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two key members of the Ample Destruction line-up, Jag Panzer, or more accurately Briody and Tetley, as Hilyard had also been replaced by Reynold 'Butch' Carlson (who also left in 1986 along with Tafolla), revamped the band by recruiting vocalist Bob Parduba, and guitarist Christian Lasegue.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)
Judgement Day
Jag Panzer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Beyond the door of life I've left behind
Followed a path I did not know
Washed by many tears
Read the pages of my life
Retraced the wasted years
that scarred my soul
Now I must go, someone calls me
Won't let go. Let me go!
When the seal is opened on the book of life
Will your name be written there?
To be remembered and follow into the light
Or cast down in despair
Sign of the times and things yet to come
The truth now revealed
Shall condemn every son
Some will be blessed
Others turned away
Who will be honored on judgement day?
Time is now...To face your fears
Time has come...Wash away the tears
Time is now...For all to kneel
Time has come...Judgement you will feel
In my vision every head and hand
Will retain some kind of code
Inventory read by a laser scan
For everything bought or sold
Accept the way...Come get in line
Accept the new age...Don't be left behind
Accept the way...Do it now today
Accept the new age...Or be cast away
One monetary system for the world
A do or die sort of thing
All computations flowing through the beast
Have we forgotten who is king?
Show me the sign, the sign of the times
It's time for a sign
The press of a key is easy for me
That's the way it should be
What is the cost? Will I be lost?
To the hands of the beast
Show me the sign, the sign of the times
It's time for a sign
Don't be afraid The future is paved
The mark's on it's way
Bank by the phone you'll never leave home
A scan is all you'll need
Automation in every nation
The future is ours to be
The opening lines of Jag Panzer's "Judgment Day" describe the singer's journey beyond life, beyond a door that marks the end of their time on earth. Their path is unknown as they are washed by many tears, reading the pages of their life, and retracing their wasted years that have left scars on their soul. As they approach the end of their journey, someone calls for them, constantly tugging at their soul, and they plead to be let go. The song then introduces the Book of Life, which will reveal every person's name and determine whether they will be honored or turned away on judgment day. The lyrics speak of the consequences that await everyone as they face their fears and come to terms with the reality of their choices.
Line by Line Meaning
I've walked into the light on the other side
I have gone through dark times and have come out into the light
Beyond the door of life I've left behind
I have left the pain of my past life behind
Followed a path I did not know
I have ventured into uncharted territory
Washed by many tears
I have cried and suffered
Read the pages of my life
I have examined my own life
Retraced the wasted years that scarred my soul
I have gone back and reevaluated the years wasted and the damage it did to me
Now I must go, someone calls me
I have to go towards my destiny
Someone is tugging at my soul
I have an internal force propelling me towards my destination
Won't let go. Let me go!
I am scared to face what's next, but I want to be free
When the seal is opened on the book of life
When the truth is revealed
Will your name be written there?
Are you worthy?
To be remembered and follow into the light
To be blessed and enter the gates of heaven
Or cast down in despair
Or damned to a life of misery
Sign of the times and things yet to come
Vision of the future
The truth now revealed
Now we know what's to come
Shall condemn every son
Will judge us all
Some will be blessed
Some will be rewarded
Others turned away
Others will be punished
Who will be honored on judgement day?
Who will be found to be righteous?
Time is now...To face your fears
It's time to face your inner demons
Time has come...Wash away the tears
It's time to move forward
Time is now...For all to kneel
It's time for everyone to pray
Time has come...Judgement you will feel
Everyone will be held accountable
In my vision every head and hand
In this idea of the future
Will retain some kind of code
Everything we do will be tracked
Inventory read by a laser scan
Everything we own will be cataloged
For everything bought or sold
For everything we buy or sell
Accept the way...Come get in line
You must conform
Accept the new age...Don't be left behind
Embrace the technology
Accept the way...Do it now today
Conform now
Accept the new age...Or be cast away
Or be left behind and suffer
One monetary system for the world
One way of paying for things worldwide
A do or die sort of thing
It's either adapt or perish
All computations flowing through the beast
All transactions going through central control
Have we forgotten who is king?
We have forgotten our faith
Show me the sign, the sign of the times
We need a message from God
The press of a key is easy for me
It's convenient to go along with everything
That's the way it should be
This is the future
What is the cost? Will I be lost?
What is the price of our compliance?
To the hands of the beast
To the control of central authority
Don't be afraid The future is paved
Don't fear the future, it's predetermined
The mark's on it's way
The mark of the beast is coming
Bank by the phone you'll never leave home
Everything will be done through technology
A scan is all you'll need
A biometric scan will replace other forms of ID
Automation in every nation
Technology will be everywhere
The future is ours to be
The future depends on us
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LOLLY VEGAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind