One of the bands that “emerged” with the rise of NWOBHM, was its “tip of the spear” in the 80s and did not have a similar path later, choosing a more low profile, but without ceasing to “feed” hard rock/heavy metal with very good albums to this day, is Tygers Of Pan Tang. On their 30th “birthday”, the British legends released another hard rock/NWOBHM “dynamite”, entitled “Animal Instinct”. In collaboration with Mighty Music and 16 years later, Tygers Of Pan Tang return to that album, feeling that something was missing and re-release it in a more “renewed” version. Here is “Animal Instinct”, as the British dreamed of it. First of all, the excellent work that the band and its label have done is already evident from the cover. And the truth is, that 2008 cover, beyond its simplicity, did not highlight the real “deadly” hard rock/heavy metal “face” of the album. It seemed somewhat “light”, for the special “weight” of the content of “Animal Instinct”. This time, Tygers Of Pan Tang have at their disposal a more ideal cover, which aims exactly where the British desire: at the hard rock/NWOBHM “hardness” of the material, without losing its simplicity. On the other hand, the upgrade of the production is a given, with a more voluminous and robust sound, which manages to masterfully “unfold” the hard rock/NWOBHM “character” of Tygers Of Pan Tang. The riffs come back to life, the performances are once again shocking, the rhythm section manages to have its “space” and the ‘80s “vagrant” atmosphere returns, in an imposing way. Very careful and highly targeted work, aiming to highlight the real musical “potentials” of the album. The truth is, I never understood (I imagine most people too) why Tygers Of Pan Tang didn’t continue or if you want didn’t follow, those high “flights” of the ‘80s. And that’s because, if you let “Animal Instinct” show you its true “face”, you will see that the British have not lost that hard rock/NWOBHM “flame”, which distinguished them back in the ‘80s. Ok, maybe 2008’s “Animal Instinct” sounded a little softer, but it remained the same authentic, “trampy”, dedicated to the hard rock/NWOBHM “vision” of the British. And this, Tygers Of Pan Tang manage to highlight in this re-release, where the voluminous and more robust sound, “awakens” that “Tiger” of the ‘80s.

“Animal Instinct” with the appropriate sonic “corrective” moves, regains that hard rock/NWOBHM “glamour” of the ‘80s, reminds all fans again, who the British really were and what they have achieved in their 46-year career. Robb Weir and Deano perfectly demonstrate their guitar “virtues”, with their now clean and imaginative riffs and elaborate solos that take your breath away, Brian West and Craig Ellis “earn” their “space” as a rhythm section, with their exceptional skills and Jacopo Meille proves his awesome voice and his awesome performance. The hard rock/NWOBHM sound of Tygers Of Pan Tang here seems to “touch” its ‘80s perfection, it seems to “de-blur” and “reveal” again, that lost “shine”. 2024’s “Animal Instinct” sonically is the amazing capture of the hard rock/NWOBHM “idea” of the British, which never ceased to exist and was always there, perhaps waiting for a more targeted “care”, to perform its “miracle” again. At the same time, “Animal Instinct” was and continues to be, an imaginative album synthetically. Tygers Of Pan Tang “invested” synthetically, in the authentic hard rock/NWOBHM “madness”, in the ‘80s “vagrancy”, in the catchy melodies, in the indomitable hard rock/NWOBHM “spirit” of the golden decade of hard sound, in the catchy choruses and the “commercial” mood and the 11 compositions of the album, justified them solemnly. The riffs and solos “hammer” your mind, the rhythm section is a worthy supporter, the performances captivate you, the atmosphere reminds you of other, glorious times, the melodies drive you crazy and the choruses seem impossible to “untie” from your mouth, with “Animal Instinct” managing to create a “deprivation” syndrome in you, whenever you don’t hear it on the speakers. The hard rock “madness” of “Rock Candy”, “Cry Sweet Freedom”, “Let It Burn” and “Winners And Losers”, the “commercial” mood of “Devils Find A Fool” and “Cruisin’”, the “vagrancy” of “Live For The Day” and “Hot Blooded”, the heavy metal “appetite” of “Bury The Hatchet” and “Dark Rider”, prove the amazing compositional intelligence of the British and how easily they could create timeless hard rock/NWOBHM anthems. Even “Don’t Say Rock ‘N’ Roll Is Gonna Die” with its authentic hard rock “vagrancy”, which was added as a bonus track on the re-release, is distinguished by this compositional approach. “Animal Instinct” manages to stand out for its compositional quality and the ability of the British to “build” perfect hard rock/NWOBHM anthems. At a time when hard rock/NWOBHM seemed to be going through a “crisis” and “swamping”, the Tygers Of Pan Tang, faithful to their “vision”, released a “stomping” response under the title “Animal Instinct”. An album, which maintained their sonic “identity” and their compositional quality, in the global “becoming” and “shouted” that hard rock/NWOBHM is here. With the re-release of “Animal Instinct”, the British succeed, with the necessary sonic and not only “corrections”, in highlighting the real hard rock/NWOBHM “dimensions”, of an album that could star on the stage. The “Animal Instinct” of 2024 is more “bulky”, more robust sonically, more imposing and “rich” synthetically, with a more fitting cover and a corresponding production. I think this is a “value for money” purchase, since the listener will enjoy to the maximum, an ideal “upgrade” of an excellent hard rock/NWOBHM album. Opportunity for those who do not already have it, as well as for the fanatical fans of the British.

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