JAG PANZER - Decade Of The Nail-Spiked Bat
October 23, 2003, 20 years ago
(Century Media)
Jag Panzer could have easily been a revered historical footnote, but strangely, they are now reconstituted, Harry and crew recording and touring vigourously to the point of the band being downright "available." It's hard to live down the history of the band's '84 Ample Destruction full-length debut though, and in honour of that (and the 20th anniversary of the lesser known Tyrants EP), the band have re-recorded a total of 11 rarities from those two classics, plus other assorted rare - and even non-issued/aborted - tracks from the band's early days. What falls out of the thing is a cohesive 2CD (85 minute) collection that demonstrates the band's unwavering and true metal vision, topped by just a sliver of eye-winked irony in the voice and demeanor of the Colorado air raid siren at the spiked helm. As well, one can appreciate the sturdiness of these songs, Manowar-hardened anthems that are iced by improved percussion performances and leads that blaze more than on the old originals. Production isn't exactly a huge improvement though (granted, Jag Panzer never sucked in this department), Decade going for a warm, treble-diminished sound that emphasizes the front and centre vibe of the band's rhythm section and the stark stop/starting rhythms they employ. The booklet rules as well, with detailed explanations attached to each track, and crappy so-metal cover art that was to be used back in '85, now unearthed for a good laugh.
