JAG PANZER — Dissident Alliance (review)

JAG PANZER — Dissident Alliance album cover Album · 1994 · Groove Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
2/5 ·
UMUR
"Dissident Alliance" is the second full-length studio album by US power/heavy metal act Jag Panzer. The album was released through Pavement Music in 1994. It´s the successor to "Ample Destruction" from 1984. Jag Panzer formed in 1981 under the Tyrant monicker and released a couple of demos, but changed their name to Jag Panzer later the same year, because they found out that another band was already using the Tyrant name.

Jag Panzer released the "Tyrants" EP in 1983 and subsequently their debut full-length studio album "Ample Destruction" in 1984. After lead vocalist Harry Conklin left in 1985 to join Satan´s Host (and later released two albums with Titan Force in the late 80s/early 90s), the band struggled to continue and finally folded in 1988. Guitarist Mark Briody and bassist John Tetley however decided to ressurrect Jag Panzer with three new members in 1993. Former Gothic Slam singer Daniel Conca has joined the ranks along with drummer Rikard Stjernquist and guitarist Chris Kostka.

Those familiar with "Ample Destruction (1984)" knows that it´s a powerful, raw, and melodic US power/heavy metal release with a world class singer in Harry Conklin in front. But if you come to "Dissident Alliance" expecting to hear anything even remotely resembling the previous releases by Jag Panzer, you´ll be sorely disappointed. Stylistically the material on "Dissident Alliance" is an odd combination of US power metal, heavy metal, thrash metal, and groove metal, but predominantly the latter mentioned style.

It´s like a punch to the stomach listening to the opening track "Jeffrey-Behind The Gate". So many bad musical choices put into one song is almost too much to bear. It´s a heavy groove laden track, but the groove doesn´t work and new lead vocalist Daniel Conca sounds strained and odd. Raw, obscuring the lyrics while singing, and even entering semi-growling territory once or twice...and that´s just one track...you still have to sit through 10 more weak groove metal tracks featuring vocals which make my hairs stand on end. One could have hoped that the few tracks which are a little different and stand out on the album would provide the album with some quality, but that´s certainly not the case. Listen to the terrible "power ballad" type track "Forsaken Child" and despair...

I fail at the moment to remember a worse comeback album, which is not only of a bad musical quality, but also features a lifeless and flat sounding production job, and maybe even worse doesn´t sound anything like the band´s previous releases. "Dissident Alliance" should never have been released under the Jag Panzer monicker and if you´re smart you´ll avoid this album if you´re interested in familiarizing yourself with this otherwise great band´s discography. A 2 star (40%) rating is warranted.
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