Tygers of Pan Tang “Live Blood”
The classic NWOBHM band performs both classic songs and fab newer material on its new live album. “Live Blood” is an excellent celebration of the past and present of this band.
One of the classic bands from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene, Tygers of Pan Tang was founded in 1978 in northern England, not far from Newcastle. Like many other English rock bands from their era, the Tygers started out performing in working men’s clubs. They released their first single “Don’t Touch Me” in 1979 on the legendary local label Neat Records before signing a major record label deal with MCA. The band’s debut album “Wild Cat” was released in 1980. Several classic metal albums followed in the 80s, including “Spellbound”, “Crazy Nights” and “The Cage”. The band reformed in 1999 and has remained active since then. Their most recent studio album “Bloodlines” was released in 2023.
Over the years, Tygers has had many members come and go in the band’s line-up, most famously guitarist John Sykes of Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake and Blue Murder fame. Co-founder and guitarist Robb Weir leads the current line-up: Craig Ellis joins him on drums, Jacopo “Jack” Meille on vocals, Francesco Marras on guitar and Huw Holding on bass.
The new live album was recorded at The Patriot in Newport, Wales during the summer of 2023. “Live Blood” includes material from across the band’s career. The live album opens with “Euthanasia”, the opening track from the band’s debut album. From “Wild Cat” we also get “Slave to Freedom”, “Suzie Smiled” and “Insanity”. Other classic Tygers songs included are “Gangland”, “Hellbound”, “Do It Good” and “Paris by Air”. The current line-up does the classic songs justice. They also show us that they can still deliver excellent live versions of newer songs such as “Only the Brave”, “Blood Red Sky”, “Back for Good”, “Edge of the World” and “Destiny”. Listening to the newer songs mixed in with the old classics it becomes evident that the new songs are as good as the old ones. This band is not stuck in the past. This is a band that soldiers on as its 50th anniversary is just four years away. There is great musical chemistry within the current line-up. “Live Blood” is an excellent celebration of the past and present of this classic British metal band.
Tygers of Pan Tang’s live album “Live Blood” will be released on 26th April via Mighty Music.
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