Jag Panzer have been operating for two decades, but it's only now when our paths crossed. And this is already over 2 years old, but still their latest album, if not counting their brand new "best of" double CD 'Decade of the Nail Spiked Bat'. I followed some link from a review to the band's official website and downloaded all I could from 'Mechanized Warfare'. Mikki recommended this one two years ago, but it took this long for me to check Jag Panzer (JP from now on) out. There's simply so much metal music and so little time. Once again I'm ashamed it took so long for me to check a band out. And when thinking how good band, it only deepens my dishonour. May this review will cleanse my feelings a bit.

JP are another proof, that metal music in the USA is still kicking. With strength. With a lot of it. And no marks of weariness, at least not with JP. JP are a very talented heavy metal band and, sadly, also underrated. Pioneers like Iron Maiden and NWOBHM in general, and Dio must have influenced JP's guys. JP don't make second rate versions of old songs by the masters, but add individual touch and modern elements into their metal.

'Take to the Sky', a song about stealth airplanes ain't JP's 'Aces High', it just didn't impress me at first, but stealthily worked its way into my brain. Utilizing not-very-straigth beats, it's a tough song to get into. Its beginning and middle part are awesome, but parts with vocals (always with curvy beats) are not that impressive and it's not as powerful as it could. 'Frozen in Fear' is a seriously headbangable metal song, with equally strong parts never alternating in usual rock song formula. Sounding a lot like the best Iced Earth material, this raised raging beast out of me, but its lyrics are about paedophilia so the song's angrier. 'Unworthy' brings in more elements out of metal music, namely Gregorian choir (lyrics are about sin winning over faith) and operatic female vocals. Beautiful, melancholic acoustic beginning reminding faintly of Metallica's 'Welcome Home (Sanitarium)' explodes into 'Mother Russia' -style lead guitar melody and double kick drum beats. 'The Silent' is about vampires and also more lean mean metal again, pure heavy riffing and wonderful lead guitar. 'The Scarlet Letter' continues the trend. Feeling of Dio is quite strong almost throughout the song, but multilayered vocals part is something very different.

Darker 'Choir of Tears' is an okay song, getting better on instrumental part. Not because of vocals are bad or something like that, no, but the song just happens to be less good as the others in general. 'Cold Is the Blade' is glorious metal song with a touch a violin, not too far from Maiden's new 'Paschendale', only shorter yet still as full. Lyrical theme is Scottish clans warring. Story about lost love, 'Hidden in My Eyes', has a touch of true melancholy, but not by cost of heaviness. 'Power Surge' works just like its title after a darker song. One of the highlights for headbangers, after all it has a line "we're metal till we die" in it! The song is simply a perfect metal song, even it has an eerie choir part. 'All Things Renewed' feels a cousin of Brazilian Shaman's 2k2 debut 'Ritual'. Starting acoustically with a violin, its fairy tale feel and anthemic guitars sound familiar. Heavy riffing and marvellous choir part crown this chameleon song, as does soundtrackish touches. A great way to end the record. But there's a very short silence and shorter piano "remix" of a piece of 'The Scarlet Letter', before this really ends, and these things always annoy me no matter how short it is.

Curviness is a vital part of JP's music. It gives the band individual touch yet might turn someone away, for other it gives richness. The songs are composed of a few parts and that way quite simple, but I guess it's rhythms that cause this harder feel in following the songs. I have to admit a majority of these 10 songs didn't strike me at first listening, most not even on second. This isn't too "technicality over tunes" -stuff, though. Maybe this trickery eats some power off of the songs at some points, because the opener and a few more could be more punchy. However, the Jim Morris production at famous Morrisound Studios is very powerful and clean. Rhythm section kicks nicely and guitars (a lot of 'em) and vocals are sharp, and this sounds metal. As all instrumentalists, vocalist Harry Conklin is of a very high calibre. Heavy metal singing is awesome and guy can do theatrics. Sometimes his voice reminds me of Matt Barlow (ex-Iced Earth), Dio and Garm's clean vocals (Ulver etc.), so his spectrum is wide. His performance is backed by a choir and even some monks (from The Order of Saint Hubbins).

Great album with two less good songs. I don't know what makes it, but Jag Panzer sounds American heavy metal. Especially fans of Iced Earth and Iron Maiden should check this out immediately, and any true heavy metal maniac to tell the truth. If you don't want fast food, that is. By the way, Travis Smith's artwork is awesome, nice change for all those haunted houses and crows.

Rating: 8+ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
12/25/2003 23:51