Iced Earth

With the band's massive metal opus, Framing Armageddon: Something Wicked Part I hitting record stores on September 11th in the US, Iced Earth guitarist Jon Schaffer is primed to rock the metal masses. Certainly, Iced Earth will as it takes the stage for Germany's Wacken Open Air festival on August 3rd. Wacken officials announced tickets for the event were sold out on July 7th.

Schaffer proclaims, "This is a big festival. Wacken has turned into one of the biggest, if not the biggest European heavy metal festivals."

The long-running metal group, fronted by former Judas Priest singer Tim "Ripper" Owens, has carved out time to rehearse for the concert in Germany. "We'll be rehearsing tomorrow and Thursday to get ready." says the axe-slinger. "We're getting ready for this concert. Wacken is very important to us."

Following Wacken, Iced Earth will be putting finishing touches on the second part of the two-disc "Framing Armageddon" series, with Schaffer saying the second disc could see the light of day as early as February 2008.

In November, Iced Earth takes on a UK Tour supporting Heaven and Hell.