Ice Vajal :: Music Land :: Metal World
 
editorial :: feedback :: newsletter ::  
   Bands :: A-Z / J / Jag Panzer /

On disc: Jag Panzer



The Fourth Judgement - Volker Raabe - 10 stars
Thane To The Throne - Claudia Ehrhardt - 9 stars
Mechanized Warfare - Claudia Ehrhardt - 8 stars
Mechanized Warfare - Volker Raabe - 9 stars
Scourge Of The Light - Claudia Ehrhardt - 9 stars


www.jagpanzer.com







Scourge Of The Light

Scourge Of The Light
(SPV - 2011)


It's been years since we heard from Colorado Spring-based band Jag Panzer. Casting The Stones was released in 2004, with Scourge Of The Light they return. With the return of guitarist Christian Lasegue the songs are more melodic again... catchier. Chris Broderick was an important part of Jag Panzer for almost 10 years before he got an offer from Megadeth. Jag Panzer started in 1981 and have seen many bands and sounds coming and going, they always stick to their sound.
The open up with Condemned To Fight, the opening passage has a neo-classical touch, but then they storm off. Fast double-bass drumming and heavy riffs force them ahead, but for the refrain they slow down a bit. Singer Harry 'The Tyrant' Conklin is still an extraordinary singer. At the heavy, mid-paced The Setting Of The Sun Jag Panzer offer a melodic track with complex elements and a string section. The Tyrant adjusts to the song which has a melancholy touch. At Cycles the put an effect on the vocals and the riff-based track shows reminiscences to Judas Priest / Halford, but also has some typical JP trademark sounds. Overlord kicks off with a memorable riff, then enchants you with the expressive vocals. There is a line in the bridge which sound extremely familiar... It's on the tip of my tongue... Anyway, it's a catchy up-tempo tune and perhaps the best choice to get into Scourge Of The Light. Time to storm off again! Let It Out is a fast tune which revives the NWoBHM, spiced up with a dash of Motörhead and Americanize it. With Union they present a power metal anthem which you'll sing along soon. Towards the end it gets a bit repetitive, but well... Burn has passages which could have been copied from a Halford track, but the mid-passed parts are different and true Jag Panzer. And then they lead you out of the tune with a classic-inspired keyboard passage. The closer is an 8 minute long opus which tells a story about a man who's tattoos come alive. The Book Of Kells is a heavy, epic tune which combines different sounds to tell the story. So the song offers speed changes, different atmospheres and isn't a typical Jag Panzer tune!
The album was mixed by Jim Morris at Morrisound Studio and mastered at the famous Sterling Sound in NYC. With SPV they have a strong business partner at their side and hopefully they will finally get the attention they deserve! Kudos!


9 stars

Claudia Ehrhardt
 

up








Mechanized Warfare

Mechanized Warfare
(Century Media - 2001)


The Colorado five-piece is back with Mechanized Warfare (CD & vinyl) and the opening track Take To The Sky proofs that they are still stick to their roots. There will still be metal fans who won't like Tyrant's voice, but there are many fans who love the band and for them The Tyrant is an essential part of Jag Panzer! His charismatic voice is one trademark of their sound. With Mechanized Warfare they reach the next level. Their last release Thane To The Throne split the fans, coz the conceptual album about MacBeth was too different for some fans, these fans should check out their latest work!
Unworthy starts with interesting choirs which sound like medieval monk choirs, a very interesting effect before the song develops slowly, a slow and emotional track in the beginning, but get into mid-tempo later! Not very typical for Jag Panzer, but one of my favorite tracks on this album!
The Scarlet Letter is also untypical, but heavier than Unworthy. In Jag Panzer's definition of power metal, it's not essential to be fast. They present powerful mid-tempo tracks. At a time where power metal is almost define on fast tracks, this is a welcome alternation.
They are still underrated, but hopefully this will get them the attention they deserve!


8 stars

Claudia Ehrhardt
 

up






Mechanized Warfare

Mechanized Warfare
(Century Media - 2001)


This band has all the essentials to make the ultimate metal album! The have unusual rhythms and melodies, well structured songs and with Harry Conklin one of the best shouters! Conklin is again the trademark for the sound of the band and kind hallmark Mechanized Warfare. Harry Conklin is adding his pregnant voice to songs like the speedy Frozen In Fear, the complex Unworthy and the epic highlight Cold Is The Blade and makes the songs masterpieces. The rest is Jag Panzer as you know them and love them! And everybody who isn't buying Jag Panzer's latest output isn't worth being called a metal fan! That's real fucking metal!!!


9 stars

Volker Raabe
(translation: Claudia Ehrhardt)
 

up






Thane To The Throne

Thane To The Throne
(Century Media - 2000)


It seems that everybody wants to release a conceptual album, but Colorado's Jag Panzer didn't do it just because it's a trend these days. They try to take the listener on a musical journey with Shakespear's Macbeth. The music is typical Jag Panzer, but this time the quintet added some unusual sounds for a metal band. Between the songs are little pieces which take the listener back in time with typical instruments and sounds of Macbeth' time. Also classical parts may shock the listener when he plays the album the first time, but it's cool! It seems that every album is a huge step ahead. This album is better than the last ones and it's different due to the story. If you like good power metal, go and get this one!!!


9 stars

Claudia Ehrhardt
 

up






The Fourth Judgement

The Fourth Judgement
(Century Media - 1997)


Century Media is presenting now a real cult band! Harry 'The Tyrant' Conklin is back!!! Many will remember him as the frontman of Jag Panzers early days and for his time with Titian Force. The Americans are reunited and back to life with The Fourth Judgement. An album with shows what made this band a cult act like melodic guitar riffings, balladesque and epic song structures and a powerful, unique voice! Listen to Black, Recompense and the known Shadow Thief. Power and true metal is dead? Hammerfall just another hyped band? Sacred Steel a one hit wonder? No way! Forth Judgement is documenting that power and true metal is still alive and kicking!


10 stars

Volker Raabe
(translation: Claudia Ehrhardt)
 

up

           ©2008-2014 by Claudia Ehrhardt • E-Mail: contact@ice-vajal.com


Bands J