Points to the path that I must go”
--Briody/Conklin of Jag Panzer from “King At A Price” from Thane To The Throne, 2001.
--Briody/Conklin of Jag Panzer from “King At A Price” from Thane To The Throne, 2001.
In high school, I performed Macbeth—I played Ross—not really a worthy part as his name is not mentioned in Jag Panzer’s Thane To The Throne 2001 Release.
Jag Panzer has been on the metal scene since the 1980s and has won over fans for their fast and furious bass riffs courtesy of John Tetley (good beer name) and incredible drumming of Rikard Stjernquist—followed by the lyrical and guttural growls of Harry “The Tyrant” Conklin, the shared keyboards and guitars of Chris Brodrick and co-founder and writer Mark Briody. Often criticized as being little more than a Judas Priest knock-off, the band scored to incredible heights with Thane To The Throne.
By the way, is being compared to the greatness of Judas Priest really a bad thing?
Thane To The Throne takes the highlighted moments of Shakespeare’s tragedy and breathes new life in the angst of murder and the human greed of betrayal—and does so in a backdrop of thunder. Quiet and reflective moments of classical music exists on this masterpiece as well, but the thunder of taking an inward look at the cruelty of Macbeth’s vaulting ambition is the key to the music of the CD.
Lyrically, Jag Panzer borrows a few good lines from Shakespeare, and why not? It is impossible to beat the Master of the language. Thematically, the murder of Banquo—the loss of one’s closest ally for no reason other than greed—is explored and given a very modern sense of inner destruction. The battle with Macduff of the young upstart who has a sense of justice over Macbeth’s lust for power is also powerfully explored.
It is impossible to single out any particular moments or songs, as the piece should be viewed as a whole, but the first track “Thane of Cawder,” the second track “King At A Price,” and the final track “Tragedy of Macbeth,” all standout among the best of Jag Panzer’s best album.
For me, it was a somewhat personal journey, playing the CD, from my past as I have performed Macbeth 25 years ago and taught Macbeth every year for the first decade of my career. For fans of the play, this work will not disappoint. For fans of Metal, this is Jag Panzer at their best.
Jag Panzer: Thane To The Throne, 2001
Thane Of Cawdor
King At A Price
Bloody Crime
The Premonitions
Treachery's Stain
Spectres Of The Past
Banquo's Final Rest
Three Voices Of Fate
Hell To Pay
The Prophecies (Fugue In D-Minor)
Insanity's Mind
Requiem For Lady MacBeth
Face Of Fear
Fall Of Dunsinane
Fate's Triumph
The Downward Fall
Tragedy Of MacBeth
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Jag Panzer King At A Price:
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