Jag Panzer - The Scourge of the Light

In Jag Panzer’s nearly seven-year absence from the scene, guitarist Chris Broadrick left to join Megadeth and vocalist Harry Conklin found time to reunite with Satan’s Host. With these events and limited gigs and festival appearances, it left Jag Panzer fans wondering when exactly the follow up to Cast the Stones would be released. Especially since founder/guitarist Mark Briody started talking about The Scourge of the Light back in 2008.  Guitarist Chris Lasegue, who shredded on the band’s Chain of Command, rejoins and Jag Panzer returns to a more classic form.

“Condemned to Fight” opens The Scourge of the Light in splendid fashion. With heaps of melody, speed and dizzying solos, it marks for a start return to form, recalling blazing album openers such as “Take to the Sky” or “Iron Eagle.”  Conklin sounds fantastic and Lasegue has no problem setting ablaze the frets. “Setting of the Sun” slows things down drastically.  Conklin carries the track with soaring vocals while Briody and Laseque keep the melodies subtle and let the strings augment the moody song. Some seriously melancholic moments make for “Bringing on the End” to be quite a chilling song.  The pulsating bass and haunting chorus slightly collide with the mid-point shredding and tempo shift but the band pulls it off nicely.

The melody comes back with force on “Call to Arms.”  With a soaring chorus and some nice six-string hysterics, the track makes for one of the best on the disc.  “Cycles” comes off more like Traditional Metal than Power but still has plenty of bite with some really heavy riffs and some thunderous drumming from Rikard Stjernquist.  “Overlord” shifts back nicely between crunch and melody while Conklin lets it rip over some galloping riffs and melodic passages. “Let it Out” breaks out as the album’s odd ball with a solitary focus on Metal.  Laseque finds a few moments to whip out some shredding but the track really is a mid-paced burner that finds Jag Panzer at their heaviest.

“Union” gets the band back to the Power Metal but the heaviness of the previous song is retained with some riffs that actually chug and grind while the solo and melodic hooks are pure class. The piano as the beginning of “Burn” sets a melancholic tone while the opening melody and shredding approach neo-classical at points. Things quickly get back to the heaviness as it twists and turns with different tempos and varied riffs, shedding the song’s initial moodiness.  Jag Panzer gets epic with “The Book of Kellis.” Armed with a choir, strings and one of Conklin’s finest moments, the track lets the vocalist carry the majority of the track. From the mid-point on, the track shifts its focus to Laseque’s shredding, finally winding down into subtle glory.

The Scourge of the Light is a much more traditional Metal album when compared to the slightly progressive Power Metal bite of Casting the Stones.  But that doesn’t short change Scourge by any means. In fact, it may appeal more to fans of the band’s earlier material.  Also, Scourge really allows Conklin to shine and Lasegue to flourish. With top-shelf production and plenty of variety in the tracks, Scourge is a welcome return to one of the US’s best Power Metal bands.  Fans of not only the band, but traditional Heavy and Power Metal will find pleasure and pure Metal craftsmanship in plenty of repeat listens to The Scourge of the Light. Recommended.

Release Date: February 28, 2011
Label: SPV/Steamhammer

TRACK LISTING

1.  Condemned to Fight
2.  The Setting of the Sun
3.  Bringing on the End
4.  Call to Arms
5.  Cycles
6.  Overlord
7.  Let it Out
8.  Union
9.  Burn
10.  The Book of Kells

Total playing time:  48:47

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*Comments:

Reviewer: Rottenbucher

February 26, 2011