by Mark Gromen

Finally! It seemed that original '80s pioneers had fallen off the map (OK, still from Colorado, but Casting The Stones came out in ‘04), but the camp has been all but dormant after a failed attempt at a live album for Century Media and then the defection of guitar wizard Chris Broderick to MEGADETH. In his place is returning string-bender Christian Lasegue, who was in the band for three years during the eighties, even recording the ill-fated (and long delayed) Chain Of Command.

The Scourge Of The Light is due out on February 25th in Germany, February 28th throughout Europe and March 8th in North America via SPV/Steamhammer. Below is a track-by-track overview:

‘Condemned To Fight’ – Symphonic sweep opens, right into riffs aplenty. Quick double bass drumming and that recurrent classical influenced guitar run.

‘The Setting Of The Sun’ - Opens with children reciting the end of the Lord’s Prayer, tolling bell. Mid-section features a brief Renaissance Faire (Blackmore’s Night) melody beneath Rikard Stjernquist’s drum barrage.

‘Bringing On The End’ – A plodding, meat and potatoes metal number. Harry ‘The Tyrant’ Conklin utilizes multiple voices. Throughout the disc he keeps his highest register in check and never offers that wildly undulation that characterized the classic (Ample Destruction) material. Just when you think the tune will remain slow, a wild guitar run wakes things up, before

‘Call To Arms’ – Military snap of snare drums and cooing female voice introduce. Basically a brothers in arms (military) homage. However, it can double as metaldom brotherhood’s “us against them” call, probably soon to be German approved concert sing-along. “We are all brothers by call, united for the same cause. Hardened steel and leather , this is our call to arms.”

‘Cycles’ – Poundingly heavy start, yet another mid-tempo track, almost groove laden, until the guitar break. A slight echo on the Tyrant’s throat. “You make me beg. You make me plead. You make me burn. You make me bleed.”

‘Overlord’ – Epic, Medieval fantasy.

‘Let It Out’ – Simplistic, primal scream therapy lyrics, but the most aggressive guitar (thunderous drums too) number, to this point.

‘Union’ – Another ode to the closeness of the metal community. “In union we are brothers. In union stand as one.”

‘Burn’ – False beginning, solo classical piano, gradual metal band procession and BANG! More akin to Cage riffing than Jag Panzer! Doesn’t red line throughout, but keeps coming back to that killer melody! Favorite song of the bunch. Conklin whispers (talk about a waste of a voice!) and the tune closes with same piano.

‘The Book Of Kells’ – Full multi-voiced choir early on. More of that Ren Faire influence, violin (and is that sackbut, or some other whiny woodwind). Tune about a guys tattoos coming alive.

The Panzers have made comments about Stones being negatively received in Europe, due to its heavy tones and aggressive nature. If that’s true, they obviously had those reviews in mind while composing this latest batch, as few could be associated with either adjective, more progressive than power or traditional metal. Definitely not an “immediate” album (which given the long layoff, might not be the best thing), more of a “grower” requiring repeated listens.