Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

It is way too early into the start of a New Year to even suggest that whilst 2013, with a couple of notable exceptions, was a pretty poor affair for any band on either side of the Atlantic Ocean that finds itself placed into the all-encompassing Metal genre, 2014 already has the feeling of being a million times better. The notable success stories came from the lands of Scandinavia and mainland Europe, these bands took on the old guard and walloped them to all corners of the stage as easily as a one-armed Australian batsman taking apart a 100 English bowlers. Now perhaps the time has come for the retaliation and in that colossus of Iced Earth and their new album Plagues of Babylon, Metal lovers can once more see the real face of American Metal.