From the three main singers I like Stu the most. I have checked a lot of concerts with Stu (even with a camera from the audience) and he is an amazing live performer.

[@goodygoody23]

IT'S NOT RIPPER VS. BARLOW. YOU PEOPLE SOUND LIKE JUDAS PRIEST FANS. THEY ARE BOTH EXCELLENT SINGERS BUT STU BLOCK IS THE SINGER NOW. GET OVER YOURSELVES, YOU ACT LIKE ONE IS GREAT AND ONE SUCKS, THEY'RE BOTH INCREDIBLE SINGERS.

[@kranen1]

@TheOffspringRule1 Indeed. Ripper is a way better singer in general.

[@lucasofwar]

you are so wrong,alive in athens IS the best metal release ever,hehehehehehe

[@reaper1414]

I prefer Ripper to be honest higher stronger more exact voice.... better for Iced earth

[@Slayerplsko]

Matt would do with some vocal lessons. Really. He's one of the best vocalists in metal, but this shot proves he's already losing it. It's like with a car. You have to do some polish now and then to keep it in good condition.

[@andbene80]

Matt should not sing any of Riper's music. He is a great singer and he is just giving opportunity for people to put him down. Those musics where just written to him well...setian massacer was nice on his voice, but this one, ten thounds strongs, gettsburg sucked so hard on his voice (at least i did not hear him singing Waterloo). Maybe he should put a new style on these songs and stop trying to get to the high notes of Riper, something like Bruce Dickinson did with Paul Dianno's musics.

[@AssPimple69]

excuses

[@antonis.kotsinas]

Iced Earth of the 90s=Top... Barlow Still Kicks Ass,Schaffer too but current lead guitarist is crap...he messes up all the songs...Drummer goes a bit faster too sometimes...

[@kevgk]

I don't want to stir the pot, but with all the Barlow fans jumping my shit for thinking he pretty well sucks, he just makes the stuff Ripper did sound cookie-cutter generic. He can't hit the notes and its just sad. Sing the stuff you did. Don't mess with the stuff Ripper did. It doesn't work. I just don't think Iced Earth works without Ripper. Tried it. Wanted to like it. Don't.

[@azaziltr35]

barlow cant sing Ripper's song dont enough volume and octave

[@maxmolodtsov]

@MrAnatol21 Когда человек показывает своё моральное убожество и абсолютно не разбирается в музыке - то остаёться только загнобить его.

[@kranen1]

@ThunderCough No way. Ripper has alot more power and a better voice. Just listen to this xD Sounds shit. Barlow may be better in the low "talking range", but in the mid- and high Ripper is better. Barlow can't sing Ripper's songs well in a technical perspective. Ripper can sing Barlow's songs, but Barlow sings them with more feeling, obviously. Ripper is the overall better singer.