This Means War

Empirical studies have proven some predictable results. 100% of mankind think that Ozzy would have had more talent for any other job than singing and the same percentage is of the opinion that Sabaton is no band but a modern plague, comparable with pest, leprosy or the Irish potato famine. Other results are less clear. 50% of those people who bought Tank’s third work thought “this must be a joke” while listening to the opening, trance-like keyboard tones of “Just Like Something from Hell”, the first track of the album. The rest thought “this must be a bad joke”. But it wasn’t, and (surprise, surprise) the keyboard sounds kicked off an album that showed a new yet attractive facet of band.

By the way, Tank were no three-piece any longer. No, they had not integrated a keyboard player, thank God, but a second guitarist, Mick Tucker. Maybe he left his mark during the song-writing process, because Tank now sounded like a band that had grown up rapidly. The seven songs of “This Means War” were based on more complex structures. They revealed a previously unknown depth and a newly gained seriousness. The punk flair of the debut, which had already begun to vanish on “Power of the Hunter”, was now almost completely gone. Instead, songs like “Hot Lead, Cold Steel” showed male (not macho) metal art, muscular with a working class attitude and a brilliant solo that would never had gained access on any punk-oriented album. The mostly unsung heroes of the New Wave of Tibetan Heavy Metal (find the error) had reinvented itself between August 1982 and June 1983. This deserves respect – as long as the result is convincing. Fortunately, this was the case here.

Admittedly, the pretty repetitive “(If We Go) We Go Down Fighting” did not give me the creeps and “I (Won’t Ever Let You Down)” failed to deliver the basis for the wildest headbanger-session ever. But both tracks have good parts, especially the opening riff of the “If We Go)…” and the chorus of the latter know to convince. Moreover, it was an ironic twist of fate that exactly the title track slightly suffered from a lack of belligerence. Nevertheless, the entire album is full of meaty riffs, honest rudeness and genre-compatible melody lines. The fast-paced and valiant opener marks a strong, excessive statement right at the beginning, because every detail fascinates: the riffing, the solos, the chorus, pick out whatever you want. Not to mention Algy’s unclean, raw and charismatic voice. His vocals stand in contrast with the somewhat polished production. Tank do not present their material in a silky sound, but they had an eye on the balance between comfortable listening and a metallic fundament. The songs reflect this balance as well. The opener and the title track concentrate on an excellent flow, while “Hot Lead, Cold Steel” offers bulky riffing.

“Laughing in the Face of Death” is the track that builds a bridge to the previously released albums. The aggressive number brings back the juvenile stubbornness and fans of keyboard sounds get nothing to enjoy. It’s a strict, straight and simple kick in the balls of the mainstream conformists. The closer “Echoes of a Distant Battle” features the strength of Tank 1983 for the last time: a great riff that pulls the listener into the song immediately, a good flow, a memorable chorus and a neither progressive nor primitive, easily accessible pattern. It is the last representative song of this creative period of the band, by the way, a highly creative period (three albums within 14 months). “This Means War” is probably that album of Tank everybody must know if she or he wants to get in contact with really strong material of the more or less legendary formation. It’s the link between the roughshod early works and the series of pretty smooth albums that started with “Honour & Blood”. Moreover, it was the final work where the Brabbs brothers had been involved. Empirical studies have shown that most mothers want to have their sons at home instead knowing them on boozy concert tours. Greetings to mum Brabbs, hopefully she is still alive.

...And that's what I really think. Although many people hail "Filthy Hounds of Hades" as Tank's finest effort, I can't help but disagree in favour of Tank's third and fourth albums.

The band becomes a quartet with the addition of Mick Tucker (ex-White Spirit) and suddenly everything got bigger. The rockin' attitude stays in the back, but Tank here becomes a fucking monstrous machine of intense and epic heavy metal.

After the keyboard intro, everything explodes with "Just Like Something From Hell", an epic monster of more than 8 minutes, and it doesn't stop until the insanely fast "Laughing in the Face of Death" that makes you arrive breathless at the half of the album.

