Band: Jackhammer
Album: The Ultimate Martyr
Year: 2003
Website: None
Rating: 7.5/10

Jackhammer have only been together for about a year and this, their first demo, is very impressive, they even sound like they have been doing this for many years.

Listening to this, I was immediately reminded of the great 80's-90's tharsh bands like Overkill, Annihilator and Testament. Another obvious influence is the now sadly defunct Pantera. They combine heavy thrash with Pantera's aggression whilst adding their own "sound" to the recording.

Some great riffs and Marco Sandron's excellent pure 80's sounding heavy metal voice is just another couple of great things about Jackhammer. Although there isn't really anything new or original on here, "The Ultimate Martyr" is a very professional and great sounding demo that I've been very impressed with. A band to watch!

Band: Jag Panzer
Album: Casting the Stones (Century Media)
Year: 2004 (Release Date: 27.09.04)
Website: http://www.jagpanzer.com
Rating: 8.5/10

I just don't know what Jag Panzer can do, why they have never gained the attention they fully deserve is beyond me.

Another thing that annoys me is the constant comparisons to Iced Earth, I've even heard them referred to as the "Little Brothers" of Iced Earth. Sure, I liked Iced Earth, but I personally think Jag Panzer match them pound for pound, and there is plenty room for both bands, especially of this calibre. Anyway, coming back to "Casting the Stones", when compared to their last studio album "Mechanized Warfare", I don't feel as it's as instantly catchy, but it is more progressive in a sense and is more complex and experimental. Despite this, you can still hear the classic JP sound, with it's moving melodies and astonishing lead work, all wrapped up by the instantly distinguishable vocals of Harry "The Tyrant" Conklin.

If your into American Power/Heavy Metal, Jag Panzer are a necessity and "Casting the Stones" is yet another example of the talent of Jag Panzer, fans will no doubt be pleased as much as I was.

Band: Jag Panzer
Album: Decade of the Nail-Spiked Bat (Century Media)
Year: 2003
Website: http://www.jagpanzer.com
Rating: 9.5/10

Due to the band not being able to re-release their earlier work, the "Tyrants EP", "Ample Destruction", "Dissident Alliance" and the bootleg "Chain of Command", they have done the next best thing and decided to re-record most of the tracks for this 2CD, 20 track compilation.

This is great for people that have only just got into Jag Panzer or those who have had difficulties finding those mentioned albums. Some may say that JP's style is a little out-dated but I personally feel that they are one of the most under-rated bands that I know, the songs on here are absolute classics, especially the catchy "Metal Melts the Ice" which I couldn't get out of my head for days. I wont go into each track as every one of them is a great listen.

The booklet also talks about every track on here, giving a brief description of what the song is about etc. If your into 80's NWOBHM, and bands similar to Iced Earth in style then this will be of some interest to you and also, as I mentioned before it's great if you've had no success in obtaining the bands hard to find early albums. A great way to celebrate 20 years of great music by a truly unique band.

Band: Japanische Kampfhorspiele
Album: Fertigmensch (Bastardized Recordings)
Year: 2004
Website: http://www.japanischekampfhoerspiele.de
Rating: 8/10

Oh fuck yes!!!

Combine these beasts and you got yourself a reference point – Deranged, Incision, Leng T’Che, Killaman and Pig Destroyer. Choppy, start-stop German death grind chuck full of samples and huge Swedish styled death riffs. Strong production, memorable songs, technical compositions and madness at every angle.

This is hook-laden innovative grind bound for the celebrated annals of metal history. Review by Ryan Bartek

Band: Jigsore Terror
Album: World End Carnage (Listenable Records)
Year: 2004
Website: http://www.jigsoreterror.com
Rating: 8/10

Tornado speed, earthquake enducing grindcore reminiscent of early Napalm Death with a strong death metal base along the line of Dismember.

The Lyrics stay in the realm of horror worship with tracks like "Gorging On Exposed Arteries", "Rotten Heads" "Scattered Cranial Remains" and "Feast of Dismembered Limbs" Once again, Repulsion's influence shines through as well as some Cryptic Slaughter, Deranged, Disfear and Brutal Truth.

Nothing new but a solid offering of the genre. Review by Ryan Bartek

Band: Jones, Johnny and the Suffering Halo's
Album: Johnny Jones and the Suffering Halo's (Hell Company)
Year: 2005
Website: http://www.johnnyjones.com
Rating: 4/10

Sure, Johnny Jones and the Suffering Halos can competently kick out darkly themed, hard rocking music, but there's an uncertainty surrounding the music that ends up in an unconvincing impression. Lacking the dangerousness of an act like Guns N' Roses or the sheer musical ability of the first incarnation of Danzig, (both of which are bands that the Halos are patterning their style after), this self-titled effort falls flat.

"Who'd Let You In?" is a basal snoozer, while "Jesse James" tries to sound sleazy, with a bluesy lick backing up Jones' monotone approach. Ultimately it sounds like the ultimate in kitsch, relegating Johnny Jones and the Suffering Halos to a campy shell of what the band is actually attempting to portray. It's mandatory for music like this to knock you dead and unfortunately, this Long Beach group fails to do that in a most miserable fashion.

Whether the band is gunning for a retro groove, as in "Wouldn't Mind It (Jack Kelly Blues)" or a mellow, Doors-like vibe during "The Tastiest Bite", it just doesn't work well for the group. Something's missing and that something's an edge. Without it, bands like this are rendered impotent and essentially useless. Review by Erin Fox

Band: Judas Cradle, The
Album: Too Bad they're all Dead (Eulogy Recordings)
Year: 2004
Website: http://www.thejudascradle.com
Rating: 8/10

Straight forward, badass no frills hardcore is what The Judas Cradle happens to blast forth.

