Jag Panzer should need no introduction to those who dwell on this blogosphere. Blasting the cannons of truth and US power metal far and wide since 1983, they’ve carved out a strong, consistent, and impressive niche for themselves over a long-running reign of glory. Led by the one-of-a-kind vocal prowess of Harry “the Tyrant” Conklin, Jag Panzer’s Ample Destruction debut shocked and awed the masses with its catchy, kick-ass heavy metal on roids sound, and it left the world waiting more. Band instabilities meant that the more part didn’t come until 1997s The Fourth Judgment, which showed the band in a more refined, epic mindset. From there though, the hits kept on coming. Followups like The Age of Mastery and the Macbeth-themed Thane to the Throne were regal, high-quality slabs of traditional metal, and they continued to craft slick, highly technical albums from there. It’s been nearly 6 years since 2017s The Deviant Chord, but the Panzer attack is finally back with The Hallowed. It’s a concept album dealing with a bleak, dystopian future and it pairs with a comic book that was released by the band last year. Can a comic book-themed metal album kick righteous ass though? The masses demand answers!
Soundwise, The Hallowed is very much a classic Panzer outing with nods to the Ample Destruction days, but that over-the-top epic bombast is still present and accounted for. Opener “Bound as One” reeks of the same brand of oil and axle grease as the Ample Destruction material did, and it’s wild to hear the band go back to their brutish roots. Tyrant wails and bellows wildly over testosterone-soaked riffs bracketed by the sound of a souped-up engine revving and it is a joy to hear. The next several songs all slot into that winning formula, offering classic Panzer thrills and chills. “Prey” is exactly the kind of song I want from these ageless wonders with mucho machismo and Tyrant’s ageless pipes kicking ass and taking names. “Ties That Bind” is the kind of slow burn, power number Panzer excel at, with big anthem energy and plenty of heft, and “Stronger Than You Know” could have escaped from The Age of Mastery. It’s all top-tier Panzer.
While the second half of The Hallowed has some really good stuff too, the overall momentum and quality start to slip a bit. I heartily enjoy the sword-swinging majesty and might of “Onward We Toil” and “Edge of a Knife” is classic Jagness, but late album power ballad “Weather the Storm” is a bit too sleepy. Nearly 10-minute closer “Last Rites” is also very restrained and plodding. It’s not a bad song, but it’s very slow, brooding, and moody and it drags out too long. At 53 minutes, The Hallowed likely wouldn’t feel long were it not for the rather languid conclusion. It’s three-fourths kick-ass traditional metal with an iron fist hidden in a steel glove, and some slower, less interesting frills. It all sounds great though with a very warm, appealing production, burly guitar tones, and lots of space for the larger-than-life voice of Tyrant. I do have issues with the voiceovers used to move the story forward, however. They’re well done and not cheesy and remind me of the narration from The Road Warrior, but do I need them? Not really. They’re much more manageable than those on the new Fifth Angel platter though!
Lord Tyrant Conklin is in unnaturally great form here. I continue to be amazed by how ageless his voice is after so long in the metalverse. He doesn’t seem to age like the rest of us, and there’s no decline in his range and power. This version of Tyrant could go back to kill it in Ample Destruction and still have enough left over for a Satan’s Host double album. That can only be the work of the Devil! As always, founding guitarist Mark Briody makes sure there are plenty of technical and flashy guitar tricks and treats in every song. He, along with new slinger Ken Rodarte, tear things up grandly, soaking the listener in catchy harmonies and dazzling solos. They give themselves space to impress but don’t overdo it and turn things into a prog wank-fest. The talent here is big and broad and most of the writing is sure to impress the proper demographic.
The Hallowed is another quality release from a band that cannot fail. I may not like it quite as much as earlier works, but there’s a whole lot of heavy-duty metal here to extract and enjoy. Even with some flaws, Jag Panzer write such highly memorable and addicting metal that they overcome them. At this point, it’s hard to question their legendary place in Metal’s Hall of Infamy. If you haven’t got on the Panzer yet, now is a good time!
Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 9 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Atomic Fire
Websites: jagpanzer.com/jpnew | facebook.com/jagpanzerofficial
Releases Worldwide: June 23rd, 2023
