As requested, here’s TYGERS OF PAN TANG awesome 1980’s debut album ”Wild Cat” in its remastered / SHM-CD pressing , a mini-LP replica of the original Eighties Japanese release. An early biker-metal classic exuding all the boisterous charm one would expect from a bunch of young kids excitedly helping build a scene.
“Wild Cat” is a NWOBHM gem, full of riff-driven killer songs, swirling melodious solos, and raw lead vocals in a ‘metal singer’ fashion by Jess Cox – his only album with the band.
For many, this debut id Tygers Of Pan Tang best album including classics such as ‘Wildcat’, ‘Euthanasia’, ‘Killers’, ‘Fireclown’ and ‘Suzie Smiled’. All very catchy classic tunes, simply irresistible.
One of the biggest misconceptions about the new wave of British heavy metal is that, because it arose as a reaction to punk rock, the two movements had nothing in common. But in reality, it was the brash energy and do it yourself ethos of punk which fueled the desire of bands like Iron Maiden and Def Leppard to resurrect the lessons taught by early ’70s heavy metal originators like Black Sabbath and Deep Purple and translate them into an exciting musical form once again.
Few bands epitomized this combination as clearly as the Tygers of Pan Tang, whose amazingly raw 1980 debut Wildcat owed much more to punk than metal due to its innocent vitality and the band’s limited technical ability. All this simply serves to explain why such a seemingly flawed album was still considered a strong release within the parameters of its time and place.
Led by one trick pony (hey, but a god damn good trick) guitarist Robb Weir’s staccato riffing and singer Cox’s hoarse delivery, straightforward, yet slightly awkward sounding hard rockers like “Money,” “Suzie Smiled,” and “Insanity” are the main course served on Wildcat.
The singer’s lyrics are especially daft on opener “Euthanasia” and first single “Don’t Touch Me There,” but the entire band takes it up a notch on “Slaves to Freedom” and “Killers,” both of which feature solid hooks, the occasional time change, and point towards future improvement.
In fact, most of the band’s amateurish qualities would depart along with Cox after this release, as the addition of capable new vocalist Jon Deverill and virtuoso second guitarist John Sykes would elevate the Tygers to an entirely higher level of musicianship and finesse.
But heck, “Wild Cat” is heavy metal, imperfect, but charming as few.
Highly Recommended
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01 – Euthanasia
02 – Slave To Freedom
03 – Don’t Touch Me There
04 – Money
05 – Killers
06 – Fireclown
07 – Wild Catz
08 – Suzie Smiled
09 – Badger Badger
10 – Insanity
Jess Cox – Vocals
Robb Weir – Guitars and Vocals
Richard ‘Rocky’ Laws – Bass and Vocals
Brian “Big” Dick – Sticks, Kicks and Gong