Recorded in 15 days back in September 1991, Iced Earth‘s concept album Night Of The Stormrider has been remixed and remastered in celebration of the record’s 35th anniversary and a new official video for ‘Travel In Stygian’ is currently streaming.
Iced Earth’s second album, Night Of The Stormrider, will be released exactly 35 years to the day since its original release on 11 November 1991. First issued via Century Media, the concept album proved to be one of the band’s most intense and enduring statements: A dark, aggressive power/thrash metal epic that helped define their early sound.
At the time featuring Jon Schaffer (Rhythm & lead guitars, vocals), Randall Shawver (Lead guitar), John Greely (Lead vocals), Dave Abell (Bass Guitar) and Richey Secchiari (Drums), the record was written primarily largely by founder member Schaffer.
The album follows a man betrayed by religion who turns away in rage. Dark forces claim him as their vessel of vengeance and destruction, transforming him into the Stormrider. He brings apocalypse to the earth before accepting his fate in eternal damnation. The narrative unfolds across tracks that blend furious riffing, galloping rhythms, atmospheric passages, and soaring melodies.
It is the only Iced Earth album to feature vocalist Greely (whose powerful, theatrical delivery ranges from growls to high screams) and drummer Secchiari and was recorded at Morrisound Studios in Tampa, USA, produced by Schaffer and Tom Morris, and now remixed and remastered by Zeuss in 2026.
“Stormrider was a big step forward for Iced Earth,” said Schaffer. “It was the second album that we had done on 24-track, 2-inch tape. I’m really stoked to hear this new mix by Zeuss. He really did a great job. We were on a really tight budget back in those days, and this is a very complex and intense record. It really benefits from this new mix. There is a whole new level of detail and life in the drums and bass guitar. John’s vocals have never sounded better on this record. It’s the pinnacle of audio quality and packaging to date for this classic record. I think the die-hards will dig this.”
Available through Iced Earth‘s website in North America and The Circle Music for the rest of the world in various physical formats featuring limited pressings on vinyl, CD, cassette and reel-to-reel tape, Night Of The Stormrider features the tracks: ‘Angels Holocaust’, ‘Stormrider’, ‘The Path I Choose’, ‘Before The Vision’, ‘Mystical End’, ‘Desert Rain’, ‘Pure Evil’, ‘Reaching The End‘ and ‘Travel In Stygian’.
