Dante's Inferno (song)
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| "Dante's Inferno" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Iced Earth | |
| from the album Burnt Offerings | |
| Released | April 14, 1995[1] |
| Recorded | 1994 |
| Studio | Morrisound Recording, Tampa, Florida |
| Genre | |
| Length | 16:26 |
| Label | Century Media |
| Songwriter(s) | Jon Schaffer |
| Producer(s) |
|
"Dante's Inferno" is a song by the American heavy metal band Iced Earth. The song was originally released on the group's 1995 album Burnt Offerings, and was re-recorded in 2011, with the current line-up of the band. "Dante's Inferno" is also one of the longest songs the band has ever recorded, with the original clocking in at sixteen minutes and twenty-six seconds and the re-recorded version clocking in at seventeen minutes and twenty-eight seconds.
Lyrics[edit]
The song is based on the Inferno segment of Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy.[2] In it, Dante travels through the nine circles of Hell, guided by the Roman poet Virgil. The circles are concentric, representing a gradual increase in wickedness, and culminating at the centre of the earth, where Satan is held in bondage. Each circle's sinners are punished in a fashion fitting their crimes: each sinner is afflicted for all of eternity by the chief sin they committed.
Live[edit]
After its release in 1995, the song was only performed live in 1999, for the Alive in Athens concert.[2][3] Rhythm guitarist Jon Schaffer later shed light on why the song was only played at said concert:
"The simple reason why we haven’t [played the song] is because the original click track was erased, therefore requiring a keyboard player to do the parts live. That's OK for a special event like when we recorded Alive in Athens, but to hire a keyboard player for a full tour, for one song, just isn't financially feasible."
After Iced Earth re-recorded "Dante's Inferno" in 2011, they announced that the song would be played on all dates of the Dystopia World Tour.[2] According to Jon Schaffer, it may be the last tour on which the song will be performed.[4]
2011 version[edit]
| "Dante's Inferno 2011" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Iced Earth | ||||
| B-side | "Dante's Inferno" (Raw version)[5] | |||
| Released | September 5, 2011 | |||
| Recorded |
| |||
| Length | 17:28 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Jon Schaffer | |||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Iced Earth singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
In 2011, Iced Earth re-recorded "Dante's Inferno" with the line-up of rhythm guitarist Jon Schaffer (who also played on the original recording), lead guitarist Troy Seele, bassist Freddie Vidales, drummer Brent Smedley and singer Stu Block.[2] Stu Block had just joined Iced Earth earlier that year, and according to Schaffer, the band had already planned to re-record "Dante's Inferno" prior to the leaving of previous vocalist Matt Barlow (who also sang on the original "Dante's Inferno").[6] The re-recorded "Dante's Inferno" was given away for free on the band's official website on September 5, 2011.[2]
Now that the band had re-recorded the song, they were in possession of a new click track, which meant that they no longer required a keyboard player to the play the song live. As a result, "Dante's Inferno" was brought back in to Iced Earth's setlist for their Dystopia World Tour.[2] A CD version of the song was also sold on the tour.[6]
Personnel[edit]
1995[edit]
- Jon Schaffer − rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- Matt Barlow − lead vocals
- Randall Shawver − lead guitar
- Dave Abell − bass
- Rodney Beasley − drums
Guest musicians
- Howard Helm – keyboards
2011[edit]
- Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, lead guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
- Stu Block – lead vocals
- Troy Seele – lead guitar
- Freddie Vidales – bass, backing vocals
- Brent Smedley – drums
Guest musicians
- Jim Morris – backing vocals
- Tom Morris – backing vocals
- Howard Helm – keyboards, backing vocals
References[edit]
- ^ "Burnt Offerings at Amazon.com". Amazon.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Iced Earth re-record "Dante's Inferno" and give it away for free | The Official Iced Earth Website". Icedearth.com. September 5, 2011. Archived from the original on May 23, 2012. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
- ^ "Jon Schaffer interviewed by That Drummer Guy". Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- ^ Iced Earth Interview w/ Stu Block & Jon Schaffer (.mp4). ampmagazine. February 21, 2012. Event occurs at 10 minutes 14 seconds. Retrieved September 1, 2012.
We are talking about doing a live album, it's not hundred percent. But it's probably the last tour cycle when we'll be doing Dante's Inferno. I can't say that for sure 'cause now that we have the tracks and we can do it.
- ^ a b c ""Dante's Inferno" at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved November 29, 2011.
- ^ a b "Jon Schaffer interviewed on "KASC The Blsze 1330 AM."". Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on November 15, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2011.
