Brush-Fires of the Mind

I dont ussually pay attention to the lyrics in songs until i hear them ALOT. Im a drummer and as long as the vocals SOUND good, i really dont care that much about whats being said. Believe me i know that most people think thats insane and i dont blame them. This album was different cause i listened to Schaffer's interview before i heard the album and it surprised the shit outta me and not in a good way. The interview was on a conspiracy theory radio show where i heard some of the stupidest shit i ever heard like "the government poisons our water supply so we become more obedient", "the swine flu vaccine is a experiment on the American people" and that "Obama is a russian spy that is eventually going to bomb our major cities" IMO, Jon Schaffer is incredibly talented, intelligent and a true American Patriot and to hear him agreeing with those retards really challenged my respect for him. But as for the acctual album.. People accuse Schaffer of recycling riffs and i NEVER hear it. I only hear similar riffs. But in this one he recycles alot. The ones that come to mind first are riffs from "Ghost of Freedom" & "Come What May." not similar riffs, EXACT riffs. Other than that, the other reviews are 100% right about this being "watered down Iced Earth". I enjoy the album as long as ignore the dumbass lyrics. Schaffer is a surpringly good singer and while Barlow is in my top 5 favorite singers it makes me think what Iced Earth would sound like he if had always been the singer... cant be worse than gene adams