ICED EARTH are currently rehearsing new material for their upcoming album titled "Dystopia" which will debut the band's new front man Stu Block (INTO ETERNITY) as current vocalist Mat Barlow will be retiring, following the band's current tour.

ICED EARTH guitarist/main-man Jon Shaffer posted the following update:

"Just a quick update for you from the road. We had a great weekend playing at Sweden Rock Friday and the Rock Hard festival in Germany on Saturday. The band’s having a lot of fun, and today we begin rehearsing the new songs for the forthcoming CD, titled Dystopia. We begin master tracking in Florida in 2 weeks and will be traveling between Europe and the US this summer to play festivals and finish the new album. I can honestly say that I haven’t had this many songs give me goose bumps since we recorded Something Wicked This Way Comes, way back in 1998, so this is also very exciting.

As you can imagine, it’s a very busy time for us. I think we’re all having emotional ups and downs as we’re coming to the end of an era with Matt’s retirement, and we’re also very excited about the future with Stu coming onboard, so it’s a little bit of a roller coaster ride for us. However, we are having a killer time, and Matt is performing at his absolute best and going out with pure class and style, which is always the way he rolls.

We also had a great time hanging out with the guys in Down last night at the Rock Hard festival. Freddie and my manager joined them onstage for a nice jam at the end of the show. It was brilliant and a lot of fun.

We’ll be keeping you posted on updates as things move along through the summer."

[PRESS RELEASE]

Metal Injection correspondent Noa sat down with Jon Scaffer of ICED EARTH during the 70,000 Tons of Metal cruise. She spoke to Jon about playing the boat, if we can expect new Demons & Wizards music and what the future holds for Iced Earth. Watch the entire interview below.

[Press Release] After extensive excursions on the North American West Coast, 70000TONS OF METAL, "The World's Biggest Floating Heavy Metal Festival" sailed back South, crossed the Panama Canal once more and headed back to Tampa, Florida where it is hot like everywhere else these days. It seems what they need to find is an ICED EARTH! 21 out of 40 bands on board... who will be next?

The confirmed 21 out of 40 bands list, is available after the jump!

• Agent Steel
• Amon Amarth
• Death Angel
• Epica
• Exodus
• Fear Factory
• Finntroll
• Forbidden
• Iced Earth
• Moonspell
• Obituary
• Raven
• Saxon
• Sodom
• Sonata Arctica
• Stratovarius
• Swashbuckle
• Testament
• Trouble
• Uli Jon Roth
• Witchburner

70000TONS OF METAL will sail Monday, January 24, 2011 aboard the Royal Caribbean “Majesty of the Seas” from Miami FL to Cozumel, Mexico and will not return you to the real world for four days until Friday, January 28, 2011.

Make no mistake, 70000TONS OF METAL is not your grandma's cruise. It's also not one of the cruises that share the ship with normal cruise guests. This is an all heavy metal cruise! Can you imagine that? A whole luxury cruise ship full of metalheads? And since there is no backstage area you will have the opportunity to mingle side-by-side with the artists in this incredibly fan-friendly scenario that has no comparison. It's like everyone has a backstage pass!

Ticket prices start at US$666 plus US$249 taxes and fees per person and include all on-board entertainment, all meals, non-alcoholic and non-carbonated beverages at the dining rooms, most on-board restaurants and 24 room service!

What are you waiting for? You might even need a vacation from this vacation when all is said and done! Check out 70000tons.com for more information and book your cabin NOW!