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This is the first Jag Panzer album that I've listened to and I found it to be a very good one. Thane to the Throne is centered on the Shakespearean masterpiece Macbeth, therefore is a great storyline to explore. However it also could have many traps or pitfalls, but thankfully they avoid them and succeeded in creating a beautiful work of art. To make this they needed to have killer songs and fortunately that was what this album had.

The record is not a speed assault by any means; the disc is rather a collection of mid-paced songs that somehow fit perfectly within the concept of the story. Starting with the one-two punch "Thane of Cawdor" and "King at a Price" it gives you a pretty good idea of what this thing has to offer. But it doesn't stop there; the great song quality continues with "Three voices of Fate", "Fall of Dunsianne" and the best song here, the epic closer "Tragedy of MacBeth". Also worth noting are the great quality and quantity of the interludes found here. In most albums those are served as a filler to make the album longer but not here; they advance the story quite well and it doesn't feel like a chore listening to them.

The band is on fire here: it features great riffs and solos courtesy of Mark Briody and Chris Broderick (now in Megadeth). Awesome vocals by Harry Conklin, he is always in control of whatever notes he sings, never overdoing thing and applying the necessary delivery to each vocal line. Very good rhythm session by John Tetley (bass) and Rikard Stjernquist (drums), they won't amaze you with their skill but their execution is flawless as they never overshadow the songs by any means.

On the negative side, the songs "Face of Fear" and "Fate's Triumph" are good but could have been better. The album isn't one that you can listen to every day. It takes time to grab you but once it does you'll never look back. This is the best Jag Panzer album that I have (I don't have them all) but I'm willing to bet this is their best. Bottom line, if you want to hear Heavy Metal with strong classical influences throughout, Thane to the Throne is as good as any other album out there.