(Heavy Metal / NWOBHM) Tank - War Machine - 2010, APE (image+.cue+scans) lossless

The band: "We think it's going to be our best album so far."
Для начала устраивая всем Судный День ("Judgement Day") в духе Блэк Саббатта DIO-years и конца 80-х. "Feast Of The Devil" продолжает демонстрировать боевые мускулы, а "Phoenix Rising" - скоростные характеристики. Новёхонький движок работает как часы, не забывая издавать пугающий грохот. В парадном шаге распевая гимн самим себе ("War Machine"), экипаж машины боевой снова пускается на всех парах догонять противника в "Great Expectations". После всех ("After All") праведных трудов отдыхает на пригорке , зорко оглядывая линию горизонта. Наступает новый день и боевая машина снова бросается в атаку за металл и тут понятно, кто смеётся последний ("The Last Laugh"). Напоследок прокатывается по полям и лугам оставляя следы от железных гусениц - чтоб запомнили надолго ("World Without Pity", "My Insanity").
Группы Новой Волны Британского Металла щеголяют не только грязным звуком, но и, часто, андерграундной непосредственностью. Задумывала ли группа так обновиться или это произошло из-за смены вокалиста, мы не знаем. Новый Tank новенький во всех отношениях. Нет тут кривого сведения и грязного звука, безбашенной андерграундности - теперь все чинно сидят в мягких, удобных креслах и палят самонаводящимися снарядами. И относиться к нему приходится как новому проекту. Конечно на знамёнах видны ордена "Filth Hounds of Hades" и "Power of the Hunter", но это скорее в память о былом-далёком.
Относительно новобранца Дуги Уайта можно сказать, что это его лучший бой со времён уходя дядьки Черномора на пенсию. Здесь для него только плюсы. Для группы же в целом, новый альбом обернулся потерей старого специфического очарования и приобретением новой мейнстримовой формы.
Part One: TANK was formed in Croydon(London, England) in February 1980 by Alasdair "Algy" Mackie Ward(born on July 11th 1959)(bass, vocals)(who in September 1977 until October 1978 played in the band The SAINTS with Chris Bailey, Ivor Hay, Ed Kuepper and who also in November 1978 until February 1980 played and even recorded punk rock album called "Machine Gun Etiquette"(1979) with The DAMNED members Rat Scabies, Captain Sensible and Dave Vanian), who teamed up with ex-HEROES Peter James Brabbs(guitar) and his brother Mark Arthur Brabbs (drums), who played before in a band FATHER LUKE with Steve Sutton(vocals), Greg Radcliffe(guitar/vocals)(now with RAZOR BABIES), Nigel Walkling(bass) and Paul Sindel(keyboards/vocals), after they changed their name to THE BRITISH STANDARTS and then, THE STANDARTS.
The Ward /Brabbs/Brabbs association called itself TANK and soon became one of the hardest touring N.W.O.B.H.M.(New Wave of British Heavy Metal) trios in England, constantly supporting headliners from the likes of MOTÖRHEAD("Iron Fist", "Ace of Spades" European Tours 81/82), GIRLSCHOOL, DIAMOND HEAD, BARON ROJO, DEDRINGER and ANGEL WITCH amongGirlschool/Tank at Lyceum others.
It was MOTÖRHEAD's very own Lemmy Kilmister who immediately was convinced by TANK's outstanding talents. Within a few months TANK recorded two breathtaking albums("Filth Hounds Of Hades" and "Power Of The Hunter") which these days are desperately sought after by Metal collectors all over the world.
In 1983 TANK left their record company to sign a deal with the newly established Music For Nations(MFN) label, where they became stable-mates with soon-to-be illuminaries ANTHRAX, METALLICA and MANOWAR, to name but a few.
To intensify powers TANK recruited a second guitarist, Michael(Mick) John Tucker(born on May 6th, 1959), formerly with AXIS and after WHITE SPIRIT(he got a job after Janick Gers(now in IRON MAIDEN) left WHITE SPIRIT to join Ian Gillan Band). The new line-up completed one album in June 1983, "This Means War" under the guidance of John Verity who had already worked with SAXON and ARGENT, there also were guest appearances of Denise Dufort from GIRLSCHOOL, Jody Turner and Julie Turner from ROCK GODDESS on backing vocals. This album was more powerful than first two. I would have to say this is my favorite TANK album of all time.
Surprisingly things didn't work out too well for TANK due to internal frictions. Brothers Mark(he joined another NWOBHM band called DUMPYS RUSTY NUTS, after Paul Samson's EMPIRE(in 1986) and SAVIOUR( in 1988), pop band RAZOR BABIES in the 90s early 2000 with his old friend from FATHER LUKE Greg Radcliffe on guitars, and who's now playing in the rock band called CAMP DAVID) and Peter Brabbs(he left music business, in fact his son formed industrial metal band CREPETUS, which supported TANK at London's gig in February 2003 ) quit being replaced by Michael Bettell(R.I.P./1962-2003) (the drummer of the PARISH) for a very short time and after him another ex-WHITE SPIRIT Graham Crallan(drums) and guitarist Cliff John Evans(born on January 14, 1962)(later in 1992 he joined Paul Di'Anno(ex-IRON MAIDEN)and KILLERS) who played with aged blues-rockers CHICKEN SHACK and later HEAD FIRST.
