Review: Tygers Of Pan Tang - Animal Instinct (Reissue)

Review: Tygers Of Pan Tang – Animal Instinct (Reissue)

Mighty Music (November 21^st, 2024)

Reviewer: David Pearce

There are some groups that seem to fall through the cracks of your memories, but as soon as you hear them again you suddenly remember what you liked about them. Tygers of Pan Tang were a group from Whitley Bay near Newcastle who formed in 1978. Their first incarnation ran until 1987 and they released six albums in that time. It is that era of the Tygers that I remember most clearly. Their second bite of the cherry started in 1999, and ‘Animal Instinct‘ came along in 2008. It is being rereleased with a new mix to bring out the sound that they were aiming for 16 years ago. The line up in 2008 was Robb Weir and Dean Robertson on guitars, Craig Ellis on drums, Jack Meille on vocals and Brian West on bass. So, how does ‘Animal Instinct‘ stand up 16 years later?

The album opener, ‘Rock Candy’ is a really heavy track with fantastic guitar work from Robb Weir and Dean Robertson who match up with any of the guitarists of NWOBHM in any era. Jack Meille does a great job with the vocals and the reintroduction to the Tygers sound reminds me what I’ve been missing. The next track, ‘Cry Sweet Freedom’ could easily be from any of the NWOBHM bands that Tygers were stablemates of, in their first incarnation, and, although not as immediate as the opener, is still an excellent piece of heavy rock. ‘Live for the Day’ is most noteworthy for the excellent vocals by Meille who gives a bluesy edge to the song. The way that the bass of Brian West and drums of Craig Ellis underpin the track shows how good these two were and how integral they were to the group’s sound. ‘Let it Burn’ is a decent track, but it is a testament to the high quality of the album that it is not at the level of the first three. ‘If you see Kay’ contains some superb guitar work that keeps the track moving along with real verve. The track itself probably demonstrates the tight playing of the group better than any of the others in the first half of the album. ‘Hot Blooded’ finishes off the first half of the album with a track that is pure heavy metal. It is stadium rock par excellence, not because it is rock by numbers, but because it would absolutely fly in a live setting.

The second side starts off with ‘Devils Find a Fool’ which has an echo of Bon Jovi to it in its country style edge. It’s a really different track that fits in nicely with the overall style whilst being an interesting counterpoint. ‘Winners and Losers’ turns the volume back up and comes up with the goods particularly with the excellent drumming that gives the song such a solid base. ‘Cruisin’ is another solid track that would have been a standout on many other albums, but on ‘Animal Instinct’ only the truly excellent stand out. ‘Bury the Hatchet’ is a metal track par excellence with a real edge to the playing and the vocals. The band are all on top form here in a track that is my favourite. Penultimate track ‘Dark Rider’ picks up where the previous track left off, demonstrating the band’s heavier sound which all the best tracks have in common. ‘Don’t Say R ‘n’ R is Gonna Die’ is a good finish to the album. Not as strong as the best tracks, but as a manifesto it epitomises what Tygers of Pan Tang brought to 80s rock music and beyond. If, like me, you haven’t listened to them in years, Animal Instinct is going to remind you of how good they were.

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