The New Wave of British Heavy Metal spawned some of the best musical acts of the 1980's. TYGERS OF PAN TANG were among them, and although they weren't the biggest band to come out of the movement, they are one of those that are both remembered and respected highly. Their extensive catalogue has plenty of great material within it, meaning that compilation releases like this one are relatively easy to compile and garner interest for. This particular compilation, produced and mixed by Bart Gabriel, has helped to give these classics a new lease of life, and it definitely makes for great listening.

"Euthanasia", which opens this release, is a great way to kick it off, and it's clear right from the outset that Bart has done a great job of reworking these tracks. It's nice to listen to this song with new ears, and it really helps bring out elements in the music that weren't prevalent in the original mix. The same goes for the rest of the songs on here; they've all benefited from being revisited, and sound even better than they did originally. From songs like "Slaves to Freedom", "Don't Touch Me There" and "Hellbound", with their sweet twin guitar lines and classic Metal sound, through to songs like "Suzie Smiled", "Take It" and "Wild Catz", which take us down a much more straight forward, ballsy and powerful Rock path, each and every song on here sounds fresh, and it's hard to believe that some of these tracks were written and released over thirty years ago. Sometimes, when classic songs are re-recorded, re-produced or just redone in some manner, they lose some of the essence that makes the music great. Luckily, this is not one of them, and the songs still maintain their awesome qualities, which stands as a testament to how great these tunes really are.

This is a compilation that, rather than just revisiting past glories, will likely draw a whole new audience to the band whilst keeping the die hard fans pleased. Bart Gabriel has done a great job of producing this, and the band have yet another great release to add to their impressive repertoire. With any luck, this is a harbinger for more great music to come in the future, and this will give TYGERS OF PAN TANG an eager audience to show it to.<