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This album i succeeded to find used (LP), good that way, because i heard it should be
pretty rare these days. This is Jag Panzers first or second full album released originally
at '84. My pressings one of the latest re-releases from year 1990 or so sound quality isn't
what it was on the original i think. This is Metalcore pressing. However, to the album!
Here's something what i would call good example of GREAT American metal! But remember its 80's record.
They call this classic and i agree. For more power fan like me this first sounded little
too traditional but after few listens melodies starts to strike. Here Jag Panzer has pretty
complicated and melodical yet hard (believe when i say HARD) ripping guitarwork, amazing
for an 80's record. Bass is solid as should. And if you like high screams making vocalist
Conklin is a top notch! Theres some screams i havent even heard mr.Halford himself doing for a
while. With melodic ripping guitarwork and Conklin's powerfull high vocals combined, Conklin
sounds like a metal-preacher. Yes that's a best term to describe him in many songs. Drummer
is great too, unfortunaly this record quality eats the drum athmosphere a bit but it still
sounds good. Melodies varies from beatufil melodic to ripping. Every song is good but i'd
like to pick up: The great Warfare with is awesomely strong guitarwork and singalong chorus
"Im living my life as, a warfare! Reigning king of the night, warfare! Take it from the
streets, warfare! Put it in the sheets, warfare!", totally remarkable, the fast Harder Than Steel with great attitude which
succeeds to avoid the 80's glitches (most bands would have talked about Kings of Metal or rock warriors
or something!") and has very beatiful guitarsolo part where also bass stands out great,
Generally Hostile with its blazing speed, melody and strength, beatiful The Watching which
has onrolling parts combined to somewhat militaric rhytms at some parts and another ripping
track Reign of Tyrants. The rest of the songs being great too like mystical The Crucifix or
solid Licensed To Kill.
The songstructure is not only like "riff1-riff2-riff3-solo-riff1-riff2-riff3" without
any variying. Not at all, flashy guitarparts and changing melodies shines everywhere without
breaking the construction and making it chaotic.
Here we have real US metal classic with honest metal attitude at its best. Its a two piped thing,
if you cant stand anything that's +10 years old than you'd propably rate this album
one or two points lower than me because this is something i call classic-heavy-metal and
this shoulda been more famous than Metallica's 80's releases, what failed, promotion?
(maybe the fact that this album was bootlegged like 5 or 6 times before going out the press tells something???)
If you find, buy or die "because your harder than steel"!!