Something Wicked This Way Comes

Something Wicked This Way Comes is the fifth studio album by American heavy metal band Iced Earth. Released on July 7, 1998, it was the band's first album to feature bassist James MacDonough and guitarist Larry Tarnowski. Something Wicked This Way Comes is also the only Iced Earth album not to be co-produced by rhythm guitarist Jon Schaffer, but instead, Jim Morris, who has worked on all of the band's albums from The Dark Saga onward, is the sole producer. Something Wicked This Way Comes has been called significantly heavier than its predecessor The Dark Saga. Recorded in March 1998, Something Wicked This Way Comes is also notable for being the album that introduced Jon Schaffer's Something Wicked Saga, which would expanded upon on later Iced Earth albums. The album also includes the song "Watching Over Me", which was written as a tribute to Schaffer's deceased childhood friend, who inspired the name "Iced Earth". Despite receiving mixed reviews, Something Wicked This Way Comes did chart in Germany and Austria. During the album's supporting tour, the band recorded their first-ever live album, entitled Alive in Athens.