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Rating: Authentic heroes of the American metallic underground, Jag Panzer have never received the recognition they deserved. Starting in the very early 80s from the state of Colorado, their career has been anything but steady, marked by breakups, reunions, and departures, yet always defined by the purest and most unadulterated heavy metal. Alongside other big names like Helstar and Vicious Rumors, they laid the groundwork for what is today commonly referred to as American power metal, distinctly different from its European, especially German, cousin. While Helloween and others built illustrious careers over the years focusing on virtuosity, speed, and melodies, the power metal on the other side of the ocean was characterized by tight rhythms, powerful riffs, and commanding vocals that paid the right tribute to the maestros Judas Priest. Despite their extensive discography, Jag Panzer are mostly cited for their debut album, that "Ample Destruction" from 1984, which was a small metal success at the time and pointed the way for an American approach to heavy metal. Paradoxically, over the years the band has encountered numerous difficulties in reissuing that particular record, mainly due to incomprehensible bans imposed by guitarist Joey Tafolla, who was the lead guitarist at the time alongside mainstay Mark Briody. The desire to make that material available again and the fact that it was, at least in its genre, a classic, pushed the band to re-record much of those tracks, overcoming a deadlock situation that seemed impossible to escape. "Decade Of The Nail-spiked Bat", released in 2003, presents itself as a double CD that re-proposes the best of the early repertoire of the American quintet, all united with some old demos finally given an official release and a few other gems. The cover itself that introduces the work clearly indicates the attitude of the project: it is in fact the painting prepared at the time for the second album of the group, that follow-up to "Ample Destruction" which, at the time, never saw the light of day, with Jag Panzer disbanding shortly after. "Reign Of The Tyrants" immediately retrieves one of the band's oldest tracks and fully represents their style: a solid and powerful power metal, with a strong rhythm section and vocals indebted to voices like Rob Halford and Bruce Dickinson, thus, as already explained, far removed from that European power metal full of choruses and melodies that would flourish ten years later. Considering the compilation in question features very dated material, it's normal that, on several occasions, you can hear tracks written by young musicians who did not yet have a well-defined style and who, in many moments, betray the influences of the period. If "Eyes Of The Night" pays the rightful tribute to Dio's Rainbow, "Metal Melts The Ice" recalls certain heavier Judas Priest tracks. "Decade Of The Nail-spiked Bat" doesn’t miss the opportunity to reinterpret more than one track ("The Church", "Spirit Suicide") from that "Dissident Alliance" from 1994, which was unequivocally panned at the time. While the final result is more than good, thus showing that even on that record there were evidently several interesting cues, Mark Briody himself, in the comments within the booklet, explains how often the tracks that ended up on that album were far from what the initial ideas were, evident signs that, years later, even Jag Panzer themselves were not satisfied with the finished work and how those pieces needed to be reworked. In addition to a few lesser-known songs revisited for the occasion ("Forsaken", "She Waits"), however, it becomes clear that the ultimate purpose of this anthology was to make the early tracks available again and in fact, looking at the tracklist, the EP "Tyrants" and the historic "Ample Destruction" are practically present in their entirety. The production is good, clean enough to highlight the individual musicians, just as the inner booklet is really rich in information. A work like this "Decade Of The Nail-spiked Bat", by necessity, is aimed at two very specific types of listeners, namely the most ardent fans, who own the original albums but are keen to hear these reinterpretations, and the novices, giving them the chance to start with a selection of the most representative tracks from the group's first ten years, with the hope, of course, that they will go on to discover the remaining chapters of this historic American metal band’s journey.
Jag Panzer:
- Harry "The Tyrant" Conklin, vocals
- Rikard Stjernquist, drums
- John Tetley, bass
- Chris Broderick, guitars and keyboards
- Mark Briody, guitars
Disc 1
- Reign Of The Tyrants
- Eyes Of The Night
- The Church
- Metal Melts The Ice
- Forsaken
- Fallen Angel
- Battle Zones
- Warfare
- Tower Of Darkness
- Licensed To Kill
Disc 2
- Generally Hostile
- The Watching
- She Waits
- Edge Of Blindness
- Spirit Suicide
- Iron Shadows
- Black Sunday
- Symphony Of Terror
- Death Row
- The Crucifix
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 Reign Of The Tyrants (00:00)
Neon lights are flashing as the tyrants raise their swords
Sounds of metal crashing the avenue overlords
Kings of black leather with words made of steel
Lock all your doors very soon you will feel
Under the knife. Feel the revenge.
