Ritual
What better way to begin 2020 than with an explosive heavy metal album. Released last year by Mighty Music, Tygers of Pan Tang’s album ‘Ritual’ is a force to be reckoned with. The Tygers have been forging their way through the world of heavy metal for the past four decades, with a brief hiatus in the nineties and numerous line up changes, but the quality of the music has remained a constant. The Tygers of Pan Tang are Robb Weir on guitars, Jacopo “Jack” Meille on vocals, Michael Crystal on guitars, Gav Gray on bass duties and Craig Ellis on drums & percussion
The album opens with a fantastic guitar riff and the track ‘Worlds Apart’. Straight away it just grabs you. Craig Ellis’ drums come in and he absolutely knocks seven bells out of his kit. The real driving force of this song and in fact the album as a whole. Its fast, energetic pace just the perfect antidote to those January blues. What a fantastic vocal performance by Jack too. His metal vocals really do shine throughout this album.
‘Destiny’ is up next and believe me, this track is a real earworm. From the moment you hear it, you won’t be able to get the song out of your head. From the catchy chorus that the song opens with to the infectious guitar parts and killer solo. This song is pure brilliance! ‘Rescue Me’ is next and with its crunching guitar riff and Jack’s incredible vocals, sounds like it has come straight out of those glorious NWOBHM days. I love this track; a slow and powerful foot stomper and one I hope to see included in the Tygers live shows.
The album thunders on. Absolute pure power is on display her. The bands rhythm section is a real power house. Gav on bass and Craig on the drums when they play together, really unleash thunder, I love it. Then things slow down considerably for ‘Words Cut Like Knives’, a powerful, reflective metal ballad. Opening up with just an acoustic guitar with Jacks vocals. Gradually, the band all join in, the power beginning to build up and then nearly two and a half minutes in the distorted electric guitar comes in and just melts your face and brings the song to a climax, before everything calms again and we are left with that solitary acoustic. This is by far my album highlight, just exceptional!
I have to mention the album closer as well. A seven and a half minute epic metal anthem. Sail away has so much to offer, it is great. Songs are often compared to other songs in the “This is this bands such and such song”, well ‘Sail On’ is Tygers of Pan Tangs Stairway to Heaven. It really is that good. I love the point at around 3 minutes, it almost goes slightly Prog! Then those guitars come back in and wow, just wow. This is another track I just have to see live. And so do you. You will love it!
This album is out of this world. The Tygers have taken everything they did on their last album and then raised the bar another notch. It is pure energetic heavy metal. The Tygers are one of the most exciting bands out there at the moment and I for one have to see them live later in the year!
