Passion Rock, France (Author: Jacques Lalande) - Animal Instinct 2024 Album Review



After the excellent Bloodlines released in 2023, the Tygers of Pan Tang are surfing on a phase of renewal after four decades of existence (with guitarist Robb Weir as the only original member) and they are taking advantage of the moment to reissue the album Animal Instinct, initially released in 2008, all offered with a new cover.

This interlude before, we hope, a next opus, allows on the one hand to revisit this concentrate of British hard rock that is Animal Instinct and on the other hand to note the changes made by the technicians at the controls: the guitar solos are more incisive, even if it was already awesome 15 years ago, the sound is more modern, more groovy and more energetic, the bass lines are deeper and Jacopo Meille's vocals are much more intense.

Even though I'm not a huge fan of reissues (preferring the original work in its own juice and era), I have to admit that the work done on this album is amazing. A new breath of fresh air seems to animate fabulous titles like "Cry Sweet Freedom", "Rock Candy" or "Hot Blooded", the riffs of "Live for The Day", "Cruisin”" or "If You See Kay" weigh 15 tons while "Let It Burn" or "Bury the Hatchet" instantly mobilize the cervicals, as well as "Winners and Losers" which imposes an infernal groove with a bass that puts the pâté on the toast. Jacopo Meille's singing is superb and the whole thing looks really great.

For those who don't know the Tygers of Pan Tang, also enjoy this reissue to appreciate and discover what could be the raw energy and creativity of the British heavy of the eighties, the famous New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. Tygers of Pan Tang are among the last representatives of this blessed era and for that alone they deserve our recognition.

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