Recently, the YouTube channel The Metal Voice Iced Earth and current Ashes of Ares vocalist Matthew Barlow , who rose to fame in the mid-90s when he joined Iced Earth . As Iced Earth's vocalist, Barlow released 6 studio albums and the iconic live album Alive in Athens – notably featuring "The Dark Saga ," inspired by the Vertigo comic book Spawn: Hellspawn .
In addition to being the vocalist for Ashes of Ares, Barlow is also a police lieutenant in Georgetown, United States. Jon Schaffer , guitarist, founding member, and main songwriter of Iced Earth, was involved in the Capitol invasion on January 6, 2021, when supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the building to try to prevent the certification of Joe Biden . The violence resulted in five deaths, including a police officer, and left hundreds injured. The episode was widely condemned as an attack on American democracy. Trump was later accused of his role in inciting the riot.
Since Jon Shaffer reappeared on social media and internet podcasts , fans have been wondering if the guitarist will resume his work with the band. Despite being a law enforcement officer, Barlow avoids publicly criticizing Shaffer. He will soon embark on a European tour to perform The Dark Saga , in its entirety. When asked about his opinion on his former bandmate's actions, the vocalist preferred not to delve into political issues.
“We don’t live in a bubble – we’re aware of what happened. But, in the end, I believe that what the fans really care about is the music. And I want to celebrate Jon for the incredible artist he is. He composed fantastic songs, and I had the privilege of being a part of that. Beyond that, I’m not going to discuss politics. We’re here for the music, for the love of it, and I hope everyone understands that.”
He added: “If Jon wants to play this song again in the future, I would love to participate. But for now, let's focus on carrying this legacy forward, with his approval – which is very important to us.”
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