Jag Panzer
"Mechanized Warfare"
Century Media Records

By Vinnie Apicella

Old school Metal warriors Jag Panzer continue in their resurgent quest to claim the throne ("Thane to the." not exactly) they might've been ready to accept had they not crumbled into a deadening state of dysfunction only a few albums into what should have been an illustrious career. A true early '80s phenomenon went South but the flame kept burning, a decade of dying embers would soon burn brightly again in the early nineties, Jag Panzer was thrust upon the world again. Steeped in the Metal tradition, like the many who've come, gone and thrived today, from today, JP was born seemingly ages ago and rekindle nothing that they didn't help shape in the first place. Their fourth LP for the Century Media label is their best yet, far surpassing the still grounded "Fourth Judgement," and the increasingly timely follow ups, though "Thane to the Throne" modeled after Shakespeare's "Macbeth" was vintage in its own right but I don't believe it contained quite the flexibility or the dynamics an album like this is afforded. Played with a style and essence usually left for struggling oldies with no where but their past to turn to, JP's sound rings true Metal to the extremes-"Take To The Sky," the soaring opening track that captures the power and spirit of a jetfighter making its final rounds. "Frozen In Fear," "Unworthy," a majestically settled epic backed by glorious chants, in an ode to the fallen brother-like tradition. the power rises once more for the riff-blazing "The Silent," varied but usually mid-tempo, the combined talents of Briody and Broderick trading off in an ax-wielding battle for supremacy that listeners are only too happy to call a draw. The album does hit a lull proceeding "The Scarlet Letter's" jagged-edge, slows up, drones a bit before that piercing look returns to the eye of the shooter-"Power Surge," picks up steam, flattens everything in its path, then roars off into the distance, giving way to the sentimentally drawn "All Things Renewed." Jag Panzer's latest is like a metal storm crashing down on the already burning village below-many will run, some will stay and fight, but few will forget the relentless show of force once "Mechanized Warfare" was unleashed.

by: Jonathan Mariante

After only a year, the mighty Jag Panzer has returned with a brand new album. And it's a stormer! These guys play their brand of aggressive, hard-as-nails, yet melodic, power metal, the way only Jag Panzer can play it! They are all very talented musicians. The Tyrant's voice is a strong and powerful as ever, and the rest of the band churn out the metal with unrelenting fury and precision! "...Warfare" kicks off with two scorchin' tunes, "Take To The Sky" (this should be the theme song to the next "Top Gun" movie!) and "Frozen In Fear". The third song song is "Unworthy", only slightly slows things down a bit, and uses what sounds like a choir of monks. Then comes "The Silent". Is it my imagination, or do I hear a bit of Pantera in there? Two more pounders are next with "The Scarlet Letter" (nothing to do with the book of the same name. This sing appears to be about a seductive, exotic, dangerous woman. A vampire, perhaps?) and "Choir Of Tears". Then comes the epic-sounding "Cold Is The Blade (And The Heart That Wields It). This is followed by "Hidden In My Eyes", which also seems to be a nod to Pantera. Their thing is catching. This is certainly not a bad song by any means, but if I had to pick a "weak link" for this album, this would be it. It lacks the aggression and luster of the other tunes. But, like I said, that don't mean it sucks, not at all. It's balls just aren't as big as the rest of the tunes. Next up is "Power Surge", and this song lives up to its name! Talk about opening up a can of whoop-ass! "Full throttle we soar/Fist raising overlords/All hell's in our eyes/We're metal till we die!" Need I say more? And finally, we've come to the end (already?) with the closing track, "All Things Renewed", a power ballad of sorts. It sort of reminds me of Priest's "Beyond The Realms...", as it begins with classical guitar and violins, gets heavy, slows down, gets heavy again. This is the way power ballads should be! The disc then ends in a bizarre little way (you'll have to listen). Well, if I haven't made it clear enough, this is a great album! Everything a Jag Panzer album should be! No futzing around, just POUNDING METAL from beginning to end! So if you consider yourself any kind of Jag Panzer or traditional/power metal fan, run out and get this! Enlist in Panzer's "Mechanized Warfare"! Uncle Metal wants you!

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