JET JAGUAR – Endless Nights (2020)

Winners of the Wacken Open Air Metal Battle 2017, JET JAGUAR have been pounding the pavement and reawakening the hunger for ’80s hard rock / classic metal for a while now, and they are finally ready to drop their debut, the garishly neon-colored “Endless Nights“.

The strength of “Endless Nights” is their impressively well done homage to quite a range of big names. Opener “Jet Ranger” screams for Praying Mantis / Iron Maiden, “Blinding Lights” draws from the wells of Mötley Crüe, and faster tracks like “Final Prayers” display the hand of commercial Judas Priest.

The enthusiasm is palpable on this mixture, with energetic riffwork, played with a sharp, classic energy, solid and dependable drumming and proficient vocal work from frontman Maxx Mendoza.
The latter proves a versatile entity, as his performance changes like a chameleon from song to song, at turns recalling Axl Rose and Rob Halford.

This range of obvious influences comes at the cost of the band forging their own identity, but c’mon, if you are playing this style you need to be true to the genre.
Jet Jaguar has a knack for writing a good hook, and many of the tracks have plenty of staying power, earworms latching into the brainstem and feeling right at home there. I’d frequently catch myself bobbing to one of their tracks without actively listening to it, and that combo of memorability and geniality is not easy to hit.

Jet Jaguar is a Mexican band, and while their lyrics are in English, where they are at its most surprising is the two Spanish language tracks. Mendoza uses a slightly more subdued vocal approach here, resulting in an almost sultry sound, a subtle shift that reveals a greater amount of depth and a more pronounced identity of their own than elsewhere.

The understated “Tormenta” in particular reminds of the better Heroes Del Silencio tunes, suggesting that mixing metal with Rock En Espanol might be where the true strength of Jet Jaguar lies.
“Nunca Mas” combines this vocal style with Maiden leads and Priest chugs for a late album highlight, and I would love to hear the Jaguar’s focus on this aspect of their sound going forward.

“Endless Night” is a very good starting point for a promising band. Jet Jaguar understand the classic sound they emulate quite well, and are able to write solid and enjoyable tunes within that style.
It’s 80s style catchy and entertaining stuff.
Highly Recommended

 

1. Jet Ranger
2. Mr. Lee
3. Blinding Lights
4. R.O.D. (Race or Die)
5. Tormenta
6. Up to the Top
7. No Surrender
8. Final Prayers
9. Nunca Mas
10. 10,000 Voices

Maxx Mendoza – Vocals
Sergio Güez – Guitar
Nehuen P. – Guitar
Jorge Ramirez – Bass
Jimmy Lozano – Drums

 

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www.amazon.de/Endless-Nights-Jet-Jaguar/dp/B088VWQ9ZW