Tank were dirty NWOBHM that was pretty consistent up until the last two releases, ‘War Nation’ and ‘War Machine’ which I did find rather poor and disappointing, or rather verging into power metal. So I wasn’t really that fussed about another Tank album until I read that Algy Ward is back in the fold and who also incidentally has the rights to the Tank name…but I do hope we don’t end up with another bullshit Saxon/Queensryche/LA Guns styled scenario in this case, that just affects all of the “versions” credibility, the PR material and internet treads I am reading state this is the real Tank, so does it live up to the name?
Hell yeah, immediately you have a dirty cluster bomb sound that heralds a return to form, I was very disappointed seeing Tank in 2009 as they were too “clean”, so hearing this album brings back my faith in the band, although it does seem to have been written and recorded by Ward alone, but this is more like it. ‘Breath of the Pit’ and following in quick succession ‘T-34’ are great metal tunes of the classic Tank sound. If you want some further dirty bass sounds then check out the self-indulgent but well placed bass run during ‘Kill or be Killed’, this has gnarly, guile and energy….yes boys and girls, this is the real Tank.
Following the initial excitement and right up to ‘Stalingrad (Time Is Blood)’ this album maintains a level of interest, following this I have to admit to a little bit of wandering on my part. Some of the tracks are longer than what I feel is required, but I still in all honestly can’t knock the release for that. Fans of the original dirty sound can rest assured that you get what you expect with ‘Breath of the Pit’, this really does work, you find it on equal par to some of the considered classic Tank releases and it does really make the last two “unofficial” albums irrelevant. This is the Tank sound we want, the real filth hounds of hades, it’s good to hear the band’s name in the right context with the music being released and ‘Breath of the Pit’ on the whole is a solid dirty release.
(8/10 Paul Maddison)
18/06/2013 at 3:42 pm
You must be deaf or a good buddy of Ward coz this sounds like shit. It’s like some kind of demo tapes with real bad drums. How the fuck can you call yourself an album reviewer. Listen to some proper metal dude.
27/06/2013 at 1:46 pm
Great album! Tank at its best! Top release for 2013!
15/07/2013 at 5:56 am
10/10! Great return from algy ward!!
06/08/2014 at 5:28 am
One of the best albums of 2013!