The Anchoret - Jag Panzer

Two CD's you might want to consider (or must check out)

The Anchoret - It All Begins With Loneliness

This year might be modest on big bands releasing new albums, it is huge on new disocveries for me. Might it be either new albums by bands I missed so far, or like The Anchoret new bands. The main man behind The Anchoret is Eduard Levitsky. a very talented Canadian it turned out. The vocals on this album are by someone Progpower regulars know: Sylvain Auclair (Heaven's Cry). This album presents us moody progmetal of the slightly dark kind. It is not overly heavy and those who dislike their windinstruments have to swallow quite a few. Still if you take your time, sit back and listen through headphones we do get an album that will appear on many end of year lists. I have not even decided yet if I do have a favorite track on the album, as diversity is great. Conclusion extremely recommended for those into progmetal and those into innovative progrock as well.

Jag Panzer - The Hallowed

Balancing my collection so next to some new progmetal Jag Panzer brings us some traditional US metal.Their history is different. Ample Destruction a 1984 classic in the genre. Disappearing and returning with many albums around the turn of the century. Nowadays they seem to prefer six year hiatus between albums as this one follows up on The Deviant Chord from 2017. I saw them early this year touring a classic set and last week touring this album, where I picked up my copy. Another strong album this is. A concept album even, but I never looked into the story so far. What I do like is the strong and fast songs, leading up to a ten minute closing epic Last Rites. Both live and on album two people stand out. Harry The Tyrant Conklin still has an amazing voice and scream. Further new lead guitarist Ken Rodarte already impressed live, he now repeats same on CD. Jag Panzer is not reinventing the wheel, but presents a classy album which is welcome anytime.