''Projects in the Jungle'' is the second studio album by American heavy metal band

Pantera Pantera () is an American heavy metal music, heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas formed in 1981, and currently comprised of vocalist Phil Anselmo, bassist Rex Brown, and touring musicians Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante. The group's best-kn ...

, released on July 27, 1984, by Metal Magic Records. The band made their first music video for the track "All Over Tonight". Though sharing many similarities with

Def Leppard Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1976 in Sheffield. Since 1992, the band has consisted of Rick Savage (bass, backing vocals), Joe Elliott (lead vocals), Rick Allen (drums, backing vocals), Phil Collen (guitar, backing vocals), a ...

's pre-''

Hysteria Hysteria is a term used colloquially to mean ungovernable emotional excess and can refer to a temporary state of mind or emotion. In the nineteenth century, hysteria was considered a diagnosable physical illness in women. It is assumed that ...

'' sound (''

Pyromania Pyromania is an impulse control disorder in which individuals repeatedly fail to resist impulses to deliberately start fires, to relieve some tension or for instant gratification. The term ''pyromania'' comes from the Greek word (''pyr'', 'fi ...

'' had been released the year before), the title track's musical style is a foreshadowing of what was to come a few years later, as it features a

thrash metal Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and often fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, 2007, . ...

-oriented guitar

riff A riff is a repeated chord progression or refrain in music (also known as an ostinato figure in classical music); it is a pattern, or melody, often played by the rhythm section instruments or solo instrument, that forms the basis or accompani ...

with more

groove metal Groove metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that began in the early 1990s. The genre achieved success in the 1990s and continued having success in the 2000s. Inspired by thrash metal and traditional heavy metal, groove metal features raspy ...

-like breakdowns.

Reception

In a retrospective review for

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

, Eduardo Rivadavia gave the album 2.5 stars out of a possible 5. He described

Terry Glaze Terrence Lee Glaze (born November 29, 1964) is an American singer and musician best known for his work with heavy metal band Pantera from 1981 to 1986. He appeared on the band's first three albums during their "glam metal" era as the band's lea ...

's vocal style as "ear assaulting" and the lyrics as "frequently moronic" examples of

glam metal Glam metal (also known as hair metal or pop metal) is a subgenre of heavy metal that features pop-influenced hooks and guitar riffs, upbeat rock anthems, and slow power ballads. It borrows heavily from the fashion and image of 1970s glam r ...

cliches of the era. Nonetheless, ''Projects in the Jungle'' was "a major improvement over the band's tentative performance on debut album ''

Metal Magic ''Metal Magic'' is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Pantera, released on June 10, 1983 by Metal Magic Records. Like the band's next three releases, it is musically oriented toward a glam/heavy metal sound influenced by Kiss ...

'', and its much improved production clarity and musicianship spoke volumes of Pantera's growing professionalism and maturity."

Track listing

All credits adapted from the original LP.

Personnel

;Pantera *

– vocals, keyboards * Diamond Darrell – guitar * Rex Rocker – bass *

Vinnie Paul Vincent Paul Abbott (March 11, 1964 – June 22, 2018) was an American musician best known for being the drummer and co-founder of the heavy metal band Pantera. He also co-founded Damageplan in 2003 with his younger brother, 'Dimebag' Darrell ...

– drums ;Production *

Jerry Abbott Jerry Bob Abbott (born April 8, 1942) is an American country music songwriter and record producer. He is the father of heavy metal musicians Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul, both of Pantera and Damageplan. Biography Jerry Abbott was born in A ...

– producer, engineer, mixing *M.C. Rather – mastering *Recorded and mixed at Pantego Sound,

Pantego, Texas Pantego is a town in Tarrant County, Texas, United States. Its population was 2,394 at the 2010 census. It is entirely surrounded by the cities of Arlington and Dalworthington Gardens. It is in the middle of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, a ...

References

{{Authority control Pantera albums 1984 albums