At this stage it's obvious that something has changed in Tank. Mick Tucker's presence is more than obvious as the guitar work has become really impressive, combining terrific riffs as in "This Means War" and excellent soloing that takes Tank's music to an awesome new level.

Things get a bit worse now with "If We Go (We Go Down Fighting)" and "I (Won't Ever Let You Down)", both looking back to the rock 'n' roll vibe of previous albums and without the memorable choruses of the rest of the tracks in the album. Fortunately, the guys manage to write another incredible closer in the form of "Echoes of a Distant Battle" that leaves you thirsty of another Tank experience...

Originally written for Ample Destruction 'zine

By this point Tank were still too good to ignore but losing ground in the metal world. A decent second album Power Of The Hunter came after their classic ’82 debut Filth Hounds Of Hades, but failed to capture any serious level of audience for the boys. Now expanded to a foursome (extra guitarist) the war thunders on, quite oblivious to the lack of play they were facing. But this is a slightly different Tank, one with a touch more weight and less desire to write short and sharp numbers. This could be an issue, but fortunately Algy Ward and his ranks had their game face on, writing seven sturdy and metal plated anthems that do the band’s legacy proud.

The loudest and proudest of those anthems is the amazing title song, one of the finest tunes ever in metal’s pantheon, a tough and true cry of determination written with ten pounds of guitar thunder stuffed into a one pound bag. Just unbelievable. The same goes for “Laughing In The Face Of Death,” and the sing-a-long of “(If We Go Down) We Go Down Fighting.” Closer “Echoes Of A Distant Battle” is also blessed with the war worn bullet belt riffage and steady pace we know and love Tank for, the album’s cause being helped by a dry and up front live sound. The band’s fortunes would cloud further from here, although some decent recordings would still some from ‘em. And would you believe it? They’re back and in good form these days, so please get on the internet and throw some love their way, will ya? There’s a good sod.

TANK's third full length called "This Means War" is the best one they've ever recorded... yet. It's very hard to describe the sound of TANK but a little hint is that they're not very far away from Motorhead, little more punkish metal with simple, but catchy, riffs, simple songstructures and a vocalist that sounds somewhere between Lemmy and Gene Simmons, still with a very unique voice.

On to the songs:
The album starts of with "Just Like Something From Hell". The intro contains some cool synth leads and then turns over to the fast main riff with a high pitched "AAAHHH" by Algy Ward. The verses are good and chorus is just awesome, the song is over 8 minutes long and withholds many great guitarsolos shifting between Mich Tucker and Peter Brabbs. Fucking excellent. 10/10

Second song is "Hot Lead And Cold Steel", which is little slower compared to the first one. This is a decent song with some good riffs, but it gets a little repetetive and boring sometimes, especially the chorus. The best thing with this song is the catchy pre-chorus and the mid section with the solos. 6/10

Third song is the title track that starts of with a catchy intro riff and then leads into a great mid paced verse, pre chorus and then the chorus - "Do you know just what this means... WAR" This is a very good song with, as always, awesome solos. 9/10

The B-side starts off with "Laughing In The Face Of Death" which raises the tempo once again with some great riffs, pretty fast vocals and a great chorus. This songs reminds me a bit of the faster Accept songs with the double bass drum and song structure. 8/10

"(If we go) We Go Down Fighting" starts with a cool bass intro soon joined by a cool riff, this song is equal to "Hot Lead And Cold Steel". Mid paced, good pre chorus and then boring chorus, but then again outstanding solos and a slower mid section that is very good. 7/10

"I (Won't Ever Let You Down)" is a very catchy tune with some singalong-alike chorus. Good riffs, especially the riffs right before the chorus. The song speeds up a little during the solo and then returns to the chorus then fades out (like most songs on this album). 8/10

The last song is "Echoes Of A Distant Battle" which is in overall a good song with some few downs. The lyrics is very well written and describes the heat of a battle. The riffs is very good with galloping verses. The outro has some strange drums and very strange choir vocals, i have no idea what they're singing or why they're there at all. 8/10

This album, or any TANK album, does'nt offer much variation, most of the songs are mid paced, fades out and lyrics about war. I still think that each song brings something good to the album, some songs could bring more and be better but it's still a very good album well worth buying.