Jag Panzer Casting the Stones
Century Media Records October 19th, 2004
By Jason Jordan
The first victim in Ultimatemetals attempt at saturating me with power metal is Casting the Stones by the ever-popular Jag Panzer. As the first review, that youll probably read, in this short series of power metal ramblings, you must know that it doesnt get better than this particular group.
Feast or Famine starts normally, Id say, but the vocals are too low in the mix. The Mission (1941) has a nice, opening riff while Conklins vocalizations are distinctly vibrato-laden; the aforementioned aspect is fine by me. Guitar melodies, leads, and rhythms weave in and out of the songs radius. Vigilant begins with drums, and unapologetically adds guitar to the overall picture. The latter relies on solid riffage for the compositions length. Haunting, piano instrumentation makes an entrance at the 1:30 minute mark, which improves the quality of the song and background. More guitar leads, etc. Achilles: kind of awkward upon initial listening. But, the number smoothes its edges and eventually grasps attention. Tempest is speedy, Legion Immortal has an unbelievably dramatic chorus, and Battered and Bruised commences with a traditional albeit proverbial instrumental line. Cold has a sinister aura attached to it, and another simple-yet-catchy chorus. Starlights Fury and The Harkening are both energetic tunes. Needless to say, I will not cite Precipice in this review, although its an awe-inspiring song.
A band with many albums often receives accolades for each individual release, and more commonplace than not hordes of fans weld themselves to the record that they feel is the bands swansong. Has Casting the Stones been out long enough to garner such ogling? Probably not, but Jag Panzer have displayed fresh ideas on the disc that I was handed, so to speak. And for that the Jean-Pierres of the world can unite.
8/10
Official Jag Panzer website
Official Century Media website
Century Media Records October 19th, 2004
By Jason Jordan
The first victim in Ultimatemetals attempt at saturating me with power metal is Casting the Stones by the ever-popular Jag Panzer. As the first review, that youll probably read, in this short series of power metal ramblings, you must know that it doesnt get better than this particular group.
Feast or Famine starts normally, Id say, but the vocals are too low in the mix. The Mission (1941) has a nice, opening riff while Conklins vocalizations are distinctly vibrato-laden; the aforementioned aspect is fine by me. Guitar melodies, leads, and rhythms weave in and out of the songs radius. Vigilant begins with drums, and unapologetically adds guitar to the overall picture. The latter relies on solid riffage for the compositions length. Haunting, piano instrumentation makes an entrance at the 1:30 minute mark, which improves the quality of the song and background. More guitar leads, etc. Achilles: kind of awkward upon initial listening. But, the number smoothes its edges and eventually grasps attention. Tempest is speedy, Legion Immortal has an unbelievably dramatic chorus, and Battered and Bruised commences with a traditional albeit proverbial instrumental line. Cold has a sinister aura attached to it, and another simple-yet-catchy chorus. Starlights Fury and The Harkening are both energetic tunes. Needless to say, I will not cite Precipice in this review, although its an awe-inspiring song.
A band with many albums often receives accolades for each individual release, and more commonplace than not hordes of fans weld themselves to the record that they feel is the bands swansong. Has Casting the Stones been out long enough to garner such ogling? Probably not, but Jag Panzer have displayed fresh ideas on the disc that I was handed, so to speak. And for that the Jean-Pierres of the world can unite.
8/10
Official Jag Panzer website
Official Century Media website
