New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, Classic and Progressive Rock

Jaguar: Power Games

Jaguar Metal XHere is yet another original from the NWOBHM days who are still in action. Jaguar. Put together at the end of the 1970s as the New Wave of British Heavy Metal took off.

A short career back then with some success before it ended then a reformation some thirty years later leading to new albums and gigging.

As I write this post the band has recently acquired a new vocalist and it looks like all systems go.

Back in those early days the first thing many bands did was try to get a demo tape together to push to record companies to try and get a deal.

Jaguar being no exception. It did the trick for them after being noticed by Neat Records who would sign them to a deal.

A single popped out in 1982 followed by their debut album – Power Games – in 1983 which went down well as a fine example of NWOBHM/speed type rock.

Here’s an example of that – Prisoner. Fast, hard and brutal metal.

A change of label for the next album – This Time – in 1984 saw a bit of a change in style to a more “polished” approach and it looked good for Jaguar with the backing of a big label and anticipated promotion. That wouldn’t fully materialise. Something of an impasse evolved between band and label with Jaguar splitting as a result. Yet another promising NWOBHM career not delivering what it promised to be.

Well, that was until the turn of the century when a reformation sprung up. Festival appearances and a new album – Wake Me – arrived. Jaguar has remained active ever since both recording and gigging. The latest (at time of writing) album being Metal X and things still moving forwards with the arrival of L-G Persson.

Founder member Garry Pepperd is still there on guitar and one feels whilst he’s around then Jaguar will continue to be as well.

Some of the early stuff is hard to find. I’d suggest starting with Metal X and Run Ragged which is available as a double-feature.

>> JAGUAR METAL X and RUN RAGGED on Amazon <<

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