An evening based on classic metal is expected at the Alchemica Music Club - a Bolognese reality more alive than ever in situations like this and which (with delay, due to a pandemic) features none other than a historic English band, counted among the "godfathers" of the current New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (often shortened to NWOBHM) from which worldwide successful bands such as Saxon or Iron Maiden will emerge: none other than Tygers of Pan Tang.
Present in their umpteenth incarnation, now almost half Italian with the presence of Iacopo "Jack" Meille (a tiger in all respects) now in the band for several years and the talented guitarist Francesco Marras, the Tygers set foot in Italy for three dates : Rome, Milan and finally Bologna - accompanied by two very good Italian bands, the Roman Sons of Thunder and the Tuscan Angel Martyr ready to warm up the atmosphere waiting for the Anglo / Italian tigers.



Already before 9pm there is a good turnout: to enter there is a bit of a queue so my listening to the Sons of Thunder takes place from the outside: I recognize a group with a compact sound and united in a Rock n 'Roll with Hard hues n 'Heavy which clearly draws on the school of dear Motorheads and which also presents the two singles Thunderhood and Turn it up among other songs, giving a generous performance but in front of a not so numerous audience.



Angel Martyr, young veterans of Italian speed metal and with two albums to their credit, have all the air of those who do not want to take prisoners: in their half hour at their disposal they unleash their best weapons - effective but penalized by a sound a little too mixed, with the distortion of the bass very much in evidence, but which still manage to involve the still growing audience. Their style goes well with that proposed by other bands, often leading to the most classic metal and recalling in different moments the almost namesake Angelwitch or the great Manilla Road of the late Mark Shelton to whom their Forgotten Metal is dedicated: the trio offers a good test, the room is cooked to perfection to accommodate the headliners.



And here they are the Tygers of Pan Tang - ready, smiling and self-confident as only those who have so many kilometers behind them can be: from the very first notes you understand that it will be an evening not to be forgotten, going fishing from the great classics (the triptych Wild Cat, Crazy Nights and Spellbound) and more recent songs with Iacopo on vocals - let's not forget that these dates should have supported their excellent Ritual, now dated 2019.
Despite some initial problems with spies, the Tygers proved to be masters of the scene: Iacopo in addition to being an exceptional singer and with a very versatile voice is a good entertainer - certainly helped by the fact of "playing at home" - and presents several songs with theatricality and irony, earning points also on the show level.
But let's get to the music: we start with Fireclown, a song that is not affected by even one of his 42 years, as well as the subsequent Love don’t stay - one year younger. Destiny is the third track, taken from the most recent Ritual - already effective in the studio, live acquires even more strength: Iacopo knows how to measure himself very well with the classic songs of the period John Deverill or Jess Cox, but is magnificent on the songs written for his voice.
The following Keeping me alive (taken from Ambush of 2012) and the recent White lines are energetic, with an eye to the classic and one to the modern before returning us to the great glories with the (de) thundering Gangland, the sublime opening track of Spellbound (1981).
Iacopo has the audience in hand, the leader Robb Weir is impeccable - on stage they all have fun as if they were kids on their first real tour: this energy is palpable and the audience responds and how! The line-up goes one step forward with Only the brave and four backwards with other classics taken from the first three albums already mentioned, before Damn you !, an excellent song to send someone to that country - as Iacopo suggests - and above all the new single A New Heartbeat.
What is missing? Oh yeah, a song dedicated to a certain Suzie ... and it is with Suzie smiled, a manifest piece of their way of understanding NWOBHM that our five tigers seem to close the evening - THEY SEEM! In fact, they do not ask for much - the time for a sip of water (more likely beer) and ours are already back for a final hat trick that leaves you breathless: the wonderful Hellbound, the sensual Don't touch me there and above all the Rocking Love Potion N.9, the only excerpt from their fourth work The Cage and perfect song for greetings.
Thus our Heavy Metal felines conclude the evening - and the Italian tour, giving energy and sweat (the atmosphere was REALLY hot) and receiving profuse applause: when metal calls, Italy knows how to respond!
We therefore hope to see the Tygers on our stages again and hear them roar - especially since next year they will release a new album - and in general more events of this kind! To use their phrase "If you start playing with fire you will end up burned": we can't wait to feel the heat of this flame again!



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