The Fourth Judgement

This is the sound of classic Jag Panzer-like they'd never been away.
After the not so well received "Dissident Alliance", Harry Conklin-he of the almighty voice that graced the nailed in stone classic "Ample Destruction"-returned to the fold. Also back on board was guitarist Joey Tafolla and along with Mark Briody, bassist John Tetley and drummer Rikard Stjernquist, they worked themselves into a frenzy, out of which "The Fourth Judgement" boiled forth.


The last traditional metal album whose strength I likened to a "vanquishing potion" was Manowar's "Battle Hymns". But where that one was a roaring rampage of battle stained warriors trudging on gleefully amidst dirty riffs that pierced like unwashed swords, this one is a grim but theatrical masterpiece with stomping riffs and clean leads that cut as precisely as a cleaver. With Jag Panzer, you don't get the thrills and glory of battle, you get the bloody darkness of it. In all its suffocating might. It is a rich color with a deep, almost tangible hue and inside it is Jag Panzer wading through it and exposing it layer for layer by way of song.
Appropriately enough, the opening track is titled "Black". Harry Conklin is the fucking bringer of ill tidings vocally on this one while Tafolla and Briody's layered guitars make it the more pleasing to the ear. But even more auditorily pleasing is "Shadow Thief" whose prog sensitive solos tremble and shake masterfully with the ultra theatrical dynamics of start n' stop.


All ten tracks make for unforgettable listening. Some like "Future Shock" and "Ready To Strike" are deliberate slabs of nostalgia looking back to the "Ample Destruction" days while others like "Despair" and "Judgement Day" herald the new sound of the band. An unbalanced wall that agitates for more melody while piling on the heavy riffage. "Recompense" has one of the catchiest choruses I have EVER heard in metal and "Sonnet of Sorrow" is a slight verse of introspection that doesn't meander. Overall, an admirable collection.
"The Fourth Judgement" is Jag Panzer unbridled and at their most basic. Every worthy fan should shower it with undying love.

While Jag Panzer's 1994 distinct failure Dissident Alliance was a positive reinforcement of both our civilization's need for the profession of psychological counsel and large, ample supplies of booze available over counters everywhere, the band would not dwell on this ill conceived and dourly received effort for a long period of time, hashing out any delusions that they could proceed down the path of bad thrash and bringing the 'Tyrant' and Joey Tafolla back on board for The Fourth Judgment, the band's first album in a deal they inked with Century Media, who were truly gaining ground as one of the world's premiere metal labels by this point (well before the singing spree of trendy commercial fashion-core and metal bands).

This was rather a surprise, because power metal in the 90s had long been dominated by the Europeans, and it was really time for the US bands to start kicking it back into gear. This was not an immensely popular genre at the time, and considering the Colorado band's recent audio vomit, one can only assume this was due to the return of Conklin and reversion to the style of their 1984 classic, Ample Destruction, which still held considerable weight in the underground. The Fourth Judgment is not exactly what the doctor ordered, nor is it quite so memorable as that legendary cult effort, but its a step in the right direction, Jag Panzer with an added level of melody and maturity manifest largely through Tafolla's even further increased ability. Harry is not so wild as his early years, but his time in Titan Force has refined his voice into a crisp, professional weapon, still capable of launching into shrieking heights. Briody and Jon Tetley both seem to be back where they belong, and they've even kept on Rikard Stjernquist, who sounds more alive behind his sticks than on his unfortunate debut with the band.

