They saw a poster featuring a German World War II tank, named Jagdpanzer literally "hunting tank" in German, but actually referring to what in English would be called a tank destroyer, which they decided to name their band after. They were, however, unable to pronounce the name correctly and as a result, dropped the letter "D" from the name and simply called it Jag Panzer. The band, who were all in their late teens at the time, played at local venues in the Denver club circuit, and recorded an EP in 1983, later known as Tyrants. In early 1984, the band recruited Joey Tafolla, a native of California, and promptly recorded their first album, Ample Destruction. The album was released in August of that year by the independent record label Azra Records. The album was an underground hit in the United States, and in Europe and Japan it was available on import only.
After the release of the album, the band relocated to Southern California. Tafolla quit the band in 1986, releasing a solo album, Out of the Sun, in 1987, while Conklin played with Riot for a brief period in the late 1980s, before forming his own band, Titan Force. Without the two key members of the Ample Destruction line-up, Jag Panzer, or more accurately Briody and Tetley, as Hilyard had also been replaced by Reynold 'Butch' Carlson (who also left in 1986 along with Tafolla), revamped the band by recruiting vocalist Bob Parduba, and guitarist Christian Lasegue.
The Swedish born drummer, Rikard Stjernquist, was added to the line-up and the band proceeded to record the follow-up to their debut LP. The album was recorded in late 1987, but never got an official release.
By 1994, the band had reunited, this time with vocalist Daniel J. Conca, with Tetley and Briody on bass and guitar. Guitarist Chris Hostka and drummer Rikard Stjernquist were employed on their first official album in almost 10 years, Dissident Alliance. It was released by the German indie label Rising Sun.
The next album was on Century Media, The Fourth Judgement, which came out in late 1997, followed by Age of Mastery (1998). Jag Panzer sought to tackle more ambitious territory for their next album, with Thane to the Throne, a concept album about William Shakespeare's Macbeth.
Mechanized Warfare was released in 2001, then the band released a double album in 2003 that featured previously unreleased tracks as well as songs from their first LP. Decade of the Nail Spiked Bat came out in 2003, and featured re-recorded and remixed old material. In 2004, the band released Casting the Stones. The previously unreleased Chain of Command album was remixed and was issued in 2004 as a limited edition.
In 2008, Chris Broderick left the band to join Megadeth, and was replaced by Christian Lasegue, who handled lead guitar duties on Chain of Command.
On December 23, 2008, Briody made a post on the band's official forum stating that the title of their next album would be The Scourge of the Light. On the official site, the band announced that SPV/Sony planned to release the album in February 2011. The album was released March 8, 2011.
Two weeks after its release, The Scourge of the Light placed at No. 117 on the Billboard New Artist Chart, making the album Jag Panzer's most successful to date.
On July 25, 2011, the band announced that they are to disband due to the rising costs of touring. Jag Panzer played a special early days show tour with Joey Tafolla for the first time in Europe. They played two shows in Greece, one in Austria and they headlined the Keep It True Festival XVII on April 25, 2014, in Germany.
High Roller Records released a 4-LP vinyl box set entitled Historical Battles – The Early Years, on April 19, 2013, limited to 500 copies.
By 2014, Jag Panzer had commenced working on their tenth album for a near future release, also featuring lead guitarist Joey Tafolla for the first time since 1997's The Fourth Judgement. Jag Panzer announced in August 2014 that it was looking for a new vocalist. However, it now appears that Harry Conklin has rejoined the group as of March 2015. In October 2015 the band announced their new album title would be The Deviant Chord and would be released sometime in 2017. The album, which was released by SPV/Steamhammer on September 29, 2017, included a cover version of the Irish folk song "Foggy Dew".
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jag_Panzer
Discography
Ample Destruction (1984)
Dissident Alliance (1994)
The Fourth Judgement (1997)
The Age of Mastery (1998)
Thane to the Throne (2000)
Mechanized Warfare (2001)
Chain of Command (2004, inedits in 1987)
Casting the Stones (2004)
The Scourge of the Light (2011)
The Deviant Chord (2017)
The Hallowed (2023)
False Messiah
Jag Panzer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To bring peace and joy to the land
Speaking in tongues that all would know
The day of judgment had begun
Follow me said the stranger
I'm the shepherd oh can't you see?
This kingdom is yours. Eternity awaits
Oh beware
You can never tell
Oh beware
Of the false messiah's return
In the final days three lights will shine
In the east and then be gone
And the lamb and the beast will join the host
As the day becomes the night
The dead will rise, the blind will see
And the lame will walk again
The lyrics to Jag Panzer's song False Messiah depict a false prophet who appears to promise peace and joy, speaking in tongues to convince people that the day of judgment has started. The stranger claims to be the shepherd leading his followers to a kingdom that awaits them in eternity, but he orders them to come to him first. In the chorus, the singer warns listeners to beware of the false messiah's return because of his deceitful nature.
The second verse suggests that the end of the world is near, as three lights will shine in the east and disappear, signifying the beginning of a time when the lamb and the beast will join forces as day turns into night. However, in the next line, the dead rise, the blind see, and the lame walk again, perhaps hinting at the possibility of a hopeful future in the midst of impending chaos.
Overall, the song's lyrics warn against blindly following false prophets who prey on people's fears and insecurities. It also paints a picture of an apocalyptic world where the lines between good and evil are blurred, leaving listeners to question who to trust in a time of crisis.
Line by Line Meaning
Was it written in the book that all would come
Is it prophesized in a book that a savior will come?
To bring peace and joy to the land
With the purpose of establishing peace and joy on the land?
Speaking in tongues that all would know
Would he be able to communicate with everyone in their own language?
The day of judgment had begun
The beginning of the day of judgment brings forth the savior?
Follow me said the stranger
The stranger invited others to follow him?
I'm the shepherd oh can't you see?
The stranger called himself a shepherd and expected recognition?
This kingdom is yours. Eternity awaits
By following the shepherd, the followers can obtain a kingdom and an eternal life?
But first you must come to me
He demanded people to come to him first and foremost?
Oh beware
A warning is issued?
You can never tell
It is impossible to know for certain?
Of the false messiah's return
The return of a deceitful messiah is uncertain?
In the final days three lights will shine
Three bright lights will be visible in the last days?
In the east and then be gone
The shining lights will appear in the east before they disappear?
And the lamb and the beast will join the host
The lamb and the beast will unite and join a group?
As the day becomes the night
The transition from day to night takes place?
The dead will rise, the blind will see
The resurrection of the dead and the restoration of sight to the blind will take place?
And the lame will walk again
People who are unable to walk will walk again?
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind