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two key members of the Ample Destruction line-up, Jag Panzer, or more accurately Briody and Tetley, as Hilyard had also been replaced by Reynold 'Butch' Carlson (who also left in 1986 along with Tafolla), revamped the band by recruiting vocalist Bob Parduba, and guitarist Christian Lasegue.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)
Harder Than Steel
Jag Panzer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Electrify the night
Sweat dripping lords of the metal kind
Blow you out of sight
Never listen to a word we say
You're always breaking the rules
Eyes are open when you pray
Mocking the blinded fools, you fool
You put their heads on the grinding wheel
Give 'em hell 'cause you're harder than steel
Oh, you're harder than steel, yeah, ya feel
All for yourself and no one else
You try to look 'em straight in the eye
A piercing glare of truth
Holding their minds in a metal grip
All power is in your youth
Using age as a weapon, they try to bring you down
A violent social circle but they can't steal your crown
You've had it up to here, ya know
With all their lies
No chains are gonna hold you down
You're breaking all the ties tonight
It's your life, you're gonna live it
Can't tell ya what to do
In one ear and out the other
That's what they see in you
The lyrics of Jag Panzer's song "Harder Than Steel" describe the rebellious attitude of an individual who refuses to conform to societal norms and restrictions. This person is a member of the metal community, represented by "lords of the metal kind", who are often judged and ostracized by mainstream society. However, this individual is not afraid to be themselves and is not concerned with how others perceive them. They believe in their own power and use it to defy authority figures who try to bring them down.
The chorus of the song is particularly powerful, with the lyrics "You put their heads on the grinding wheel, Give 'em hell 'cause you're harder than steel". This can be interpreted as a statement of pride and defiance in the face of adversity. The metal community is often seen as violent and aggressive, but these lyrics suggest that this is a result of societal pressures and discrimination. The metalheads are fighting back against a world that does not accept them, and they will not stop until they are free from oppression.
The song's verses speak to the struggles of being a metal fan in a world that does not understand or appreciate the genre. The lyrics describe the judgment and ridicule that metalheads face on a daily basis, as well as the older generation's attempts to suppress the youth movement. However, the metalheads are unafraid and empowered by their community. They refuse to be silenced or held back by those who do not understand them.
Overall, "Harder Than Steel" is a powerful anthem for anyone who has ever felt judged or oppressed for their music taste or individuality. It speaks to the importance of finding a community that accepts and validates you, and the courage it takes to stand up to society's norms and restrictions.
Line by Line Meaning
See the lights flashing bright above
The lights in the sky are flashing, creating an electrifying environment
Electrify the night
The atmosphere is highly charged and exciting
Sweat dripping lords of the metal kind
The people who are very passionate about metal music and are giving their all to it, can be seen sweating heavily
Blow you out of sight
Their music is so powerful that it can make you feel as if you have disappeared from the scene
Never listen to a word we say
People don't pay attention to what Jag Panzer has to say
You're always breaking the rules
Jag Panzer is known for going against the norm and not following set rules
Eyes are open when you pray
The band members are not fooled by religious routine and don't pretend to believe in something they don't
Mocking the blinded fools, you fool
Those who blindly follow religion and tradition are being ridiculed by Jag Panzer who see this as foolish
You put their heads on the grinding wheel
Jag Panzer wants to punish those who are working against them
Give 'em hell 'cause you're harder than steel
They have the power to face any difficulty because they are stronger than steel
Oh, you're harder than steel, yeah, ya feel
Jag Panzer is full of confidence and strength, and this feeling is tangible and real
All for yourself and no one else
The band's focus is on themselves and their own success rather than pleasing others
You try to look 'em straight in the eye
They want to confront their enemies and detractors directly
A piercing glare of truth
The band's gaze is so strong that it can reveal the truth and cut through lies
Holding their minds in a metal grip
Jag Panzer's music has a strong hold on their fans' minds
All power is in your youth
Their young age gives them power and energy to make great music
Using age as a weapon, they try to bring you down
Jag Panzer's detractors use their age as a justification for why they aren't as good
A violent social circle but they can't steal your crown
Others in the metal community may be violent, but Jag Panzer's success is secure and can't be taken away
You've had it up to here, ya know
Jag Panzer is fed up with people not taking them seriously
With all their lies
They are tired of people spreading falsehoods about them
No chains are gonna hold you down
Jag Panzer is determined to break free from any obstacles that might block their path
You're breaking all the ties tonight
Jag Panzer is choosing to part ways with anything that might constrain them
It's your life, you're gonna live it
Jag Panzer is responsible for their own lives and are living according to their own terms
Can't tell ya what to do
They won't listen to other people's advice or instructions
In one ear and out the other
Jag Panzer is not going to process or internalize anyone else's ideas
Contributed by Kylie N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.