JAG PANZER Casting The Stones
(Century Media)
Running Time : 51:09
I feel a bit uneasy about having to review a JAG PANZER release and really knock it off, a bit. JAG PANZER had an unbroken line of Excellent releases since their comeback, in the 90s with the 4th judgement. This is their 8th (?) studio release (WE WANT A LIVE ALBUM), once again recorded in the famous Morrisound Studios and produced by Jim Morris I would presume. However, this time the production leaves a lot to be desired. The entire record is characterized by a lack of warmth, and the guitars are too low in the mix, or sound weird, I dont like their sound ( ) while the drums are too prominent, sounding odd. In songs like Achilles the situation is a bit amended, but overall, it really blows the chances for a lot of the other songs. Perhaps their contract is finishing and CM, is engaging in similar tactics as with NEVERMORE (cutting the budget down ?) to keep the band signed to them ?! Who knows. But if one chooses to be cynical there have been 2 more releases in the recent past that are not exactly great we re talking about the rather poorly produced and less than monumental re-recordings included in 2003s rather dreadful Decade Of The Nail-Spiked Bat, (well the band is not to blame their then guitarist Mr. Tafolla will not allow the re-release of Ample Destruction, which by now has been bootlegged a million times anyway ) as well as The re-release of the lost album Chain of Command featuring a different singer, which is also not really of the utmost quality recording wise, as It was not meant to be released in the first place. Thus, Casting the stones is the better pick of the bunch from all three of the most recent JAG PANZER related offerings.
The record is more aggressive than the previous efforts by the band. Less passionate as well and more complex. Also most of the songs seem to be in the mid tempo territory and sound a bit too similar for their own good. Also no ahem ballads or epics this time and I would not have minded a couple easing the listening experience. Opener Feast Or Famine, aint too bad, pretty furious and building up to a climax, but its intro sounds uncunningly close to some traditional Greek/Eastern melody. Next up is The Mission (1943) which is more like the Jag Panzer material of old, with a distinctly sing along chorus. Vigilant is boring, with the only interesting part the guitar interplay in the middle by Msrs Briody and Broderik. Also its chorus is not really standing out, which doesnt help. Ahem next up is the best song of the album Achilles with some sharp and glorius riffola, with some (gasp) great use of keyboards , to spice it up. Harry at last sound motivated and quite passionate but I have a couple of complaints. First, the song is too short, so the soloing is very limited and secondly, I would expect the band that has covered a Shakespearean concept to be more careful and not be inspired by a movie, but by the real epic (To avenge his cousins what ? What cousin ?) Right, minor complaints by this GREEK reviewer aside, its the best song here. Tempest is heavy and has a nice little acoustic section in the middle and a nice chorus. Legion Immortal is good, but it reminds me too much of something that the band has done in Ample Destruction, yup it reminds me a slower version of Reign Of The Tyrants. Duh not too original. Battered & Bruised has some nice guitars and atmosphere but lacks a good enough chorus. Cold is as suggested, cold, and ultimately pretty boring. Nice spiraling riff, but it doesnt save the song from sounding too bland and dull. Starlights Fury, is guitar dominated, toppled by some silly sounding bell-keyboard sounds. And is too darn slow. You simply cannot call a mid tempo song Something- FURY ? (I mean I dont see were the ferocity and all is) The Hearkening is a bit better, but again plods, the band probably in autopilot. Precipice clocking at almost 7 minutes manages to totally bore me. Phew, I never thought I d be saying that for a JAG PANZER record. Guys take this back to the drawing board. Drop the keys, where they are not necessary. Revisit some nice warfare concepts and be GODAMN ANTHEMIC. This is not ANTHEMIC enough. Well the band can always choose to hear the fans/critics or just start believing in their own publicity. I for once, remain unsatisfied by the end product and hope for a more worthy follow up.
Jag Panzer may have not achieved superstardom, but will forever be recognised as the BEST American Power Metal band EVER, rivaled only by the Tony Moore fronted RIOT, by those who know and love their METAL. Casting the stones might take a lot of listens and might ultimately leave you a bit cold, but I mean if you have stood by the band through thick and thin, dont give up on them now. I sincerely hope that they will not give up on us. Till the next time then
4/6
Dimitrios Rockavlon Fatouros
(Century Media)
Running Time : 51:09
I feel a bit uneasy about having to review a JAG PANZER release and really knock it off, a bit. JAG PANZER had an unbroken line of Excellent releases since their comeback, in the 90s with the 4th judgement. This is their 8th (?) studio release (WE WANT A LIVE ALBUM), once again recorded in the famous Morrisound Studios and produced by Jim Morris I would presume. However, this time the production leaves a lot to be desired. The entire record is characterized by a lack of warmth, and the guitars are too low in the mix, or sound weird, I dont like their sound ( ) while the drums are too prominent, sounding odd. In songs like Achilles the situation is a bit amended, but overall, it really blows the chances for a lot of the other songs. Perhaps their contract is finishing and CM, is engaging in similar tactics as with NEVERMORE (cutting the budget down ?) to keep the band signed to them ?! Who knows. But if one chooses to be cynical there have been 2 more releases in the recent past that are not exactly great we re talking about the rather poorly produced and less than monumental re-recordings included in 2003s rather dreadful Decade Of The Nail-Spiked Bat, (well the band is not to blame their then guitarist Mr. Tafolla will not allow the re-release of Ample Destruction, which by now has been bootlegged a million times anyway ) as well as The re-release of the lost album Chain of Command featuring a different singer, which is also not really of the utmost quality recording wise, as It was not meant to be released in the first place. Thus, Casting the stones is the better pick of the bunch from all three of the most recent JAG PANZER related offerings.
The record is more aggressive than the previous efforts by the band. Less passionate as well and more complex. Also most of the songs seem to be in the mid tempo territory and sound a bit too similar for their own good. Also no ahem ballads or epics this time and I would not have minded a couple easing the listening experience. Opener Feast Or Famine, aint too bad, pretty furious and building up to a climax, but its intro sounds uncunningly close to some traditional Greek/Eastern melody. Next up is The Mission (1943) which is more like the Jag Panzer material of old, with a distinctly sing along chorus. Vigilant is boring, with the only interesting part the guitar interplay in the middle by Msrs Briody and Broderik. Also its chorus is not really standing out, which doesnt help. Ahem next up is the best song of the album Achilles with some sharp and glorius riffola, with some (gasp) great use of keyboards , to spice it up. Harry at last sound motivated and quite passionate but I have a couple of complaints. First, the song is too short, so the soloing is very limited and secondly, I would expect the band that has covered a Shakespearean concept to be more careful and not be inspired by a movie, but by the real epic (To avenge his cousins what ? What cousin ?) Right, minor complaints by this GREEK reviewer aside, its the best song here. Tempest is heavy and has a nice little acoustic section in the middle and a nice chorus. Legion Immortal is good, but it reminds me too much of something that the band has done in Ample Destruction, yup it reminds me a slower version of Reign Of The Tyrants. Duh not too original. Battered & Bruised has some nice guitars and atmosphere but lacks a good enough chorus. Cold is as suggested, cold, and ultimately pretty boring. Nice spiraling riff, but it doesnt save the song from sounding too bland and dull. Starlights Fury, is guitar dominated, toppled by some silly sounding bell-keyboard sounds. And is too darn slow. You simply cannot call a mid tempo song Something- FURY ? (I mean I dont see were the ferocity and all is) The Hearkening is a bit better, but again plods, the band probably in autopilot. Precipice clocking at almost 7 minutes manages to totally bore me. Phew, I never thought I d be saying that for a JAG PANZER record. Guys take this back to the drawing board. Drop the keys, where they are not necessary. Revisit some nice warfare concepts and be GODAMN ANTHEMIC. This is not ANTHEMIC enough. Well the band can always choose to hear the fans/critics or just start believing in their own publicity. I for once, remain unsatisfied by the end product and hope for a more worthy follow up.
Jag Panzer may have not achieved superstardom, but will forever be recognised as the BEST American Power Metal band EVER, rivaled only by the Tony Moore fronted RIOT, by those who know and love their METAL. Casting the stones might take a lot of listens and might ultimately leave you a bit cold, but I mean if you have stood by the band through thick and thin, dont give up on them now. I sincerely hope that they will not give up on us. Till the next time then
4/6
Dimitrios Rockavlon Fatouros
While I don't exactly agree with the review in all aspects, he has the right to voice his opinion -that doesn't make him an idiot. I have to admit, even though I like CTS for the most part, some of the keys are very out of place, and the album sounds annoyingly modern at points, due to the tunings and production.
