Jag Panzer

Jag Panzer

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1981
Headquarters	Colorado Springs , United States
Products	Power metal music

Jag Panzer is a power metal group originating from Colorado Springs, Colorado, established in 1981.

History

Formed in late 1981, Jag Panzer drew inspiration from the new wave of British heavy metal. The founding members included Harry Conklin on vocals, Mark Briody handling guitar duties, John Tetley on bass, and Rick Hilyard playing drums. Initially called Tyrant, the band changed their name due to a naming conflict. They selected the name Jag Panzer, inspired by a German WWII tank destroyer, omitting the "D" to simplify pronunciation. Early performances took place at local venues in Denver, and in 1983 they released an EP later known as Tyrants.

In early 1984, guitarist Joey Tafolla joined the lineup, and the band recorded their first full-length album, Ample Destruction. After relocating to Southern California, Tafolla departed in 1986 to focus on a solo career. During this period, Conklin briefly joined Riot before forming Titan Force. Subsequently, Briody and Tetley reassembled the band with vocalist Bob Parduba and guitarist Christian Lasegue; drummer Rikard Stjernquist also became part of the group. A follow-up album was recorded in late 1987 but never saw an official release.

By 1994, Jag Panzer reunited with singer Daniel J. Conca to produce Dissident Alliance, issued by the German independent label Rising Sun. This album marked a stylistic shift away from their established power metal sound. Later releases on Century Media included The Fourth Judgement (1997) and Age of Mastery (1998), which featured the return of original vocalist Harry Conklin alongside guitarist Chris Broderick. The band then released the concept album Thane to the Throne (2000), inspired by Shakespeare's Macbeth, followed by Mechanized Warfare in 2001.

In 2003, Jag Panzer released a double album titled Decade of the Nail Spiked Bat, containing re-recorded and remixed versions of earlier tracks. This was succeeded by Casting the Stones in 2004, along with a limited edition issue of the previously unreleased and remixed Chain of Command.

Guitarist Chris Broderick left in 2008 to join Megadeth, with Christian Lasegue—who had contributed to Chain of Command—returning to fill the vacancy.

Work on their tenth studio album began in 2014, marking a reunion with lead guitarist Joey Tafolla for the first time since The Fourth Judgement (1997). While searching for a new vocalist, the band confirmed Harry Conklin's comeback in 2015. The resulting album, titled The Deviant Chord, was released through SPV/Steamhammer on September 29, 2017, featuring a cover of the traditional Irish folk tune "Foggy Dew".

Jag Panzer's eleventh studio effort, The Hallowed, was released on June 23, 2023.

Current

• Harry "The Tyrant" Conklin – lead vocals (1981–1985, 1996–2011, 2013–present)
• Mark Briody – rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (1981–1988, 1994–2011, 2013–present)
• John Tetley – bass guitar, backing vocals (1981–1988, 1994–2011, 2013–present)
• Rikard Stjernquist – drums (1986–1988, 1994–2011, 2013–present)
• Ken Rodarte – lead guitar, backing vocals (touring 2018–2022, official member 2022–present)

Former

• Rick Hilyard – drums (1981–1984)
• Reynold 'Butch' Carlson – drums (1984–1986)
• Bob Parduba – lead vocals (1987–1988)
• Daniel J. Conca – lead vocals (1994; deceased 2004)
• Chris Kostka (Hostka) – lead guitar (1994)
• Chris Broderick – lead guitar, keyboards (1997–2008)
• Christian Lasegue – lead guitar (1986–1990, 2008–2011)
• Joey Tafolla – lead guitar (1984–1986, 1994–1997, 2013–2017)
• Jake Dreyer – lead guitar (2011)

Touring

• Aric Avina – bass guitar (2015–present)
• Jacob Coleman – drums (2024)

Studio albums

• Ample Destruction (1984)
• Dissident Alliance (1994)
• The Fourth Judgement (1997)
• The Age of Mastery (1998)
• Thane to the Throne (2000)
• Mechanized Warfare (2001)
• Decade of the Nail Spiked Bat (2003)
• Chain of Command (recorded in 1987; released in 2004)
• Casting the Stones (2004)
• The Scourge of the Light (2011)
• The Deviant Chord (2017)
• The Hallowed (2023)

Other releases

• Tyrants (EP, 1983)
• Death Row (single, 1983)
• Demo 85 (demo tape, 1985)
• Demo 86 (demo tape, 1986)
• Shadow Thief (demo, 1986)
• Jeffrey Behind the Gate (single, 1994)
• The Return (demo, 1996)
• The Era of Kings and Conflict (DVD release, 2002)
• The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (single, 2005)
• Historical Battles – The Early Years (LP box set, 2013)