"Black" sets the stage early with a surging string section that parts for spacey ambient synths and Tyrant's introduction which soon turns to churning, melodic mid-paced metal, a balance of angrier chords and fragile guitar patterns that beautifully set up the best leads the band had conceived since 1984. "Call of the Wild" sounds like an outtake from the Ample Destruction years given youth by the cleaner production standards, wailing vocals and ominous backing vocals, one of the more memorable tracks from this effort. "Despair' uses some twangy bent melodies to create an eerie effect not unlike King Diamond, stilted chords in the verse hammered out percussively before launching into the elevating chorus. "Future Shock" benefits from a good vocal performance, a touch of background synthesizers and another fine chorus and lead sequence, while "Recompense" fires up a thick NWOBHM influence with a cruising, bruising riff not unlike Saxon that cedes into spry, melodic grace. It might also be relevant here to note the band's lyrical improvements, as per "Future Shock":

Overlapping textures of pain
Nightmares race through information veins
Who claims what's wrong, who controls what's right and who cares anyway
The information highway will take you there for such a small price to pay

Deeper into the track list, there is no death in quality, as "Ready to Strike" and "Tyranny" provide another pair of titanic, melodic hymns which embrace the very best of both classic USPM and their European counterparts. I particularly enjoy the winding bass in the later verse of "Tyranny", with yet another beautiful Tafolla lead (it goes without saying that this man is a truly excellent match for this band). "Shadow Thief" is a piece that the band had originally written for several of their 80s demos post-Ample Destruction, and at long last it's given a golden makeover, a Maiden-like madness running through its bristling melodic thickets of sharpened steel leaves. "Sonnet of Sorrow" is an attractive if clunky acoustic interlude with Conklin dueling himself and some gorgeous violins, and "Judgement Day" follows suit with further acoustics that transform into a roiling, pompous metal beast with huge chords and angelic vocals, some of the best on the entire album.

With the exception of "Call of the Wild", there is not a lot of the wild, youthful abandon that we so loved on Ample Destruction, and yet this effort is truly elegant and mature, marking the band's turn towards ambitious concept albums and power metal narrative in later attempts. This is not a perfect record, and though many of its tracks are pleasant, most are forgettable within a short span of time, but there's nothing awkward or bad about it and its uncountable miles beyond the atrocity that was Dissident Alliance, a welcome return and a mirror into what the band might have become in that intermittent space between periods of undeniable inspiration.

-autothrall
http://www.fromthedustreturned.com

Many people praises 1984’s ”Ample Desctruction” as the best Jag Panzer and that their career went downwards already after that album. I am certainly not one of them. With this album, “The Fourth Judgement”, the band begun a new era, and it did really begin very good! Because this album is in competition with “Mechanized Warfare”, their best album. Splendid heavy metal with soaring melodies, heavy riffs, awesome guitar solos and with one of the best metal singers ever, Harry Conklin.

The album is also very consistent, with only one song that I’d say is bad, which is “Tyranny”. But among all other songs you will only find good ones. All songs goes in mid-tempo except for the short, acoustic “Sonet of Sorrow”. Only “Call of the Wild” goes in a little bit faster tempo, but without being that fast really. But the thing is that there is no need for speedy songs, because the band managed to variate the songs so good anyway with diversing melodies, riff changes and guitarsolos. Guitarsolos has always been an important ingridient in this bands music, and on here we get pleasing ones on almost every song. The one in “Judgement Day” is a favourite, which also the whole song is. The refrains are all very catchy and some will surely be stuck in you mind for weeks, the ones in “Despair”, “Future Shock” and “Judgement Day” are especially worth mentioning, phenomenal!

Production and soundwise, there isn’t much to complain about, a classic metal-sound I’d say. The guitars are pretty low tuned and there’s good pounding in the drums, perhaps a bit farty bass drums. Harry’s vocals lies perfectly in the mix. Performances of all members are of course toprating, and sometimes the music sounds like a heavier Iron Maiden because of Harry’s very identical Bruce Dickinson-voice. Still one can hear that it’s Harry the Tyrant, who is a very vital part of Jag Panzer.

This is an album that any fan of simple, traditional Heavy Metal should like. From the beautiful violin intro of “Black” to the heavy ending of “Judgement Day” you’ll be taken on a pretty short (around 40 minutes), but powerstriking journey. Get this album and you’ll see what I mean!