Tank on tour with Metallica 1984In 1984 a freshly formed TANK cut one more album, this time for Roadrunner Records, entitled "Honour & Blood" which again was a very satisfying job, though the band never regained the thrilling vehemence of the two discs that had established TANK's good reputation among Heavy Metal supporters.
From November 16 to December 20, 1984 TANK shared the stage in Europe with Heavy Metal Gods(in the past) METALLICA (Ride The Lightning tour). As you can see it on "Master Of Puppets" album, METALLICA gave thanks to the TANK & crew.
The North American tour band played along with RAVEN(Chicago, New Jersey and Detroit) and LOW RIDERS(New York). TANK also had shows in Canada(Toronto and Montreal) again with RAVEN.
Algy Ward produced Italian thrash band BULLDOZER's "The Day Of Wrath" album for Roadracer Records in 1985. By the way, German thrash metal band SODOM covered TANK's songs "Don't Walk Away"("Agent Orange" album in 1989), "Turn Your Head Around"("Better Off Dead" album in 1990) and "Shellshock"("Ten Black Years" album in 1996).
TANK also cut in 1985 double album(compilations) called "Armour Plated". But suddenly drummer Graham Crallan(he joined BRITTON and later PANAMA and few years later he also had a bad car accident) was replaced(in January 1985) by Cliff Evans's friend Gary Taylor(ex-BUFFALO, John Sykes's STREETFIGHTER) who moved(in 1987) in USA(he played in early 90s with SHOTGUN RATIONALE and after BRILLIANT SINS) and now are playing with the band called DRAGSTRIP.
After touring the US for a few months in 1985, and two years later (in 1987) TANK recorded new album called "TANK" through GWR Records(the US release was through Restless Records in 1989). Unfortunately, TANK was disbanded at the end of 1989...
Part Two: Between 1990-1997 Algy Ward was also very active, he played at least with seven bands:
GROON jazz-rock band with Steve Clarke(ex-FASTWAY, Würzel, Jack Bruce) on drums and Tim Crowther(ex-David Cross band) on guitars;Tank without Pete
ATOM GOD also with Steve Clarke, Lee Phillips on keyboards, Trev Thoms(HAWKWIND), Bill Leisegang(Nina Hagen, Jack Bruce) and recorded "History Re-Written"(1992) album;
NECROPOLIS again with Steve Clarke, Lee Phillips on keyboards, Bill Leisegang, Eddie Clarke on guitars, Sven Olafson on vocals, Trev Thoms, John Clark(BRUFORD), Keith More(ASIA, John Wetton) and recorded speed metal album called "The End of the Line"(1997);
NETWORK again with Steve Clarke, Sven Olafson and Tim Crowther, and also with Pete Jacobsen, Steve Topping(Allan Holdsworth), Jan Hammer(MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA), Steve Franklin and Ted Emmett(both from CONGLOMERATE, LOOSE TUBES), Nick Stevens, Larry Coryell(The ELEVENTH HOUSE), Terry Gregory, Bill Leisegang, Keith More, Tom Coster Jr., Hugh Hopper(CONGLOMERATE, SOFT MACHINE), Ian Aitkin(Brian May), Laurence Cottle(BLACK SABBATH) and recorded cool "Refusal to Comply"(1993) album as well as the great folk-death-speed(!) metal album called "L.N.C."(1996);
The Nicky Moore Band(SAMSON's vocalist) in 1994 with Mick Tucker, who also played in a band called THE PASSION in 1990 with Andy Nye(ex-MSG) on keyboards and John Payne(now with ASIA) on vocals for about 1 year;
THE CONSPIRACY with Mick Tucker again;
VERA CRUZ;
WARHEAD with ex-MOTÖRHEAD's Würzel(guitar) and Evo on drums/vocals(WARFARE), also Chris Labron(keyboards) and recorded self-titled album in 1995. Algy Ward even produced some of WARFARE's albums.
Cliff Evans also played with the band called DESTROYER in 1988 along with Gerry(bass), Steve Clarke(drums) & Lea Hart(vocals)(ex-FASTWAY), and MASK in 1994 and recorded album "Why Me?" with Lee Phillips on keyboards, Mike Keen(HYDRAVINE) on vocals, Steve Clarke, Simon Hannaford(SOMA) on guitars and Terry Crowdy(SOMA) on bass.
TANK in Japan, August 1, 1999Part Three: After a long break of 9 years in 1997 TANK finally broke the silence(thank God!). Algy Ward(he re-joined THE DAMNED again in 1995 for a short time) together with old friends Cliff Evans and Mick Tucker hired Steve Hopgood(drums)(born on January 22, 1960)(ex-PERSIAN RISK, BRONZ, BATTLEZONE, SHY, PASSION, CHINATOWN, JAGGED EDGE) who also played with Cliff in Di'Anno's KILLERS.
TANK also played(in 1997) at the famous Wacken Open Air festival in Germany and toured(in 1998) with RAVEN and HAMMERFALL in Europe. TANK rocks again! The band recorded great live album in 1998 called "The Return Of The Filth Hounds-live" through Rising Sun Productions. The live album was recorded in Berlin, Germany and with two new studio bonustracks. Hammer On!
P.S. You can also find more information on the history of the band
Discography:
"Filth Hounds of Hades" (Kamaflage 1982)
"Power of the Hunter" (Kamaflage 1982)
"This Means War" (Music for Nations 1983)
"Honour & Blood" (Music for Nations 1984)
"Tank" (GWR 1987)
"Still At War" (Zoom Club 2002)
"War Machine" (Metal Mind 2010)

