Album of the Week #11: Jag Panzer - Ample Destruction
This is Album of the Week #11 ~ This week's album is Jag Panzer - Ample Destruction
Year of Release: 1984
Genre(s): Heavy Metal
Country: United States
Length: 39 minutes
RYM | Listen! (Album.Link)
Excerpt from Ride Into Glory:
Ample Destruction is filled to the absolute brim with killer riff after killer riff. It’s difficult to pick out a highlight track as they all flow together in one, singular metalstorm. There is very few moments for reprieve as Jag Panzer keep it at 100% for nearly the entire album. The guitars, played by Joe Tafolla and Mark Briody, are masterful and a worthy match for Conklin’s performance. The bass, as became standard for most US power metal, is very prominent in the mix. John Tetley’s bass guitar works to compliment the guitars and drummer Rick Hilyard is certainly no slouch as his drums round it all out. The production is thick and undoubtedly old-school sounding. It does a wonderful job bringing together the instrumentation while letting Conklin take the lead with his soaring vocals.
Discussion points:
Have you heard this artist/album before? Is this your first time hearing?
Do you enjoy this genre? Is this an album you would have chosen?
Does this album remind you of something you've heard before?
What were the album's strengths or weaknesses?
Was there a standout track for you?
How did you hear the album? Where were you? What was your setup?
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As a kid I had this CD Ioved called the Century Media Disharmony Sampler, probably got it for free or cheap at a music store. I remember Jag Panzer as one of the bands on there, though it wasn't from the album of the week here. My main takeaway from the sampler disc was an absolute love for Shadows Fall's first album.
I heard Jag Panzer as a teen and loved the song "Iron Shadows" for a long time, but never cared to listen more of it until recently (after 20 years).
Ample Destruction is a superb album.