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│ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │
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│ P R E S E N T S │
│ │
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│ + Jag Panzer - The Age Of Mastery + │
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│ │
│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Information ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Release Date.Jan-30-2015 Encoder......L3.97 -V2 --vbr-new ║ │
│║ Genre........Heavy Metal Graber.......EAC ║ │
│║ Year.........1998 Khz/Bitrate..44,1/ Br ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Ripper.......anthem Songs........12 ║ │
│║ Covers.......Yes Url... www.jagpanzer.com ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Notes ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Artist : Jag Panzer Rating : You Decide! ║ │
│║ Album : The Age Of Mastery Label : Century Media ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Description : ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Once the 'Tyrant' Harry Conklin had returned to ║ │
│║ the fold, and the Colorado chain gang had ║ │
│║ produced The Fourth Judgment, they were ║ │
│║ embarking on a streak of productivity that would ║ │
│║ quickly surpass the band's 80s output in no time ║ │
│║ flat. The Age of Mastery was the next statement ║ │
│║ in this sequence, an attempt to expand upon the ║ │
│║ Panzer revival, the unhinged leather rebels of ║ │
│║ the 80s expounding into a mature, melodic ║ │
│║ territory. Joey Tafolla had once again parted ║ │
│║ with the squad, but the band made an adequate ║ │
│║ choice in Chris Broderick (who would go on to ║ │
│║ Nevermore and Megadeth) as the cult shred ║ │
│║ legend's replacement, so the Jag would not be at ║ │
│║ a loss in this area for the immediate future. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ The Age of Mastery is a bit of an anomaly, for ║ │
│║ while it presses forward with both the legacies ║ │
│║ of their 80s material and the melodic surge of ║ │
│║ the previous year's comeback, there is a hint at ║ │
│║ a wider ambition here which will carry forward ║ │
│║ into the following album Thane to the Throne, a ║ │
│║ progressive slant that proves the band were not ║ │
│║ content with merely rehashing themselves, ║ │
│║ despite their newfound motivations and career ║ │
│║ second wind. That's not to say the execution ║ │
│║ here is well enough rounded, and the mix of such ║ │
│║ materials with a "Lustfull and Free", or "Iron ║ │
│║ Eagle" creates a jilted experience that feels ║ │
│║ more like a pair of diverse EPs tacked together ║ │
│║ than a pure, consistent effort, but thankfully ║ │
│║ there is just enough here to enthrall and ║ │
│║ immerse a listener into the broader field of ║ │
│║ ideas. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ "Iron Eagle" is the gateway, a roll of melodic ║ │
│║ muting given graceful airs through the insertion ║ │
│║ of early, taut leads that hook off the verse and ║ │
│║ offer ballast to Conklin's efficient if average ║ │
│║ lyrical patterns, similar to the material on the ║ │
│║ previous album. There are some nice touches of ║ │
│║ backing, male choral vocals, and I love the ║ │
│║ percussion ringing off against the lead ║ │
│║ sequence, though the solo itself feels like ║ │
│║ little more than indulgence that eludes the ║ │
│║ memory. "Lustfull and Free" feels like the band ║ │
│║ returning to the virile and infectious explosion ║ │
│║ of 1984's Ample Destruction, though polished and ║ │
│║ given an elevated sense of atmosphere. "Sworn to ║ │
│║ Silence" fords into darker climes, essentially a ║ │
│║ mix of melodic heavy and thrash metal with a ║ │
│║ great chorus and charging axes, while "Twilight ║ │
│║ Years" bounces is a personal favorite here, a ║ │
│║ bouncing juggernaut of melodic mutes that erupts ║ │
│║ into a memorable, fluid chorus and a fairly ║ │
│║ progressive/power bridge. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ After this potent initial outburst, featuring ║ │
│║ some of the highlights, the record levels off ║ │
│║ somewhat and becomes a more muted palette of ║ │
│║ color, competent and yet somewhat less ║ │
│║ inspiring. For instance, the bridge and lead of ║ │
│║ the band's cover of "False Messiah" (from ex- ║ │
│║ Virgin Steele stringer Jack Starr's solo effort ║ │
│║ Out of the Darkness) are well crafted, but the ║ │
│║ surrounding environs are less notable; "The Age ║ │
│║ of Mastery" pumps along at its mid pace, but its ║ │
│║ not until the twisting, serpentine melodies of ║ │
│║ "Displacement" that we get another rouser with a ║ │
│║ progressive presence that hints at the myriad ║ │
│║ possibilities this band might explore as they ║ │
│║ proceed into their mid life. "Viper" is a soon ║ │
│║ forgotten rocker, and "Take This Pain Away" ║ │
│║ fails to truly function as a soaring power ║ │
│║ ballad. Conklin seems shaky in the verses as he ║ │
│║ hits a mid range, though its interesting to hear ║ │
│║ him paired with a violin. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ We next have "Chain of Command", a track that ║ │
│║ would naturally have appeared on Panzer's yet ║ │
│║ unreleased sophomore studio effort. It's an ║ │
│║ acceptable piece of melodic power metal which ║ │
│║ once again utilizes some strings, but not ║ │
│║ ultimately memorable. As compensation, "Burning ║ │
│║ Heart" is a great, brazen spike of inspiration ║ │
│║ driven deep into the listener's icy chest, all ║ │
│║ crystal melodies and excellent presence of John ║ │
│║ Tetley's bass lines, with Conklin transforming ║ │
│║ into some ethereal, female entity in the chorus. ║ │
│║ The curtains of The Age of Mastery are drawn ║ │
│║ with "The Moors", a pretty ambitious piece with ║ │
│║ choral arrangements, strings and an epic ║ │
│║ composition which is about half on, half off, or ║ │
│║ better yet a glimpse into the crystal ball of ║ │
│║ the band's next full-length. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ There are enough ideas present on this fourth ║ │
│║ album that the long-term Jag Panzer fan must ║ │
│║ surely listen back with some fondness, at least ║ │
│║ for a handful of the tracks, but it's true that ║ │
│║ the album just feels off as far as its ║ │
│║ presentation and consistency. That said, were I ║ │
│║ to craft some mix of my favorite songs from the ║ │
│║ Coloradans, I would absolutely include "Twilight ║ │
│║ Years", "Burning Heart" and "Displacement", if ║ │
│║ not "Lustfull and Free" for its more rocking, ║ │
│║ old school fare. What is perhaps most important ║ │
│║ about The Age of Mastery is that it shows a band ║ │
│║ about to embark on a conceptual phase of their ║ │
│║ career which elevates them from mere power/heavy ║ │
│║ metal to something more substantial and ║ │
│║ interesting. But will their strong musical ║ │
│║ foundation hold? ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
│ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Tracklist ║ │
│╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │
│ │
│ 01 - iron eagle [05:39] │
│ 02 - lustfull and free [04:50] │
│ 03 - twilight years [04:36] │
│ 04 - sworn to silence [03:24] │
│ 05 - false messiah [05:12] │
│ 06 - the age of mastery [04:31] │
│ 07 - viper [04:38] │
│ 08 - displacement [04:29] │
│ 09 - chain of command [05:50] │
│ 10 - take this pain away [04:46] │
│ 11 - burning heart [03:54] │
│ 12 - the moors [05:39] │
│ │
│ Total Length : [57:28 minn │
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│ ╔═════════════════════╗ │
│ ║ Greetings To: ║ │
│ ╚═════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ Too all people who contributes to make this │
│ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │
│ │
│ │
│ │
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