destined prophecy

He didn't think yesterday of the end of his life
The brainwashed fools born again of a thousand lies

Hate filled screams break the silence
Terrifying dreams filling up your head
Blasphemy thrusting out, in the masses it reigns
The mask of hypocrisy is slowly unveiled

Fear the angels holocaust, they're screaming
Dreams of pain forever entering your head
Death and hatred loathing, on mankind it feeds
Earth is dead and gone now, we've brought it to an end

For the last time I've been betrayed
Never again will I subject myself to this hypocrisy
Something is drawing me to the other side
Only time will tell my true destiny


2. Stormrider

[Music: Schaffer, Shawver / Lyrics: Schaffer]

As I travel through the astral plains
I see the break ahead
As though the sky has burst in flames
Before the storm I dread
Lightning breaks across the sky
Blackish blue at night
Riders ride on dismal clouds
I scream at heavens light

Storming demons travel through the night
The time is almost here
I lay in a jacket of steel
My scream no one hears

I can feel the storm approaching
The pain is its' reality
The death I breathe is in the air
I feel no more, no longer care

The trumpets sound as I break free
This vision I see just can't be me
What is this that I have done
Why am I the chosen one

Fight on, grab on
Stormrider
Stormrider

Now the rider rides through the night
The time is almost here
As I lay wrapped in steel
My scream no one hears

Help me, through this hell inside
My life's my own, it's my pride
Carry on my solid dream
Save me from this horrid scream

Fight on, grab on
Stormrider
Stormrider


3. The Path I Choose

[Music: Schaffer, Shawver / Lyrics: Schaffer]

During the last rays of the sacred moon
I walk the desolate terrain cold and all alone
The rider came to me a black tornado, a violent mass
The cloud of evil rose, now I'm marked for all time

Temptation befell me
Darkness is calling for me
This is the path that I choose
This is the path that I choose

Forced power besieged in me
Showing visions of what will be
Now obsessed with my fate
I must go forth and conquer

The chosen one to lead the pack
This boiling hate has risen
From the depths of my blackened heart
This madness is my destiny

Temptation befell me
Darkness is calling for me
This is the path that I choose
This is the path that I choose


4. Before The Vision

[Music: Abell, Shawver / Lyrics: Schaffer]

[Spoken:]
Oh, God, am I going crazy
What is happening to me, I need some answers
I've been chosen by the darkest force in nature
But why, why me?

Call of the spirits:
Go now, into the plains
Seek out, the answers you'll find
Visions will be shown to you
At night by the lit desert moon

Be strong, ride forth in pride
Our destiny, lies in your hands
Visions will be shown to you
You're truly his chosen one


5. Mystical End

[Music: Schaffer / Lyrics: Schaffe]

On the plains of the desert
A murmured cry was heard
From the echoes of a wind song
Singing of a word

The word of the land begotten
Is very seldom taught
To natives of the desert
Which tribes of old have sought

Way up in the sky the sun is burning bright
All the natives screaming, screaming to be free
The teachings of a wasted life and a darker death
The burning sun is turning black falling from the sky

[Bridge]

As the moon fades away
And the sun turns black
The darkest fall from the sky
Prepared for their attack
In the dawning hour
The doom and destruction begins
Inside the natives minds
It seems it never ends
At once the sun turns back
And the battle stops
Everyone's in grave danger
Except for those of the dead
For the one who shall deceive us
Is the one...

On the day of the night things were always well
But on the night of the light all night things fell
Thrown into the pit you hear the natives scream
The legend lives on in the Sun God's eye


6. Desert Rain

[Music: Schaffer, Abell / Lyrics: Schaffer]

The sympathy in my mind is growing cold
Life is like the burning sand so I'm told
The time is coming near when solitude appears
Take the chains of oppression away

Through the sands of time I'm marching on
The blistering rays of hate strengthen me
The violent mass has shown my destiny
Does all of this justify the rage inside

[Chorus:]
The desert rain is changing me
It's called on me to rise

A world of hate and malice
Yes, that's the way it seems
The hour glass is running out
The serpent rides with me

We shall rise and conquer
Crushing all that's weak
All that's light is burning out
The serpent rides with me

[Repeat chorus]


7. Pure Evil

[Music: Schaffer, Shawver / Lyrics: Schaffer]

Cannons pound into the night
Angels soar into the sky
The battle rages on
Deliverance unholy one

The seeds of hate fly tonight
Good and evil light the sky
Another vision from inside
I know it's wrong I can't deny

For seven years I have reigned
In this damned and desolate hell
Now I've lived the masters vengeance
It saved me from myself

We paint the sky with blood tonight
Setting free the damned to fight
The whore of Babylon is here
The end of the storm is near

[Chorus:]
Pure evil
Feel the pain from the jackals wrath
Pure evil
Dance in flames for the final quest

Hear the ghost of violence
Fear the God of detriment

The land on earth is soaked with blood
Hear the screams of the helpless ones
Axes yield and daggers fly
Ripping through all flesh in sight

We paint the sky with blood tonight
Setting free the damned to fight
The whore of Babylon is here
The end of the storm is near

[Repeat chorus]


8. Reaching The End

[Music: Schaffer / Lyrics: Schaffer]

Now I feel that I've reached the end
And the end of my quest is close at hand
What have I done
I've reached the end
And as my life slowly fades away
There's not one single thing that I'd change
What have I done
I've reached the end


9. Travel In Stygian

[Music: Schaffer / Lyrics: Schaffer]

Through the flames I watch
As you plead on your knees
The reaper awaits

The ride that you take
Through the lake, lake of flames
Will decide your fate

Was all of it worth eternal pain
The path you chose to live in vain
The river Styx is calling your number
The hot winds of Hell breathe your name

[Bridge]

On the night that it came to me
It was like nothing I'd ever seen
A vision darker than death itself
A violent cloud straight from the depths of hell
And that's when I saw my destiny
As it approached I was frozen still
I couldn't move, couldn't scream for help
Out of the darkness it reached for me
And that's when it planted the evil seed
And that's when I saw my destiny

[Chorus]

Travel in Stygian
The damned scream my name
Travel in Stygian
I can't repent it's too late
Travel in Stygian
Hot winds blow upon me
Travel in Stygian
No remorse it's too late

[Bridge]

The henchman awaits you
Yes that's right, step aboard
We have a very long journey
You owe us
You got what you wanted
In your mortal life
Now your soul is in our grasp
It's time

Riding on the hot winds of hell
Traveling down in the ship of pain
I chose this fate no turning back
The river Styx has called for me.



Iced Earth's second effort is a concept album with a mystical,
horrific story line. It traces the path of a man who is betrayed by
religion and turns away from it in anger. The dark forces of nature
reach out to this enraged man and use him as their vessel to bring
death and destruction to Earth. Through it all, he feels no remorse
for his deeds, and upon reaching the end, numbly accepts his fate
of eternity in Hell. Musically, the band picked up a new singer
and drummer for this album. The singing is a definite improvement
from the debut, ranging from a poweful growl to a Halford-like scream.
Such skill is necessary to portray the wide range of feeling on this
album. There's quite a bit of background keys on this disc, some
choral moaning, and a memorable piano outro, which all add to the
dark mood. There are also several excellent acoustic passages seamlessly
interwoven with the driving guitar riffs. The music meshes perfectly with
the story, magnifying the hatred, manic joy, confusion, and sadness
present in the lyrics. After listening to this musical masterpiece,
one cannot help but to feel some of the sadness and guilt that the
Stormrider was unable to feel for himself.