Сегодня тестируем боевую машину Новой Волны Британского Металла под скромным названием Tank. Если не знать, что танку уже почти тридцать лет, можно подумать, что перед нами новый образец. И это действительно так!
Перед записью из экипажа внезапно уволился главный запевала Элджи Уорд и срочно на замену был призван Дуги Уайт (ex- Rainbow, Y. Malmsteen).
По такому случаю старенький танк быстро сдали в утиль и приобрели новенький образец. Группа залила баки свеженькой соляркой и пустилась в новое наступление. Блестя бронёй и лязгая гусеницами боевая машина, начала постреливать в наши уши металлическими снарядами. И вот она катится беззаботно сметая всё на пути к только ей известному счастью.
http://cddvdreview.blogspot.com/2010/10/tank-war-machine-2010cd.html
One of the best heavy metal bands around return with a brand new studio album! New material will be their first studio release since the 2002's album "Still At War"! The history of this legendary band goes back a long way and is full of great albums, alcohol fuelled debauchery and several line-up changes. Tank, featuring Mick Tucker and Cliff Evans on guitar alongside ex-Rainbow/Yngwie Malmsteen frontman Doogie White, ex-Bruce Dickinson bassist Chris Dale and ex-Zodiac Mindwarp drummer Dave 'Grav' Cavill, are back in action and ready to establish themselves once more as one of Britain's finest rock bands. The production of the album was handled by Pedro Ferreira (The Darkness, Therapy?, Meatloaf). Due to the changed line-up, "War Machine" combines all the influences and experience of individual band members. Cliff Evans: "We intend to make this a classic British rock/metal album that every fan should have in their collection".

