Back in 1980 with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal on the rise, the marvellous Tygers of Pan Tang were up there to the fore with the likes of Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, Saxon, Samson etc. as a band surely set for the stratosphere.
Three absolutely classic albums issued in quick succession over 1980-1981 would surely cement their status as a monster band. Well, that was until the fourth album in 1982 killed the Tygers stone cold.
In this excellent box set (very reasonably priced as I type this post – picked mine up for £20) we have those three classics, the career killer and a superb disc of live performances including a BBC In Concert from 1981, a Friday Rock Show session from 1980 and their set from the 1982 Reading Festival.
The Tygers are still active – check out their excellent album Ritual from 2019 – and this MCA Years box set is similar to those out for the likes of Girlschool, Raven and Samson.
The debut album – Wild Cat – is an instant classic. Lots of youthful exuberance an enthusiasm. Monster songs, brutal riffs, savage guitar from Rob Weir, thumping, galloping rhythm section and the excellent vocals of Jess Cox. From first note to last is nothing short of monster. Euthanasia, Slave to Freedom, Money, Wild Catz, Suzie Smiled and the rest. Wild Cat is up there and comparable with any NWOBHM debut you’d care to mention.
Then it got even better with the follow-up, Spellbound. In came a new vocalist – John Deverill and the terrific Jon Sykes joined Weir on guitar duty. Deverill has a larger range than Cox and Sykes’ guitar skills need no introduction.
Spellbound a clear step up from Wild Cat. A more expansive, refined sound and style without losing any impact. Sykes and Weir trading the big riffs and spectacular soloing. Gangland, Take It, Tyger Bay and Blackjack being particular stand-outs. Have a listen to the Tygers performing Gangland live from that 1981 BBC In Concert.
Next came Crazy Nights. A slightly more melodic and catchy feel to things though it’s still great and fresh. Nothing duff about it. All the elements remained which made Spellbound so great and with that album and Crazy Nights coming out in 1981 it kept up the momentum for the band heading ever upwards.
Hmmm. That was until it all came to a halt with The Cage in 1982. Sykes had gone. In came Fred Purser. The Cage is (in my opinion at least) unlistenable. Monstrously over produced, far too slick, no power, weak, lacklustre. Perhaps there may have been pressure from the record company for the Tygers to be more commercial. Whatever the reason – the Cage stinks. It did sell in respectable numbers and spawned a moderate hit single with a cover of Love Potion Number 9. Bar that, the only song which sounds anything like the Tygers should sound is You Always See What You Want to See. The rest of it is a massive turkey.
Now on to disc 5 and those superb, classic live performances. All phenomenal stuff. Shows just how great the Tygers were back then and why (the Cage apart) they should have been right up there with your Maidens, Leppards etc.
Classic NWOBHM does not get much better than those first three albums. The MCA Years box set an essential purchase indeed.