Get yourself another beer, Tankard is back!
Led for 40 years by Gerre (vocals), Frank Thorwarth (bass) Olaf Zissel (drums) and Andy Gutjahr (guitar), the German band formed in 1982 (as Avenger, then Vortex) announces the release of Pavlov’s Dawg, their nineteenth album, in 2022 by Reaper Entertainment.
The album starts off smoothly with Pavlov’s Dawg, a track with a rather melodic introduction which quickly explodes to deliver some effective Old School riffs before the vocalist comes. The solid and catchy rhythmic will let an energetic solo take over, then Ex-Fluencer takes over in similar aggressive tones accompanied by polished leads. The manifesto against social networks is perfect to shake the head folliwing the lyrics directed against the purple-orange gradient application, just like Beerbarians and its groovy jerky riffs. The few explosions of rage let melodies take us into a flood of violence led by vocal parts, while Diary of a Nihilist will immediately display a darker and colder sound. The track still remains very effective and motivating, coupling an energetic base with heady vocals, then Veins of Terra offers more haunting sounds before becoming progressively more energetic, mainly with the drums’ explosion, followed by the riffs’ speeding. Memento will try to hypnotize us with the bass sound before unleashing the fight, sometimes interspersed by softer parts which always leave a room to raw violence before Metal Cash Machine comes to roll over us with martial tones. Heavy Metal influences are felt in leads which accompany the chorus as well as in this driving break, then Dark Self Intruder’s the soft introduction of creates a contrast with the rawer rhythmic. The band skilfully places some heady melodies without forgetting efficient riffs full of catchy leads before coming back to pure energy with Lockdown Forever and its fast riffs. Strongly influenced by the recent events, the track relates the lonely and repetitive activities under an intense and furious rhythmic which guides us to On the Day I Die, the last track, which brings a fix of melancholy in its introduction, but also in the most soaring riffs thanks to a heady bass between two more aggressive parts.
40 years isn’t nothing, but Tankard still keeps the flame. Pavlov’s Dawg is a solid album which confirms once again that the band know what they are doing, which means aggressive and efficient riffs to be enjoyed without moderation.
85/100