Spellbound to be Hellbound or Hellbound to be Spellbound? (Spellbound - Tygers Of Pan Tang)

Member Name: dangaroo

Product:	Spellbound - Tygers Of Pan Tang
Date:	16/09/08 (52 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some cracking tracks, the band at their best

Disadvantages: A few weaker tracks at the end

Spellbound is the 2nd album released by Tygers of Pan Tang, the bands line-up had changed considerably since their 1st release in 1980 "Wild Cats", it saw John Sykes come in as a 2nd guitarist and Jon Deverill replaced Jess Cox as the singer. Deverill's voice is much stronger than that of Cox, the screams are longer lasting and his range seems to be much better.

The album was released in 1981 on MCA. This NWOBHM band are often quite progressive in style, with numerous guitar solos usually taking place and the songs being quite well spread out, tracks like Gangland, Take It and Hellbound have a superb rock arena anthem feeling to them. Minotaur is rather experimental, whilst Mirror is more moody and melodical with rather operatic vocals, Silver and Gold is upbeat with intricate guitar work and unbelievably tight trousered vocals, Tyger Bay is a fast metal track with a good chorus but little else in the way lyrically on offer. The Story So Far has a very poppy sound to it vocally and is rather hair metalish, it's saved by a cracking guitar solo and a heavy punkish riff. Blackjack is fast, intricate and a good friend for Ace of Spades by Motorhead! Don't Stop By is the last track on the original release and is rather dramatic and romantic, one for the girls for sure.

Later versions of the album have an additional 5 bonus tracks - All or Nothing, an upbeat hard rock track that has a catchy chorus and has a rather pub rock sound to it but is far from outstanding, Don't Give A Damn is a typical NWOBHM style song with very high vocals but is lyrically far from amazing. Bad Times has a very fast heavy bluesy sound to it and awesome guitar work but the recording is a bit muffled, it's good though, It Ain't Easy is a slow and dramatic track that sounds more of a 70s track than early 80s, Don't Take Nothing is fast, upbeat and excellent to sing a long to. Back to the anthem style songs at the beginning of the album.

The album is a superb example of the Tygers of Pan Tang at their best, this album is much better than any of their others and has some truly excellent songs but it also has a few weak aspects, particularly towards the end.

1. Gangland
2. Take It
3. Minotaur
4. Hellbound
5. Mirror
6. Silver And Gold
7. Tyger Bay
8. Story So Far
9. Black Jack
10. Don't Stop By
11. All Or Nothing
12. Don't Give A Damn
13. Bad Times
14. It Ain't Easy
15. Don't Take Nothin

Summary: The band's best album