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All Round Metal, Italy -  'Majors & Minors' Review by Corrado Franceschini

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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