Review: Tigertailz – Blast
After the 2013 release of the 5 track EP ‘Knives’ (which I absolutely loved) Tigertailz were already planning a follow-up EP entitled ‘Daggerz’, but as has often been the case with ‘Tailz throughout their career, the bands future has not gone as planned due to various unforeseen events.
A change of personal (something which ‘Tailz are more than familiar with) meant that the band were looking for a vocalist to replace Jules Millis, who had done fantastic vocal duties on the aforementioned ‘Knives’ EP. The search didn’t need to spread its net too far though, as bass player Rob Wylde was promoted to vocalist and frontman, while Berty Burton stepped in on bass. Along with guitarist and original member Jay Pepper, accompanied by long time drummer Matt Blakout, the latest version of Tigertailz were now set to go into the studio. When the band had finished writing and recording, there was much more than an EP’s worth of material and a full blown 10 track album (12 on CD) was released entitled ‘Blast’.
Kicking off with ‘Just For One Night’, it begins with a Japanese inspired intro that leads into Rob’s vocals and Jay’s guitar blasting (pun not intended) through my speakers. I’m already hooked even before the drums and bass kick in giving a throbbing beat to a song that was made for the upcoming summer months. A great up-tempo song that you can’t help but smile to.
The tempo and good times continue with ‘All The Girls In The World’, a song that has a vocal intro that I guarantee will have everyone singing along when played live. This is followed by a song that garnered quite a bit of traction online when it was completely (and stupidly) overlooked by the BBC as a possible UK entry into this years Eurovision Song Contest. Complete with glam outfits that would make Slade blush, this is a song that would have gone down a storm at Eurovision and raised many a smile as well as fists pumping the air. Shame on you BBC!
Next up is ‘Bop Bop You’, a song that begins with a guitar and drum sound that is so thick and meaty that it would cause a vegetarian to step away from it quickly. I defy anyone not to have the chorus stuck in their head for the rest of the day after listening to it.
Jay Pepper gets to flex his vocal chords on ‘In The Arms Of Mary’, a ballad that features some great acoustic guitar by Jay before slapping you around the ears when the electric guitar is strapped on and a cracking solo is played.
‘Bloodsuckers’ is an all-out rocker with a bass line that gives any subwoofer a workout like it’s not had in a long time. Sometimes it’s also just those little moments in songs that hook me, and partway through this there is one of those moments; the vocals, drums and bass all drop out, leaving a distorted guitar riff by Jay, then everything else kicks back in again. I fucking LOVED that.
The band now take me on a trip down memory lane as they pump out a cover of ‘Dynamite’ by Mud. I was always a big fan of Mud in the 70’s (I can still do the moves to ‘Tiger Feet’) and hearing this put a huge smile on my face (another reason why this is a damn fine ‘feel good’ album).
The anthemic ‘Bring It On’ is up next and quickly followed by ‘Crime Against Rock and Roll’, which features a guitar and harmonica intro that had me reaching for a glass of bourbon. This song has more swagger than Swagger McSwaggerson, who won the world swagger competition 6 years running (Blackadder would like that quote).
‘Gods Country’ is a sure-fire hit for all Welsh metalheads, and with a drum intro that invokes memories of ‘Living After Midnight’, it should be a hit with metalheads worldwide…especially in another ‘sing-along’ part that will go down an absolute storm when played live. This is the last track if you buy the album on vinyl, but there are also 2 bonus tracks on the CD:
‘Cheap Talk’ is a revamped version of a song that was on a Kerrang! flexi-disc many years ago…remember those!? It may be an older song but it still rocks.
Finishing off the album in style is ‘FnA’, a balls-out’ rocker that HAS to be played loud to fully appreciate it.
I have to admit that I was hesitant about the new album, especially after loving each and every track on ‘Knives’. What would the band sound like after the line-up changes? Would 12 songs be too many to sustain high quality throughout? It only took 1 play of the album to disperse any worries, and MANY plays later I’m loving it even more. Rob fits perfectly on vocals and Berty is an absolute beast on bass. Add to the mix the always reliable and rockin’ Matt on drums and Jay cranking out guitar riffs and solos that are exactly what I love, and you have 12 tracks which cover glam, rock, blues and metal. All wrapped up in a sound that ‘Tailz fans have come to know and love.
It’s 2016 and a band that I’ve grown up listening to have released a fantastic album…all is well with the world…thanks Tigertailz, long may you continue to rock my world.
Review by Dave (host of 60 Minutes With)
Below is the video for what SHOULD have been the UK entry in Eurovision.