Most people who listen to heavy metal know Jag Panzer from their first full-length album, Ample Destruction (1984). Not that many have had the chance to listen to it (it didn’t become a commercial success and is unavailable for many years), but it has become an underground legend.
After some efforts with a different singer and some releases it wasn’t until 1997 that Jag Panzer made their real comeback with The Fourth Judgement with original vocalist Harry Conklin. Jag Panzer’s 1997 sound is not the typical American heavy-power sound. The band doesn’t copy anyone, they create music! I haven’t heard such an emotional album in years. The album wasn’t intended to be a quick studio job just to fulfill a record deal and that really shows.
The Fourth Judgement begins with Black. A heavy and very strong song, witch starts beautifully with violin, changes tempo many times and includes great solos. It’s very atmospheric, dark and different from the typical fast and happy power metal. All in all a great song. Call Of The Wild continues and is also a very strong cut. Despair and Future Shock are faster and very melodic. The next song, Recompense, has a great melody and awesome solos. A pretty memorable song that stays in your mind. Read To Strike comes next, which is also a very good song. Tyranny is fast, melodic and just a great power metal song. The 3 next songs are the most interesting part of the album. Shadow Thief is a classic; its melody is really good. You have to listen to the song to believe it. The melody can’t get out of your head, just like any really good song. Sonet Of Sorrow is an exceptional acoustic song. It creates a wonderful, dark atmosphere (the limited use of violin helps at that) and Harry’s vocals are superb. The last song is Judgement Day which starts slowly and acoustically. Then a great riff kicks in and the song explodes. The refrain is unbelievable and the whole song is very melodic (one of the best melodies I’ve heard). Great guitar work, great emotional vocals. Great song!
The Fourth Judgement is not a typical album; it has its own character, its own style. It’s definitely Jag Panzer’s masterpiece and one of heavy metal’s best albums. It’s an inspired record by passionate musicians. The music is great, the guitar tone, the solos, the rhythm section, everything. And above all, an incredible voice. One of metal’s most underrated singers, maybe the most underrated. Emotional, with excellent range and falsetto (used rarely here but it fits perfectly). A superb singer with countless possibilities. Finally, the lyrics of the album are good and vary; not the dark, desperate, only about death lyrics. A breathe of fresh air in the metal scene. As I read in another review on this record: Thanks guys.

This is the first Jag Panzer release with Harry Conklin on vocals after the amazing Ample Destruction was released in 1984 . 13 years later, One expects a hell of a release after 13 years of waiting, and what do we get, a release with a few really great tracks, and all the rest are good, some really good. This is not what I expect after 13 years of work, but as far as the music is concerned sperated from the facts, it is a strong release. Jag Panzer has developed a heavier sound on this album, and has definatly evolved musicall making more complex songs musically and lyrically. As the first album was concerned it mostly dealed with Death, Destruction, and Warfare, but this album covers much more areas for the lyrics, such as the song Black, the best song of the Album. But lyrics are only part of this album, what of the music?
The music on this album is bordering lining on greatness. Black is an amazing track, lots of the Panzer Attitude, very dark and heavy. Catchy guitars and vocals. Harry Conklin definatly is showing his presences on this song, definatly the best song on the albums. Shawdow Their is another amazing song, fast riffs, sold vocals. Has some thrash and grunge elements in the guitars. Age of Mastery has some great lyrics and a great style format for the song. As for the rest of the tracks they didn't stand out on the first listen, but after a few times around I really enjoyed them. There was not a point in this album were I was wanting to skip to the next track or play something else. All songs are strong. They could all be great if they were written better, the songs I didn't mention need to build up to something, they have solid starts, but don't build up to much, so they tend just to fade to background music, nothing really caputres the listeners attention, just a pleasant listen, then its over.
I would recomend buying this album after Ample Destruction(if you can find it), Thane To The Throne, and Mechanized Warfare. Definatly better than Dissadant Alliance. A Panzer fan should own this album.