This band simply doesn’t fuck around – no emo, no fluffy melodic parts – this is a beast the entire way through. The Judas Cradle compose their music of raw anger, speed demon BPM, huge breakdowns, accenting harmonies and slick riffs. Although not massively intricate, there are occasional tech-metal nods appearing from time to time. This band jams a distinct American style of hardcore with a spotty homage to epic black metal and Swedish melodic death metal. This is never a full blown influence - these parts shine through at the most essential moments. This is damn fine hardcore.

Very cool – pick it up next time you’re out. Review by Ryan Bartek

Band: Jungle Rot
Album: Darkness Foretold (Crash Music)
Year: 2006
Website: http://www.junglerot.net
Rating: 8.5/10

Following the unexpected, forced retirement of the Olympic Recordings label, Jungle Rot has joined up with Crash Music for a brand new recording contract, looking forward to releasing a new album "War Zone" in 2006.

To commemorate new partnership, Crash has unearthed this historical curiosity, which was originally released by Sounds Of Death magazine back in 1998 on a strictly limited basis. Essentially a placeholder between the group's second album, "Slaughter The Weak", and their Olympic debut "Dead And Buried", this seven song EP will likely have the same sort of an appeal to fans of death metal as Slayer’s "Haunting The Chapel" had with thrash fans back in 1985. Many metalheads are likely to be intrigued enough with the current work of J Rot to go back and search this album out. A similar parallel can be drawn to fans who went back and rediscovered Slayer's back catalog after hearing "Reign In Blood" for the first time. Although the material here is much rawer and more primitive in comparison to the band's pulverizing wall-of-death sound on their 2005 effort "Fueled By Hate", an outstanding cover of "Agent Orange" by Sodom, Carnivore's notorious "Jesus Hitler" and even a nod to the mighty Slayer with a gruff rendition of "Fight 'Til Death" makes this a virtual history lesson in extreme metal. Obviously Jungle Rot is beholden to thrash music, with the exclusive title-cut owing much to both the structure and sound of mid-eighties thrash. Comparisons to bands such as Obituary and Six Feet Under are inescapable upon hearing this cut, but it's a safe bet that followers of each of those historically important death metal acts will agree that this original, studio cut is worthy of praise for it's neck-breaking tempo and overall sonic harshness. Three live tracks have been culled from the group's first two records, with "Tomb Of Armenous" and "Eternal Agony" each being taken from the group's "Skin The Living" debut. The EP winds down with "Consumed In Darkness", a track appears on the "Slaughter The Weak" album. Don't expect big-budget production on these live tracks because, frankly, the music of Jungle Rot does not require that type of treatment. "Eternal Agony" resounds as being the most exciting live performance, as the barbed, barfing vocals of front man Dave Matrise spread major sickness atop a grinding death-chug.

Jungle Rot is the type of band that metal fans either completely love or totally hate based upon their own individual tastes, but there’s little denying that recordings such as this carry more underground, true metal credibility than much of the fluff that's being passed for metal these days. Not only is this record one that many real metal fans will be likely to enjoy, it's one that they are likely to respect as well. Review by Erin Fox

Band: Junior Varsity, The
Album: Wide Eyed (Victory Records)
Year: 2005
Website: http://www.thejuniorvarsity.com
Rating: 3/10

Whilst I'll give it to them that they do have the potential to be different compared to all the other Emo bands around, they fail to capitalize on it.

The Junior Varsity are still a very young band, and whilst there are some good ideas, the overall result is a very dull sounding album that is repetitive from start to finish. The songs all sound the same, and the vocals are more spoken that actually sung. Its also very slow paced and fairly "foofy", without much excitement whatsoever.

At the end of the day, the 41 minutes and 8 seconds has left me non-the-wiser, its really left me thinking what the hell have I just listened to. Its only really for the die hard Emo fans that don't enjoy much excitement in their music.

Band: Jynxt
Album: Bring Back Tomorrow (Halo Records)
Year: 2006
Website: http://www.jynxt.com
Rating: 7/10

Whilst they failed to bowl me over with their last single, it's now time for the release of their debut album. The perfect opportunity for me to get a better acquainted with the London 5-piece.

The trouble with Jynxt is that they perform a style which has been done before plenty of times, which can be seen as either brave or foolish. Indeed, whilst they may not be the most original band that you'll come across, you'll find it hard not to be taken aback by the vocal performance of Tally Spencer. She really makes the difference between a dull and an impressive album.

There are a few duff tracks, but there are also some really good songs on here, such as "Come out and Play", "Electric Knives" and "Voices", which is why I find them a little frustrating at times. Whilst they have a decent debut under their belt, only time will tell if they have what it takes. Again, if you’re into the Evanescence/Linkin Park style of electro-sounding modern rock, see what you think of Jynxt.

Band: Jynxt
Single: The Name (Halo Records)
Year: 2006 (Released: 29.05.06)
Website: http://www.jynxt.com
Rating: 5/10

London based Jynxt are the band that won the British leg of the International Battle of the Bands competition back in February which feature Tally, Ben and Nat Spencer, the children of founding Fleetwood Mac member, Jeremy Spencer.

"The Name" is a pleasant enough listen but is ultimately forgettable. On the other hand, whilst in may not be my cup of tea, I can envisage with time and the right backing, Jynxt could have a very bright future. They're all about what's popular at the moment, think of a female fronted Linkin Park, or Evenescence with a few drum n bass beats thrown in. Lyrically, the three songs on here are nonsensical and meaningless, but will have a multitude of younger fans going mad for them.

Although the single has left me a little uninspired, Jynxt have the potential to achieve reasonable success.