Among the various aspects of Iced Earth's 2008 LP release, "The Crucible Of Man" the most welcoming would have to go to the return of long time singer Matthew Barlow to the band. His vocal range, tone, and dexterity is the perfect compliment to Iced Earth's rhythm guitarist and creative force Jon Schaffer. On the whole, Barlow is perfect, but highlights would include a more raspier output on the verses of "Crown Of The Fallen" and "I walk Alone" and a more sinister approach to "Crucify The King". Of course, the beauty of Iced Earth will always come from the expertise rhythm guitar execution of Jon Schaffer more than anything else. On "The Crucible Of Man" the rhythm section is as precise, aggressive, and heavy as ever. The best song on the album, "Divide Devour" features a relentless rhythm riff, complete with an apocalyptic feel due to some crafty choir addition. "The Revealing" and "The Dimension Gauntlet" are two other fast paced, technically proficient tracks that also serve as "part twos" to each respective predecessor. "The Revealing" is also colored with that metallic Egyptian theme so often heard before. Other songs worthy of note is the somber "Epilogue" which features a great cello performance, and "A Gift Or A Curse" the most dynamic track due to the tribal drums giving it an organic feel and a clean Stratocaster contribution from guest musician Jim Morris. It's a sweet song with parts both heavy and soft and a cool, bluesy outro to round it out. As a concept album, it is a little more personal than one would expect, and music-wise it is simply stellar. "The Crucible Of Man" by Iced Earth is therefore one of the best heavy metal albums to come out in 2008.