Under the knife. You'll get it in the end.
Under the knife. You'd better run for your life.
'Cause you're under the knife!
Bishops of the street, authors of corruption, leaders
in the night just waiting for an eruption.
A rider dressed in black screams out
"You fuckin' clowns! Bring your best you fools and I will tear him to the ground!"
Hear the rumble around you, it's a blood curdling sound
Blood stained heads and bodies all are breaking on the ground
A .45 caliber flashing life's ending with a bang
Tyrants rule the king is dead! We are the gang that reigns!
02 Licensed To Kill (00:00)
[lyrics by Harry Conklin] Scrambled signals on the radio Orders are given to attack Flames light the sky from over the hill No time for turning back Well, the blood lust runs cold inside my veins Twisting tormenting my mind I feel a scream from deep inside It lets me know I'm the killin' kind Gonna yell, unleash this demon rage Scream, I'm a tiger in a cage Yell, I'm on the prowl again Scream A soldier on the streets somewhere in L.A. Preparing this night for the attack Swinging chains and switchblade knives Feel the nails in my baseball bat Well, I love to fight, I love to screw Feel my heat begin to rise Don't walk the street at night, my friend Or you're in for a surprise Playing on the sheets of untold sin Who can tell what the darkness withholds Spread your wings and we can fly Bodies ready to explode Touch me, thrill me, you can scratch me, love Get me in your stranglehold Well, you make me moan, I'll make you yell Passions uncontrolled, uncontrolled
03 Eyes Of The Night (00:00)
Eyes Of The NightYou feel the lightning crack the sky at night You feel it chill you to the bone
It burns a fire deep within your soul Look away, Look away, leave it alone They
are the eyes that burn inside you Take chance, ride the night The eyes of the
night hypnotize you The eyes of the night The eyes of the night Dream on, you
shadow believer For the eyes of the shadow will surely do you in They are the
eyes that burn inside you Take chance, ride the night The eyes of the night
hypnotize you The eyes of the night The eyes of the night The eyes of the night
See the black cat in his stare See the evil in the air Don`t let the black cat
cross your path Beware Fly wings of moonlight is the spell tonight Soar upon
it`s evil air When the shadow starts to move, yeah You`ll see a cold and bloody
stare They are the eyes that burn inside you Take chance, ride the night The
eyes of the night hypnotize you The eyes of the night The eyes of the night
09 Warfare (00:00)
[lyrics by Harry Conklin]
We're on the prowl and our claws are bared
There is no holding back so you'd better beware
My sights are homing in, I feel the power surge
No time for excuses now that I have the urge
Madame and mister listen up and take heed
I was raised in hell and I'm spreading the seed
Breakin' your face and bustin' your head
Won't leave you alone until I leave you dead
We're the restless breed livin' day by day
So get down on your knees 'cause this time you're gonna pay
I'm living my life causing, Warfare!
Reigning king of the night,Warfare!
Take it from the streets, Warfare!
Put it in the sheets, Warfare!
Trample the cities leaving dust in our wake
Not a thing left alive, run before it's too late
The women, the children, the young and the old
Nothing will escape the Panzer stronghold
Sound of crushing bones, scent of burning flesh
Posting skulls on a pole terrorizing the rest
We're the restless breed leaving nothin' behind
Can't reason with a man who has death on his mind
Total destruction from the Panzer patrol
Fire and brimstone taking its toll
Black leather lords we're so tall and so proud
Warfare is our battle cry, shout it aloud
[Repeat Verse 1]
11 Generally Hostile (00:00)
[lyrics by Harry Conklin]
Town clock echo splits the night,
the witching hour moves even closer to the brink of time that is at hand.
Sound of heels pound the street from the curse that rules the town.
Chill of death has come to reap the damned.
For years ago he went away and now he's back to claim
the unsuspected souls to justify his death.
Oh, foolish one, you'd best make haste. There is no time
to contemplate. The hammer brings the twelfth and your last breath.
He's the one who holds the night in the hollow of his hand.
Evil reigning ruler of the dark
Striking with a furious urge, a thunderbolt from hell.
Everything he touches bears his mark.
Seeking no amusement in any lovers foolish games
but go ahead and let them all begin.
