Jag Panzer – “Casting the Stones”
This band has some nerve!! How many heavy metal bands begin their albums with their fast songs? All of them, right? In fact, traditional metal bands often rely on speed to hide their unoriginality. Well, forget that, kids, because the Jag Panzer meisters throw that thinking out the window! The first song is mid-paced. The second song is mid-paced. The faster parts do not arrive until the fifth song. Why is this? Because they don’t have anything to hide!! This band shows that: (1) the best songs are the ones that do not cover up weaknesses and (2) the best songs are the ones that try something new. Some people think that all traditional metal bands are interested in copying Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. Jag Panzer is its own entity. The vocals are great, as usual, the riffing unique yet, traditional; plenty of soloing, plenty of rhythm and beat. One ought to be proud of this band.