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two key members of the Ample Destruction line-up, Jag Panzer, or more accurately Briody and Tetley, as Hilyard had also been replaced by Reynold 'Butch' Carlson (who also left in 1986 along with Tafolla), revamped the band by recruiting vocalist Bob Parduba, and guitarist Christian Lasegue.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)
The Setting Of The Sun
Jag Panzer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do whatever I do
I am a man; I am a god
A pauper just like you
All is well with the setting of the sun
All is well with the setting of the sun
For the glory of truth
Cause to rise, cause to fall
It's all bitter yet true
Teach to beg, teach to rule
The master is not you
Teach to love, teach to hate
Now wicked and cruel
All is well and nothing is undone
All is well and no one is the one
All is well and the victory is won
All is well with the setting of the sun
The lyrics to Jag Panzer's song The Setting Of The Sun are steeped in philosophical inquiry about the nature of man and his place in the world. The opening line - "I am alone, I am my own, do whatever I do" - signals a declaration of independence and the recognition of the power one possesses to make one's own choices. The second line - "I am a man, I am a god, a pauper just like you" - is a contradictory statement that blurs the distinction between human and divine, suggesting that we have the potential to embody divine qualities but are ultimately subject to human limitations.
The chorus - "All is well with the setting of the sun" - is a meditation on endings, and the idea that no matter how difficult life can be, with each sunset comes the promise of a new day. The following verses continue the philosophical tone of the song, with lines such as "Cause to fight, cause to die, for the glory of truth" and "Teach to beg, teach to rule, the master is not you" hinting at themes of power, control, and the eternal struggle between good and evil. Ultimately, the song seems to suggest that despite the hardships that come with being human, there is comfort to be found in the cyclical nature of life itself.
Line by Line Meaning
I am alone, I am my own
I am independent and self-reliant
Do whatever I do
I have the freedom to make my own choices and decisions
I am a man; I am a god
I possess the power and capability to achieve great things, as well as the limitations and flaws of humanity
A pauper just like you
Despite my abilities, I am equal to everyone else in terms of worth and value
All is well with the setting of the sun
No matter what has happened during the day, everything is peaceful and stable when the sun sets
Cause to fight, cause to die
Some things are worth the sacrifice and struggle, even if it means death
For the glory of truth
The pursuit of truth and justice is a noble and worthwhile cause
Cause to rise, cause to fall
Life is full of triumphs and defeats, successes and failures
It's all bitter yet true
The realities of life can be harsh and difficult, but they are still real and must be faced
Teach to beg, teach to rule
Those in positions of power have the ability to either humiliate and control others, or provide guidance and leadership
The master is not you
Even those who are in charge are ultimately subject to higher powers or laws
Teach to love, teach to hate
The emotions and attitudes we cultivate can greatly impact the way we interact with others and the world around us
Now wicked and cruel
The world can be a harsh and unforgiving place, with people capable of doing terrible things to each other
All is well and nothing is undone
Despite the struggles and challenges of life, everything is ultimately okay and nothing is left unfinished
All is well and no one is the one
No one person is responsible for everything, and no one person is more important than another
All is well and the victory is won
Even if it doesn't always feel like it, in the end everything will work out and good will triumph
All is well with the setting of the sun
As the day comes to a close, we can find peace and contentment in knowing that all is well
Contributed by Kylie J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.