He lives his life in malice, not a single night in shame.
Burning bright the everlasting flames of sin.
I'm a man who shows no mercy for the weak.
No mercy! [Repeat]
Dangling at the end of your rope, can't you see it's 'round your neck
Desolation of another kind.
Your head's in heaven flying high. Your heart's in hell burning lust
Infatuation's always in your mind
You're the perfect sinner, yes, the one who stabbed me
in the back. You've got no guts, just like the rest.
Thrust my blade in, give a twist, tear a scream from your lips.
One o'clock takes your final breath.
12 The Crucifix (00:00)
[lyrics by Harry Conklin] When your love exists no more it's time to find another door Rekindling flames that have gone dim, let feelings spread on a whim Look toward the light and fix your eyes, let the white dove fly When your love exists no more it's time to find another door Hearts are dry it's time they burn The wheel of life has stopped its turn Pound the flesh unto the tree Bound and hung before me Cast your lots unto him now Search your hearts before the bow Life's too short, why throw away Save the best for the final day Bleed into the world of sin The blood will flow to the hearts within Agonizing pain and death Well, it's burning everything that's left Kneel before the one so true He's the king of all and even you Darkness ruling everyone Praising another as the one true son Burn his number into the flesh 666 the final test See the mark sweep the land On the forehead, on the hand Hang the one that we all know Crucify the inner soul Sell your soul unto the maker The Crucifix
13 The Watching (00:00)
Your time has come the full moon's in the air
Hear the cry of the jackal in the hills
Scent of smoke fills your nostrils
as the wind blows back your hair
Paint the canvas black if you will
Watch out there's a man who wants your soul
It won't be long till he finds you
Don't look back at the shadow on the wall
With hands outstretched to grab you
So don't let the reaper catch you sitting still. NO!
Feel the touch on your shoulder as you turn your head around
Take heed, my friend, of the reaper's blade
Oh, come, you happy hearted, let your empty minds be filled
Don't let your hallowed soul be betrayed
Fix your eyes on the crowd, don't let your stare astray
See them practice magic in the air
As they cry their incantations, oh, their damned insinuations
Mix the sea with the blood moon, but beware
Blood moon sitting high up in the sky
Oh, you're the spotlight that can kill
Blood moon bleeding on the world tonight
It will take your heart and change your will
"So don't let the reaper catch you sitting still!"
19 Symphony Of Terror (00:00)
[lyrics by Harry Conklin]
With the curse of death he stands
In the darkness cold and black
Looking over the lands preparing his attack
Hunger nagging at his belt
Spreading his wings far and wide
To sail across the countryside
The impaler is known to everyone around
He'll sneak into your room at night
And feast without a sound
He's a mysterious figure in black
Roaming the city bringing death
Pestilence from rats invaders by the score
Plaguing the people with disease
Running scared nowhere to go and nowhere to hide
Running through the woods and over the countryside
Must escape this nightmare, put an end to this dream
Let us come together, put an end to all his schemes.
Nosferatu is his name and he's spreading his curse
'Cross the land, feel his eyes take your soul
Heed my words, run if you can <i>[Repeat]</i>
Taste of blood upon his teeth the beast is ready for to fly
Soaring to his victory, she is virgin fare, I can taste her in my mouth
Now he's in her parlor bending for a feast
Looking up in wonder she seduced the evil beast
"Oh, stay all night with me and you can have your way"
Morning brings the sunlight and his ashes blow away
20 Death Row (00:00)
So you think you got it made
Standing so close to the stage
Hear the sound like a battering ram
But what you don't know
Is Jag Panzer's got control
And the power is all in our hands
Yes, as decibels raise
Your eardrums will split
Like fire from hell and the grave
With vengeance and malice
We'll yell and we'll scream
Our violence evolves from the stage
So I'll give you my body
To do what you want
I'm boiling with passionate flare
You know it's controlled
But not for very long
Take your soul with my deadly stare
Death Row
Your standing in the
Death Row
Ringing inside your head
Death Row
First seven rows
Death Row
Louder till we raise the dead
So keep raising your hands
Oh you're such loving fans
We're headbangers, one and all
I'm aiming to please
Bring you down to your knees
You've suddenly lost all control
Death Row
Your standing in the
Death Row
Ringing inside your head
Death Row
First seven rows
Death Row
Louder till we raise the dead
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