Legendary British power metal mercenaries TANK — featuring Mick Tucker and Cliff Evans on guitar alongside three new recruits, ex-RAINBOW/YNGWIE MALMSTEEN frontman Doogie White, ex-BRUCE DICKINSON bassist Chris Dale and ex-ZODIAC MINDWARP drummer Dave "Grav" Cavill — will release their new album, "War Machine", on October 25 in Europe via Metal Mind Productions (December 7 in the U.S. through MVD). The production was handled by Pedro Ferreira (THE DARKNESS, THERAPY?, MEAT LOAF) and the bulk of the recording was done at Pedrock Studios in London. Drums were laid down by Tony Newton at Steve Harris' (IRON MAIDEN) Barnyard Studios.
"War Machine" will be released in four different versions: as a jewel case CD, a limited-edition digipak CD including two bonus tracks and LP with one bonus track. The Japanese edition of the album will include two exclusive bonus tracks which won't be available elsewhere.
The track listing for the standard CD edition is as follows:

01. Judgement Day
02. Feast Of The Devil
03. Phoenix Rising
04. War Machine
05. Great Expectations
06. After All
07. The Last Laugh
08. World Without Pity
09. My Insanity

TANK fans do not have to wait that long before they can hear the music from the album as the band is going to release a clip of each song on the official TANK web site in the run-up to the CD's October 25 release.
Here's the release schedule for the samples:

Friday, October 15: "Judgement Day"
Saturday, October 16: "Feast Of The Devil"
Sunday, October 17: "Phoenix Rising"
Monday, October 18: "War Machine"
Tuesday, October 19: "Great Expectations"
Wednesday, October 20: "After All"
Thursday, October 21: "The Last Laugh"
Friday, October 22: "World Without Pity"
Saturday, October 23: "My Insanity"
Sunday, October 24: Bonus Track

Mick and Cliff are really excited about the release of "War Machine" and are looking forward to shifting TANK up a few gears, back to the forefront of British metal.
"The new lineup has allowed us to push the musical boundaries of what had become a very stale and outdated sound," the band says in a statement posted on the official TANK web site.
"Our loyal fans have been demanding new material for a very long time and we're confident that this new album will more than make up for all those years of being starved of our music.
"In order to carry on and move TANK forward we had to make a drastic lineup change which has now given birth to a new era of TANK which is better equipped with more than enough firepower to blast through anything that gets in our way.
"Some of you will not agree with this lineup change but all we ask is that you listen to the new songs, the classic Tucker/Evans Gibson Les Paul through Marshall stack combination, plus new band members that are legends in their own right and decide for yourself if you are friend or foe."
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=147740
http://mvdb2b.com/s/TankWarMachine/MASSCD1402DG
http://www.metal-rules.com/zine/content/view/2035/86/

Doogie White - Lead Vocals
Chris Dale - Bass guitar
Mick Tucker - Guitar
Cliff Evans - Guitar
Dave 'Grav' Cavill - Drums
http://www.myspace.com/officialtank
http://www.tankofficial.com/
http://www.tankfilthhounds.net/