In some ways, Scrape Records couldn't have picked a more appropriate band than Iced Earth to headline the store's 11th anniversary concert. It's all about history, and the American power-metal quintet, which will do a 5:30 p.m. day-of-show autograph session at East Vancouver's leading hard-rock hangout, often works historical topics into its lyrics, along with fantasy and sci-fi themes.

For instance, Iced Earth's 2004 concept album The Glorious Burden focuses on moments in U.S. military history, from the Battle of Gettysburg to the 9/11 attacks. Not surprisingly then, outspoken band leader Jon Schaffer has opinions on Barack Obama's epochal election victory on November 4.

"Obama's charming, and his victory speech was eloquent," says the guitarist, on the line from his home in Columbus, Indiana. "But during the election they tried to make it look like we're in horrible, dark times. As a student of history, I can tell you we're nowhere near what it was like during the Great Depression. Now you have a bunch of ignorant youth who are buying into this media-created frenzy. I just think it's dangerous, man. Hopefully, the guy is a man of integrity and will govern for the whole country, not a far-left agenda."

Many Canadians would differ with Schaffer's political views, but you can't question the passion he brings to his music. For Iced Earth's latest album, The Crucible of Man: Something Wicked Part 2, he holed up in a cabin for a solid year to compose the music and most of the lyrics. The concluding episode in this multi-CD saga features an Antichrist-like alien named Set Abominae, who exacts vengeance on the human race over 12,000 years.

Sonically, the band delivers a pummelling barrage of classic metal, from the stutter-gallop of "I Walk Alone" to the galaxy-obliterating opera of "Behold the Wicked Child". Massive backing vocals supplement singer Matt Barlow's emotion-drenched wails.

Barlow was replaced in 2003 by ex-Judas Priest frontman Tim "Ripper" Owens, whose 1996 supplanting of Rob Halford in Priest inspired the Mark Wahlberg movie Rock Star. But Schaffer, the only constant Iced Earth member since the '80s, was glad to announce Barlow's return in 2007, and not just because the part-time police officer is also his brother-in-law.

"I was always very happy to work with Tim in the studio," Schaffer clarifies. "If there's something that can be done with the human voice, he'll do it. The problem came down to his commitment to the band. Frankly, the feeling with Tim was that he wasn't really a true believer. I think he was more consumed with doing his own thing, and it started to affect the on-stage vibe."

Next year marks the 20th anniversary of Iced Earth's first independent EP, Enter the Realm. Schaffer is determined to stay true to his personal vision: "Regardless of whether we achieved our goals or not, I've never had any inclination to change or chase trends. I want the band to be successful, but it's got to be on my terms."

Iced Earth plays the Commodore Ballroom on Wednesday (November 19).