Wings of Death, Dutch - 'Majors And Minors' Review by Chris Van Der Aa


Tygers Of Pan Tang is of course inseparable from the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. Perhaps not the best band of that time, certainly not the band that would kick the furthest, but one of the most tenacious and extremely authentic. The first three albums Wild Cat, Spellbound and Crazy Nights can be regarded as true time documents. After that, as with many contemporaries with a lack of tangible success, there was a cautious flirtation with other musical perspectives, and the career started to get rough. A stable line-up also turned out to be a utopia. Despite this, the band still keeps going and makes themselves heard regularly.

Last week Tygers Of Pan Tang released the album Majors & Minors; not a new album, but a summary of the band's most recent period. The promo talk talks about a fine selection of songs written and recorded over the past 13 years. Not just any best of compilation, as the band wanted to offer something special to loyal fans, collectors and those who missed the most recent records.

The band chose songs on the album that they thought were classics and that represented the resurrection of the Tygers, enhanced by the Italian singer who the band has had in their ranks since 2004. Written in part 'on the road', the songs not only have great riffs, balls and powerful performances, but also express the band's creativity and musical chemistry for songwriting. Not afraid to even add Spanish guitars and castanets if a song calls for it.

Party songs, heavy songs, rock hymns, groovy rock'n'rollers, catchy songs cleverly constructed with accessible melodies, the band has packed it all into this meaty package. The contribution of Chris Tsangarides who managed to get the best out of the band was essential. The band believes that this “new” era of the band, which has actually lasted longer than the original line-up, has produced songs that are a welcome addition to the band's history.

The CD version of the compilation includes the brand-new song Plug Me In; a new, orchestral version of Spoils of War; What You Say, which has never been released in album format before (it's the B-side of the 2016 single Only The Brave). In addition, a live version of Keeping Me Alive, recorded in 2018, will adorn the vinyl format of Majors & Minors. Known for their incendiary hit version of the pop classic Love Potion no.9 from the 1982 album The Cage, which sold over 200,000 copies and yielded the band two top 50 songs in the homeland, Tygers Of Pan Tang remains a beloved hard rock band with their NWOBHM legacy and many loyal fans.

If you have lost sight of this band, or want to hear what the band has been up to in recent years, then Majors & Minors is the perfect entry point. You have to like the melodic style, but this band still delivers 'habitual' quality after all these years.


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