The Dark Saga

Untitled

The Dark Saga is the fourth album by the American heavy metal band Iced Earth. It is a concept album based upon the comic book character Spawn created by Todd McFarlane, who also provided the album artwork.

Concept

The Dark Saga tells the story of a man who sells his soul to the devil in order to return to his true love on Earth, but he soon discovers that she is married to his own best friend. He is left completely alone in the world, and although he has good inside, he is influenced by dark forces. Everything that he desires is denied, even his own death.

Album info

The majority of the songs on the album feature a relatively short running time (under four minutes), with the final four tracks being of longer duration. The song structure is more simple and straightforward than on previous Iced Earth albums. Many fans note the improved vocal range of lead singer Matt Barlow, who had taken singing lessons after the release of Burnt Offerings. This is also the first Iced Earth album featuring drummer Mark Prator, and also the last album to feature bassist Dave Abell and guitarist Randall Shawver. There was also a limited edition digipak version in Europe, limited to 10,000 hand-numbered copies, that included a cover of "The Ripper" by Judas Priest as a bonus track. That track was originally recorded for the Judas Priest tribute album A Tribute to Judas Priest: Legends of Metal Vol. 2, and also later appears on the reissue of The Melancholy EP.

Track listing

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"Dark Saga"	Jon Schaffer	Schaffer	3:43
2.	"I Died for You"	Schaffer	Schaffer	3:47
3.	"Violate"	Schaffer	Schaffer	3:38
4.	"The Hunter"	Schaffer	Schaffer	3:55
5.	"The Last Laugh"	Matt Barlow	Randall Shawver, Schaffer	3:47
6.	"Depths of Hell"	Al Simmons	Shawver, Schaffer	3:02
7.	"Vengeance Is Mine"	Barlow	Shawver, Schaffer	4:22
8.	"Scarred"	Schaffer	Shawver, Schaffer	5:54
9.	"Slave to the Dark"	Schaffer	Schaffer	4:03
10.	"A Question of Heaven"	Schaffer	Schaffer	7:44

European Limited Digipak Bonus Track

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
11.	"The Ripper" (originally by Judas Priest)	Glenn Tipton	Tipton	2:41

2008 Slave to the Dark Bonus Tracks

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
11.	"Hellspawn (Mix 1)"	Schaffer	Schaffer	3:42
12.	"Hellspawn (Mix 2)"	Schaffer	Schaffer	3:43

Credits

• Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, vocals
• Matt Barlow – lead vocals
• Randall Shawver – lead guitar
• Dave Abell – bass guitar
• Mark Prator – drums

Songs

The Dark Saga

Within the first song of the album, we see elements of the comic. The first pages of the comic, and the first lyrics of the song, correlate with one another; the opening lines of the comic read "I don't belong, not here not now. The deal was written down, he made me believe, and now there's darkness in my soul... I just want to die... again." and the beginning lyrics say "The deal was rigged, there's darkness in my soul. I want to die, again." The rest of the music tells the story of the Hellspawn known in life as Al Simmons. It focuses on his rage inside for being tricked in his deal with Malebolgia and his longing for his wife (as seen in the chorus of "I Died For You": "Oh how I love you, the pain won't go away. Oh when I need you, you're always so far away").

I Died for You

This song is about Spawn about not being able to reach for his wife, even though he gets to see her, because she is married to his best friend: "What makes it hurt so bad, is that I love them both, and they will never know. For love I sold my soul."

Violate

This song focuses on the character known as "Clown" or Violator, who is the "tutor" of Spawn, and henchman of Malebolgia.

The Hunter

This song focuses on the character Angela, an angel bounty hunter who is sent from Heaven to combat with Spawn, though ends up allying with him.

The Last Laugh

This song is a monologue by Malebolgia, in which he instructs Spawn to rise and use his powers for Hell.

Vengeance is Mine

This song is about Billy Kincaid, a deceased child murderer who has been recruited in the ranks of Hell.