The perfectly named Animal Instinct (Cargo Records, 2008) sees a welcome and highly impressive return for UK’s hard rocking Tygers Of Pan Tang. Their first album Wild Cat was released way back in 1980 and only guitarist Robb Weir remains. Back in the eighties they were among the leading lights of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal movement.
The Animal Instinct Robb Weir follows sees the latest version of the Tygers returning in part to those halcyon days of the eighties. Highlights of this period came with 1981’s classic Spellbound and the following year’s The Cage their fourth studio album.
It was shortly after this that the Tygers broke up for the first time, lacking the support of their label MCA and not able to find anyone to buy up their remaining contract. To mark the twentieth anniversary of their formation, the Tygers re-appeared at the tenth Wacken Festival. The response from the crowd to the memorable performance convinced Robb to re-launch the band.
In 2001 he put the pieces together. The line up included Robb, bass player Brian West, guitarist Dean Robertson, and drummer Craig Ellis who all remain today. Two albums followed Mystical and Noises. Shortly after singer Richie Wicks left and was replaced by Italian vocalist Jacopo Meille.
The Tygers name was saved and their reputation was further enhanced by some incendiary live performances. With the release of Animal Instinct the Tygers Of Pan Tang are well and truly back with a statement of intent.
Excellently mixed and produced by Thunder’s Ben Matthews, Animal Instinct is a big slab of meaty sound. He captures the band in full flow, with a fresh immediacy. Jacopo Meille’s vocals are excellent throughout perfectly fitting the Tygers swagger. Opening with “Rock Candy”, not to be confused with Montrose’s track of the same name, it is clear that the band is back on something of a mission.
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