Streetclip, Germany - 'Majors And Minors' Review by Mario Wolski

Maybe others feel the same way too? And, yes, it's unfair. For me, the TYGERS OF PAN TANG were always a case of, I'll say “far away”. Founded in 1976, they played in the NWoBHM, landed a hit album with ´The Cage´ in 1982, disbanded for the first time in 1984, but got back together again and again. Then eleven studio albums came together over the years. Of course, there were quite a few line-up changes. There is also such a prominent name as John Sykes on the list of ex-members. And even Robb Weir, who co-founded the troupe, wasn't always in the line-up.

What I could hear in passing, was actually always pretty good. The TYGERS never ran away from me just for really essential. So, it was never enough for a closer look. But after I found the current singer Jacopo Meille really convincing with the new SAINTED SINNERS since 2004, it was time to listen more closely. So, this compilation ´Majors & Minors´ comes just in time.

The disadvantage of many compilations is that important songs are missing. Or the period covered is too long. Then there are violent breaks in style. The TOPT solved that perfectly. They have simply limited themselves to the last 13 years, so since ´Animal Instinct´. They only cover part of their career, the phase with Mr. Meille on the microphone. The time before that is covered by some best-ofs.

Because of this focus ´Majors & Minors´ sounds very homogeneous. There are no disruptive changes in style. There are 15 tracks on CD and 10 on vinyl, covering the finest melodic rock and metal. Fans probably already know most of it. For these connoisseurs there is a non-album track on the silver disc with ´What You Say´, ´Plug Me In´ has never been released on CD. Only on the record, which will be available in three colours, is there a live version of ´Keeping Me Alive´. Both versions also feature an unreleased orchestral mix of the hit ´Spoils Of War´. And this track is a real highlight.

So, you can enjoy these songs here until the planned TYGERS OF PAN TANG tour. There is a fine groovy ´She´ or the already mentioned, melodic ´What You Say´. Or how about dancing your feet to the rousing ´White Lines´? But you can also shake your head to the brisk ´The Devil You Know´. Fans of the PRETTY MAIDS or DEF LEPPARD should find what they are looking for here. Lovers of BONFIRE or GOTTHARD can also risk an ear. So ´Majors & Minors´ is a real reason to go deeper into the world of wild cats. Perhaps you will also look at the early work again. There is a lot that can be done well, at least for me.

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