Jon Schaffer’s Purgatory – “Purgatory” (EP) (2018)
Century Media Records
#HeavyMetal, #PowerMetal, #ThrashMetal
For fans of: Iced Earth
Score: 9/10
If by any chance you’ve been living in Pluto for the past 30 years, then you still don’t know that Purgatory was the embryo for Iced Earth in 1988. Anyway, after the name was changed, basically ALL songs the band had were “discarded”, some were reused in later albums, others were reworked, rewritten and so on. Iced Earth’s “die hard” fans know all those “forgotten” songs through bootlegs obtained with hard work, and usually with very dubious quality. By the way, even Purgatory’s official demos are hard to find (I have all of them, just so you know, ok? laughs).
Jon Schaffer, Iced Earth’s guitarist and leader, recently got back in touch with his former band mates after almost three decades apart and decided to record this EP together. Yes, Jon reconnected to Gene Adam (Purgatory’s and Iced Earth’s original vocalist) and Bill Owen (Purgatory’s original guitarist) and together they recorded 5 tracks from that time, never used by Iced Earth, with four of them recorded for Purgatory’s official demos and one never recorded before. For the drums, Mark Prator was recruited, who had recorded one album with Iced Earth, as well as Unearthed, band formed by Gene Adam, Bill Owen, and the recently late Richard Bateman (also ex-Purgatory) – and also David Abell (man, that’s an awful lot of Purgatory and Iced Earth’s exes). For the bass guitar, Ruben Drake was recruited, having played with Demons & Wizards, one of Jon Schaffer’s projects. Now, go get something for headache because things are going to get “worse” (laughs).
“In My Dreams”, the only true “new track”, opens the EP in a frightening way, as if was taken from a horror movie in which the killer runs after you in a haunted mansion’s stairs. Profusion of heavy guitars, rifferama if you prefer, which reminds me of Iced Earth’s good old times (really?). Not that today we don’t have that, but in the past the rawness and rage were more evident, given it is like that in the beginning. Gene Adam’s voice, compared to Iced Earth’s first and self-titled album sounds completely different! It’s impressive how his voice is more vibrant, exciting, not with so much drive like before and, at the same time, much more powerful. It is impossible not to get excited here!
Following the first track we have “Dracula”, officially recorded for the “Horror Show” demo (1986), which title is the same as to one of Iced Earth’s “Horror Show” album released in 2001, but it is completely different from it. Be careful to not get confused with our review, because the chances are high (laughs). Anyway, this track is well known by the fans because of the bootlegs out there. It has a more balanced tempo, but it doesn’t stray away from the title’s intention, neither from the sound approached by the band in the early days, i.e., a powerful heavy metal tone. Gene’s voice is the highlight, going from a calm state in the beginning to a tenebrous sound throughout the track, as if Dracula himself utters in your ears in a cold and terrifying night. Not to mention the brilliant guitar solo which gives the track a great addition. Bill Owen and Jim Morris (producer and featured lead guitar) recorded beautiful solos throughout the whole EP!
“In Jason’s Mind” and “Jack” (another track that has the same title of one of Iced Earth’s songs released in 2001, and also completely different), were previously recorded in the “Psychotic Dreams” (1985) and duplicated in the following “Horror Show” demo (1986) (and you already know that it has the same title as Iced Earth’s 2001 album. Is your brain still there?). These are well-known tracks by the fans, and are true anthems to the killers/characters portrayed in them, heavy and chorus to sing along, especially “In Jason’s Mind” in which Gene utters in a scary, evil and sharp way that will send shiver down your spine! Mark Prator kills it! That is one hell of a drummer!!! In “Jack” we have Schaffer’s right hand trademark, as well as his dark vocals along with Gene’s brilliant high voice. If you liked the old songs, you’re gonna like this one even more!
Closing the EP, we have “Burning Oasis”, officially recorded in the self-titled demo in 1985 and that also has the same name as one of Iced Earth’s track from “Burnt Offerings” (1995) and has nothing to do with it. A true ode to thrashing, combining a balanced rhythm with unique strokes which are Schaffer’s trademark. One of the best songwriters and rhythm guitarists in the history of contemporary heavy metal. Grin and bear it!
Due to its excellent production, Iced Earth fans, especially of the old one, who listen to this EP will have a big déjà vu, as it takes us straight to the more raw, heavier and visceral sound of the first albums, i.e., a unique energy that only the old fans will get. Now, if you take Iced Earth’s first album or even its first demo, “Enter the Realm” (1989), and compare Gene’s voice to this EP, you’re going to be scared, because it doesn’t sound like the same guy singing! Of course in given moments the tone sounds the same, but his technique and his growth as musician and vocalist are to die for (please do not take this literally, ok?).
In addition to the bliss of seeing Jon going back to his roots, reconnecting to his former band mates and everything else, and knowing he has the intention to re-record the old albums with Iced Earth’s current line-up, we have the impression that he, besides having the rights of the band’s sales and more control over it, really wants to get back that “metal” and “thrashy” sounds of the early days to nowadays and recording them with higher quality and better gear compared to the old ones. Not that they are not good enough, but it is what it looks like to me. I hope so.
Brilliant performances and exceptional musicians that clearly had fun recording this EP worth of a great score, excellent on its own, and it just doesn’t get a 10 because that would be biased, and everything I said would go down the drain. Oh, and it should have more songs too (laughs).
A pity that David Abell (bass) and Greg Seymour (drums), both original members of Purgatory and Iced Earth, did not participate in this project. It would be very nostalgic!
I hope this project goes beyond this EP because Purgatory has around 30 unused songs. Fingers crossed. Ok, I got a little bit carried away, but who cares? Those who know me and me engagement with Iced Earth for more than two decades will understand! (laughs).
Johnny Z.
