Power Metal
Atomic Fire Records
Release Date – June 23rd 2023
Line Up:
Harry Conklin – Vocals
Mark Briody – Guitar
Ken Rodarte – Guitar
John Tetley – Bass
Rikard Stjernquist – Drums
Tracklist:
1 – Bound As One
2 – Prey
3 – Ties That Bind
4 – Stronger Than You Know
5 – Onward We Toil
6 – Edge Of A Knife
7 – Dark Descent
8 – Weather The Storm
9 – Renewed Flame
10 – Last Rites
Jag Panzer is unapologetically Metal. Forget Manowar and all their blustering about being true metal – Jag Panzer are the real deal make no mistake. Here they give us their 11th studio album – a concept album too. The story is of five people (wonder who they could be?) who cross a frozen wasteland searching for a new home. They are joined on this arduous trek by their dogs, eagles, and panthers. The songs relate the perils the quintet comes across which include battling flesh-ripping hyenas and a swarm of bat-like creatures. All this has been released as a comic book last year which was written by three of the band, Briody, Stjernquist, and Conklin.
‘Bound As One’ begins with Stjernquist warming up before a classic metal chugging riff gets going and Conklin brings his full range. There are some blinding guitar harmonies and solos in the first three minutes which whets your appetite for what’s to come. ‘Prey’ starts with a narration then the machine gun rhythm kicks off a banging stop/start rager which will be a live favourite that is simple and direct. ‘Ties That Bind’ brings the twin guitar harmonies again on ‘Hallowed Be Thy Name’ groove then ‘Stronger Than You Know’ rattles along with some screaming dive bombs and fluid lead fills from Briody and Rodarte. ‘Onward We Toil’ is another huge chugger before the power metal of ‘Edge Of A Knife’ brings some synths on the intro then it turns into a galloping bruiser before ‘Dark Descent’ rattles along on a superb melodic line. ‘Weather The Storm’ is a Maiden-esque plodder that grows on you then ‘Renewed Flame’ brings the melodic power metal again before the final epic ‘Last Rites’ which has everything, and the kitchen sink is thrown in.
Metal doesn’t get much better than this. This is a concept where you can follow the story and like all great concept records the songs can be listened to as a whole or they can stand alone too. Credit to the producer, the legendary drummer Ken Mary, for harnessing the sounds and making everything sound huge. Power metal or heavy metal anyone with a cut-off jacket full of patches will love this – another to put on the best-of list for 2023. Superb.
Written by: Smudge
Ratings: 9/10
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