Year 1981; a friend of mine
returns to the beautiful country
after a holiday in Yugoslavia
and brings a cassette with him.
We've both heard of Tygers of
Pan Tang but haven't heard
anything yet and "Spellbound",
their second album, is the
perfect opportunity to get to
know them musically. When we put
the physical support into the
plate, a world of energy and
sharp guitars releases from the
speakers: youth in the form of
music. Forty years have passed
since that time and the line-up
has been reduced to just
guitarist Robb Weir as the
original member. Almost all the
bands in 2020 have been blocked
by the pandemic and many have
decided to resort to collections
to remedy the lack on the market
and on stages around the world.
The Tygers of Pan Tang were no
exception and have decided to
publish a compilation that goes
to fish in the production that
sees our Jacopo Meille on the
voice, or the one that goes from
"Animal Instinct" of 2008 (Meille
has been present since 2004 ) to
date. "Majors & Minors" consists
of fifteen songs on C.D. and ten
on disc with very few, so to
speak, unreleased things, but
still offers a good insight into
the production of Tygers for
those who, like me, had given up
the group in the aftermath of
the controversial "The Cage"
(other line-up; other NDA
story). The group was among the
seminal formations of the
N.W.O.B.H.M. and today's sound,
in addition to referring to that
of the past, is also supported
by an extra dose of energy.
Heavy Metal with very strong
references to the guitar riffs
of Judas Priest: "Never Give In"
and "Keeping Me Alive" above
all, are accompanied by pieces
that have the flavour of
Megadeth from "Symphony of
Destruction" ("The Devil You
Know"). Oddly enough, there is
also room for Glam represented
by "Glad Rags". If it doesn't
remind you of Poison's "Unskinny
Bop" you are a beginner or an
extremist who has never listened
to Hair Metal. The Heavy short
"Damn You", on the other hand,
touches the shores of the
Saxons. As for the "unreleased"
pieces of the C.D. “Spoils of
War” is offered in an orchestral
version and has a section of
horns and other instruments. The
Piece is slightly more ethereal
than the others but is in line
with the most “recent”
production. "Plug Me In" (never
made on CD), placed at the end,
makes it clear to those with an
expert ear, why it has been left
behind on other occasions. The
Heavy N'Roll rhythm hits the
mark and the song is not bad but
there are some inaccuracies or,
better said, some indecisions.
Do you want to relive the
atmosphere of the old days,
those who for many of us who are
over fifty will never come back?
Make this collection yours and
give Weir and companions a
chance.
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