The Story Behind the Apocalypse

What happens when a man loses his faith and decides the entire world should pay for it? Things get pretty ugly in Iced Earth’s “Night of the Stormrider”.

Released on November 11, 1991, it was the band’s second album and their first concept record. Jon Schaffer wrote the story and it’s not a happy story exactly. A betrayed man turns to dark forces and becomes the Stormrider, bringing destruction to mankind. But there’s a nasty surprise at the end for him.

The album is also a milestone in Iced Earth’s history. John Greely and Rick Secchiari are on this album, neither of whom would play on another Iced Earth studio album. And if you listen carefully, there’s another surprise. Schaffer himself takes over lead vocals on the title track.

Let’s get into it.

1. A Man Who Becomes the Stormrider

The story follows an unnamed man whose faith is destroyed after he feels betrayed by religion. Angry and lost, he turns away from everything he once believed in.

That’s when the dark forces of nature reach out to him.

They use his anger and turn him into their weapon, giving him a new purpose: become the Stormrider and bring death and destruction to humanity.

In “Desert Rain”, he is sent into a wasteland where visions reveal a terrible version of the truth about mankind. Instead of helping him understand the world, these visions push him further into darkness.

He eventually unleashes the apocalypse in “Pure Evil”. But destroying the world doesn’t bring him freedom or victory.

In “Travel in Stygian”, he is cast into Hell and condemned to the River Styx. Only then does he understand what he has done. He sees the horror of his actions, but it’s too late to repent.

It’s a pretty grim ending. The man who wanted revenge ends up becoming a prisoner of the very forces he trusted.

2. The Only Album With John Greely and Rick Secchiari

The biggest curiosities about “Night of the Stormrider” is its lineup.

John Greely handled the lead vocals and Rick Secchiari played drums. This was the only Iced Earth studio album to feature either musician.

Greely’s aggressive, high register voice gives the record a different character. His delivery works especially well with the album darker story and fast, heavy music.

The lineup didn’t last, though. Greely was later fired from the band making this a one time chapter in Iced Earth history.

The musicians on the album were:

John Greely – vocals

Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, backing vocals and lead vocals on “Stormrider”

Randall Shawver – lead guitar

Dave Abell – bass

Rick Secchiari – drums

It’s an interesting lineup to look back on, especially because this combination of musicians never returned for another Iced Earth album.

3. Jon Schaffer Takes the Lead on “Stormrider”

Most of the vocals on the album are sung by John Greely, though Jon Schaffer leads one song.

The song is “Stormrider” the title track of the album.

Schaffer is best known for his rhythm guitar playing and the fast riffs that became such a big part of the sound of Iced Earth. This track is even more impressive when you hear him on lead vocals!

The song is full with the band trademark galloping riffs and thrash metal energy. It fits the story perfectly too, as the main character is fully embracing his new role as the Stormrider.

This is a rare early opportunity to hear Schaffer up front, rather than behind the guitar.

4. The Small Tracks That Connect the Story

“Night of the Stormrider” is more than just a collection of long songs. Some shorter songs help to transition the story from one part to the next.

The two short interludes, “Before the Vision” and “Reaching the End” are based on acoustic and keyboard parts. They give the album some breathing space between the heavier sections.

There’s also an interesting recording detail about “Before the Vision”. Greely’s vocals were edited and altered in several sections during mixing in the original 1991 release. Despite those changes his performance helps give voice to the sinister entity behind the transformation into Stormrider.

Other sides of the band are revealed on other tracks. “The Path I Choose” features Randall Shawver dual lead guitar work and fast tempo changes, while “Mystical End” and “Desert Rain” bring in slower and more atmospheric passages and prominent bass lines from Dave Abell.

Then there’s “Pure Evil” a riff heavy attack that represents the destruction at the heart of the story.

Album closes with “Travel in Stygian” a nine minute epic that shifts between thrash aggression, quieter clean shift and tragic melodic ending. It’s a fitting way to finish a story that starts with anger and ends in eternal damnation.

5. Iced Earth Didn’t Follow the Musical Trends of 1991

When “Night of the Stormrider” arrived the music scene was changing. Grunge and alternative rock were blowing up and old metal was on a very different musical level.

But Iced Earth didn’t change direction to follow the trend.

Instead, the band made a complex concept album. With aggressive riffs, fast sections, acoustic guitars and atmospheric keyboards.

That combination lends the record more depth than a straight run of fast metal songs. The quieter moments build the story, the heavier tracks bring the anger and destruction.

The album was recorded and mixed at Morrisound Studios in Tampa, Florida with co-production by Jon Schaffer and Tom Morris.

6. The 35th Anniversary Brings the Album Back Into Focus

Thirty five years after its original release, “Night of the Stormrider” is getting another look with a 35th-anniversary remix and remaster.

The new edition was produced by metal producer Zeuss and gives fans a new way of hearing this early Iced Earth record.

The anniversary release also includes ultra limited vinyl editions, with special red black ripple and silver black ice variants restricted to just 100 copies each.

For longtime fans, it’s a chance to revisit an album that helped shape the band’s early identity. If you’re new to Iced Earth, there is even more reason to give this dark concept record a proper listen.

Why “Night of the Stormrider” Still Deserves a Deep Dive

“Night of the Stormrider” has everything that makes a good metal concept album interesting. Dark story, fast riffs, memorable guitar work and a final chapter that leaves its main character with nothing but regret.

This one time lineup makes it even more special. John Greely and Rick Secchiari never appeared on another Iced Earth studio album, while Jon Schaffer’s lead vocals on “Stormrider” give the title track an extra bit of history.

However, the story is what keeps everything cohesive. After being deceived by his religion, a man turns into a destructive weapon and learns that the evil powers never meant to free him.

Now it’s your turn metalheads: Is “Night of the Stormrider” your favorite early Iced Earth album? And what do you think of John Greely vocals compared to the singers who came after him?