October 10th, 2017 - One Naked Ear And A Deviant Chord

After 6 long years, the mighty Jag Panzer has just released a new album... and the wait was well worth it!  Good evening!  The Meista here tonight pairing "The Deviant Chord", the latest from American power metal pioneers Jag Panzer and a One Ear, A Naked Saison from Trinity Brewing Company!!  Hell yeah!!
 
Album Info:

• Artist: Jag Panzer
• Title: "The Deviant Chord"
• Recorded: 2017 at Clamsville Productions, Marvelous Margene's Metal Manufacturing, Soggy Bottom Studios, Blake Eberhard Bass Studios, House M-sound Works, and Open the Portal Studios
• Release date: September 29th, 2017 (10th studio album by Jag Panzer)
• Record company: Steamhammer / SPV
• Production: John Herrera
• Album cover art: Dusan Markovic (illustration) and Mark Briody (art direction)
• Personnel: Mark Briody (guitars and keyboards), Harry "The Tyrant" Conklin (lead vocals), Rikard Stjernquist (drums), Joey Tafolla (guitars), and John Tetley (bass)
• Guest musician: Shawn Lucero (spoken word)
• Musical style: Heavy metal, power metal, speed metal, hard rock
• Sound: Wow... where do I start?  This is American power metal in the grandest sense of the style!  The tracks blend multiple elements of heavy metal and hard rock with strong, heartfelt songwriting, rich melodies, soaring harmonies, and that focused and masterful musicianship Jag Panzer is known for!  In the tradition of Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden, the dual shredding guitar work of Briody and Tafolla is soaring, paint-peeling, face-melting brilliance!  Their combined tone is perfect and the soloing is mind blowing!  Conklin's vocals sound as fresh, powerful, and youthful as they did 30+ years ago!  His range is huge, honest, and awe-inspiring!  And the combined thunder of rhythm section Stjernquist and Tetley hold it all together with machine-gun fire aggression, passion, and precision!
• Major themes: The pursuit of power, fear, lust, revenge, war, might, the battle of good vs. evil, life and death, the pursuit of knowledge, courage, etc.
• Notes: "The Deviant Chord" also sees the triumphant return of Joey Tafolla to the Jag Panzer fold!  That alone should prompt you to pick up a copy of this amazing album!!
• Tracks:   

1. "Born Of The Flame"
2. "Far Beyond All Fear"
3. "The Deviant Chord"
4. "Blacklist"
5. "Foggy Dew" (traditional Irish folk song)
6. "Divine Intervention"
7. "Long Awaited Kiss"
8. "Salacious Behavior"
9. "Fire Of Our Spirit"
10. "Dare"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Trinity Brewing Company (Colorado Springs, Colorado)
• Website: http://trinitybrew.com/
• Brew: One Ear, A Naked Saison
• Style: Saison / Farmhouse Ale
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 6.5%
• IBUs: 35
• Ingredients: Barley, grist, oats, rye, free-rise fermentation with proprietary yeast, and Styrian and Saaz hops  
• Pour: The One Ear pours a hazy straw-gold hue with a frothy and firm, bright white, 1+ finger head with good sustain and lots of intricate lacing.
• Nose: The nose is earthy, spicy, malty, herbal, and fruity.  There are aromas of banana chips, pink bubblegum, lemon, orange peel, pepper, Chardonnay, and hints of wet leather.
• Taste: The taste of the One Ear follows the nose with earthy, spicy, grainy, and fruity flavors.  There are notes of orange peel, white grape, bitter herbs, soft banana, grassy hops, and spicy rye.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel is crisp and very dry with a dry, slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: Both the complexity of flavors and the overall punchiness of Trinity's One Ear, A Naked Saison work perfectly with the bombast, musical prowess, and metal integrity of Jag Panzer's brilliant "The Deviant Chord"!  As with the brew, the album provides its audience with sweet, bitter, and very complex notes.  I can't say enough about this album and this beer!  GET SOME!!

And stay tuned rockers!  Yours truly recently sat down with guitarist Mark Briody and over a couple of beers discussed the release of "The Deviant Chord", his gear, Jag Panzer's career and influence, and heavy metal in general!  That interview will be posted soon!!

Cheers and hails!!

Me with Mark Briody at Trinity Brewing in Colorado Springs