Night of the Stormrider

"Pure Evil" redirects here. For the artist known as Pure Evil, see Charles Uzzell-Edwards.

Night of the Stormrider is the second studio album by the American heavy metal band Iced Earth, released in 1991 through Century Media Records. It is a concept album centered on an idea that was created by the band's leader Jon Schaffer. Night of the Stormrider is the only Iced Earth album to feature lead singer John Greely and drummer Rick Secchiari. The album was re-released in a remixed and remastered version in 2002 by producer Jim Morris.^[1]

Night of the Stormrider
Studio album by Iced Earth
Released	November 11, 1991
Recorded	1991
Studio	Morrisound Studios, Tampa
Genre	Power metal thrash metal
Length	46:06
Label	Century Media
Producer	Tom Morris Jon Schaffer
Iced Earth chronology
Iced Earth (1990) Night of the Stormrider (1991) Burnt Offerings (1995)
Alternative cover

Concept meaning

The album's concept is about a man who is betrayed by religion and turns away from it in anger.^[2] The dark forces of nature reach out to this enraged man and use him as their vessel to bring death and destruction to Earth. He is commanded to travel to a desert, where he is given visions that reveal the truth of humanity, and warp his mind further to make him the "Stormrider". After the destruction of the world, he is then damned forever into the depths of Hell, also referenced as the River Styx. After being forever damned and taunted by evil spirits, he eventually sees what he has done, and realizes that it is too late to repent.

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Metal Storm	8.5/10[3]

Track listing

All lyrics and music written by Jon Schaffer, except where noted.

No.	Title	Music	Length
1.	"Angels Holocaust"		4:53
2.	"Stormrider"	Schaffer Randall Shawver	4:47
3.	"The Path I Choose"	Schaffer Shawver	5:54
4.	"Before the Vision"	Dave Abell Shawver	1:35
5.	"Mystical End"		4:44
6.	"Desert Rain"	Abell Schaffer	6:56
7.	"Pure Evil"	Schaffer Shawver	6:33
8.	"Reaching the End"		1:11
9.	"Travel in Stygian"		9:32
Total length:			46:06

2008 Slave to the Dark bonus track

No.	Title	Music	Length
10.	"Stormrider" (live)	Schaffer Shawver	4:48

Personnel

Iced Earth

• John Greely – vocals
• Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals (on track 2), co-producer
• Randall Shawver – lead guitar
• Dave Abell – bass
• Rick Secchiari – drums

Additional musicians

• Roger Huff – keyboards
• Kent Smith – keyboards

Other personnel

• Tom Morris – producer, engineer
• Jim Morris – mixing, mastering (on 2002 remixed and remastered version)
• Axel Hermann – artwork
• Travis Smith – artwork (on 2002 remixed and remastered version)
• Rick Borstelman – artwork
• Frank Albrecht – photography
• Dirk Rudolph – layout
• Philipp Schulte – product coordination