Tag: tygers of pan tang

Tygers are definitely one of the more influential bands from the NWOBHM. A lot of metal bands that came after, especially in America and Germany, call the Tygers a major influence. Metallica’s Lars and James especially love early Tygers and this album in particular. This is the only album to feature Jess Cox on vocals, as after this album he was replaced by John Devarall, and a second guitar player was added with John Sykes being brought in. The band’s label, MCA, heavily interfered after this release and it slowly went downhill after. Spellbound was the highlight after this album, and there is not one bad track on this record. From the opening riff of Euthanasia, to the close out of Insanity, this album encapsulates everything that was great about NWOBHM.

I remember buying the Don’t Touch Me There single and just loving the power and the riffs. My two favourite Tyger’s tracks are on this album: Slave To Freedom and Susie Smiled, which are both killer tunes with big riffs and a great groove. Tygers are still out there and still rockin’.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

The forgotten third album from the Tygers and it’s quite amazing how the sound had changed since the first record only a year and a half earlier. Gone was the full on metal of the first and was replaced by a band struggling for a sound. It’s obvious they were going for a more melodic sound, probably due to pressure from the record company, but this album suffered in my opinion.

The first two tracks are pretty standard for the period with very simple riffs, and it’s not until we get to Track 3 with Never Satisfied that things hot up a bit and the quality goes up a notch. Last track on Side 1, Running Out Of Time, tries hard to capture the true nature of the band, but the production is very flat and wooden.

It’s more of the same over on Side 2. The title track is just ok, and Deverill is over singing and not singing for the song. An attempt to boost up the guitars with effects has been made on Down And Out, but it’s just ok. Bearing in mind Sykes would leave after this album to join Thin Lizzy and write Thunder And Lightning – I am struggling to hear any of what is obviously John’s ideas and riffs on this record. Then Lonely Man arrives and I’m gonna stick my hat on that he had a big hand in writing this one. Make A Stand comes and goes, and the best track on the record is Raised On Rock which closes out the album.

So not a great record compared to the two albums that came before, and that’s what we have to compare it to.

6/10 from The Grooveman.

NWOBHM pioneers are still plugging away after 40 plus years, albeit with only one original member, which is fully loaded compared to some legacy bands that have zero original members. Somewhat invigorated with the arrival of guitarist Mickey Crystal (who is a first division musician) and the band have released an album that stands proud against anything they have done before.

Opening track, Worlds Apart, shows Mickey’s talents to the fullest – both with the full on riff and killer leads. Destiny has a touch of Ozzy with the main riff, and has a nice chorus. Rescue Me is up next and starts with a slow chugga riff – its a decent tune. Raise Some Hell follows and has that NWOBHM riff that I am sick of hearing. Every band and his dog has used this riff so many times – it should be put out for retirement. The song is saved by a killer solo. Spoils Of War closes out Side 1 and is a nice epic tune and the big production of this side. It sounds nothing like the Tygers if I’m honest, mostly thanks to the epic guitar from Mr. Crystal.

Side 2 opens with the single White Lines which is an ok song with a nice chorus and melody, but (and this is becoming a habit) the song is lifted by the guitar. Words Cut Like Knives is power ballad 101 with a nice vocal from Jac. Damn You is straight from the NWOBHM rule book with a textbook riff. Art Of Noise is next up and is the most modern sounding track on the album with the pounding bass. Close out track, Sail On, has an almost Malmsteen intro and sounds very euro metal – its a great track. Big shout out to the rhythm section of Gav Gray on bass, and Craig Ellis on the pots and pans – who lay down some great grooves. Mickey Crystal sadly left the band after this, saying he was being used just to write songs and that Weir’s involvement was minimal. Shame, as he is a top class musician and he will be missed.

8/10 from The Grooveman.