I cannot claim to be a big fan of the
Fast & Furious franchise. It certainly has had its entertaining moments, but not really being a "car guy" kept me at something of an arm's length away. Sure, I enjoyed the action and the brain dead aspects of its entertainment, but it is not a franchise I would actively seek out. That said, I have seen all of the films, for better or worse leading up to this one. Initially I was not all that thrilled as the last movie was pretty terrible, but I still had that itch of curiosity. There was something about
Fast Five that seemed a little different, a little bigger, and even a little fresher. It didn't hurt that Dwayne Johnson had joined the cast, the guy could be a big action star and anything that keeps him away from the kiddie fare is all right by me.
There is nothing like a big slab of heavy metal. You know what I'm saying? Sure you do anyone who likes metal in any of is forms can attest to the pure joy that only pure metal can provide. Forget core and scene bands, this is all about heavy riffs, driving drums, arena filling vocals, and the urge to put your fist in the air and yell until your lungs are hoarse. That is exactly what Jag Panzer provides, one of the original American power metal acts has returned with their first offering since 2004's Casting the Stones. The Scourge of the Light is a record you will want to get your hands on.
Hailing from Northern Ireland, Darkest Era looks to be following in the footsteps of fellow countrymen, Primordial. Both acts travel similar territory, with Primordial having done it over a longer period of time, both share a label in Metal Blade Records, and have the unfortunate ac of inevitable comparisons thrust upon them. Fortunately, there are writers like me whose collective experience with these two bands amounts to a couple Primordial tunes coming up in a shuffle mix and my listening to Darkest Era's debut release, The Last Caress of Light.
