Tygers of Pan Tang: Spellbound(1981)

 

When the term  New Wave of British Heavy Metal hit in the early 80’s a lot of bands were clumped under that bracket and it wasn’t until I think back in  1981 that I bought Creem  magazine that featured a ton of British Bands.

I had already secured a copy of Iron Maiden’s Killers album. My buddy Muc had Def Leppard’s On Through The Night release so there was two new bands that I knew off!

But there were many more bands just waiting for me to discover!

Two of which Raven/Saxon was the first time I had heard these names from across the pond! I was intrigued as these bands were all young and looked like gangs! Especially the Drummer in Raven who wore a Hockey Helmet and went by the name ‘Wacko’!

Tygers of Pan Tang was one band just by name alone that intrigued me and when I came across this album Spellbound in around 1981 I was onboard and this was another band who looked young and cool!

‘Spellbound’ is a great Hard Rock Album!

Side one

1. “Gangland” – 3:43
2. “Take It” – 4:27
3. “Minotaur” – 0:22
4. “Hellbound” – 3:30
5. “Mirror” – 4:34

Side two

6. “Silver and Gold” – 3:35
7. “Tyger Bay” – 3:28
8. “The Story So Far” – 3:29
9. “Blackjack” – 3:15
10. “Don’t Stop By” – 4:04

• Jon Deverill – lead and backing vocals
• Robb Weir – lead guitar, backing vocals
• John James Sykes – lead guitar, backing vocals
• Richard “Rocky” Laws – bass, backing vocals
• Brian Dick – drums

What an opener with Gangland as it’s a classic track. Lead Singer Jon Deverill  has a great set of lungs while the band just pushes forward and the solo well that is courtesy of a one John James Syke  who we all know as John Sykes just lifts Gangland right off the rails!

Side 2 is a great side of Metal as well but for some reason Side 1 just stands out! It’s sooooo flipping good!

The late Chris Tasangarides(RIP) produced this album and of course Chris went to produce Anvil/Judas Priest/Tragically Hip amongst many others over his production career. 

John James Sykes as we all know left not to long after and joined Phil Lynott(RIP) in Thin Lizzy. Once Lizzy packed it in Sykes was poached by David Coverdale for Whitesnake and we all know how Sykes wrote BIG BOMBASTIC RIFF’S of ROCK for the Whitesnake 1987 record and the thanks Sykes got was the boot from Cov! 

Spellbound features a Young Sykes just ripping up that Fret board like no ones business while Deverill has an excellent set of lungs on this album! All the dudes in Tygers could play and there is not a slouch between them.

That’s the one thing that was funny about my listening curve with Tygers was that this was the only album I had purchased with Tygers! Really no reason why I didn’t buy more of Tygers but as I stated before there was so much music coming out that at times I had a hard time keeping up with bands/magazines and geez there was even school homework in there at one point as well!

So back this past September I came across Spellbound in mint condition for $15! It was an absolute no brainer purchase! 

If any one you out there in the blog world love British Metal with a real cool flair of melody do check out ‘Spellbound’!