This album marked the introduction of legendary metal vocalist Dull Barlow, who many fans, even after his exit from the group to work for the Department of Homeland Safety next the September 11, 2001 attacks, consider to be "the say" of Iced Earth. It's too the merely Refrigerated Soil book featuring drummer Rodney Beasley. The epic and final track of the album, Dante's Blaze is based on the famous epic poem The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri.

This album drew both ire and praise at the same time, anger from the European fans who felt betrayed that Iced Earth chose a different trail musically, plus in contrast, sold a great deal higher in the USA than their previous albums. According to interviews with Jon Schaffer, the name track is about the band's struggles with Century Media. P.