- NWOBHM, MCA Records
This album "TYGERS of PAN TANG - Spellbound" is the second album by British heavy metal band Tygers of Pan Tang, produced in 1981 on MCA. Spellbound is the first of two full length Tygers of Pan Tang albums to feature John Sykes, who later joined Thin Lizzy. "Gangland" was covered by German thrash metal band Kreator in 1987 on their "Behind the Mirror" single and on 1988 EP Out of the Dark ... Into the Light. This web page has photos of album covers, inner sleeves, record labels together with production details, musicians and track-listing.
In 1981, Spellbound emerged as a defining chapter in the saga of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM), a movement that revitalized heavy music with a fierce, working-class spirit and streetwise resolve. Tygers of Pan Tang, hailing from Whitley Bay, rode this wave with teeth bared and claws out. Their sophomore release, Spellbound, wasn’t just a second act—it was a mission statement: harder, tighter, and charged with raw ambition.
The album is a sharp-edged cocktail of galloping rhythms, dual-lead guitar heroics, and melodic vocal power. Jon Deverill, newly recruited on vocals, brought a dramatic, almost theatrical presence, contrasting the rougher approach of their debut Wild Cat. But the album’s sonic transformation owes much to guitarist John Sykes, who debuted here with fretwork so fiery it later carried him into the ranks of Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake.
From the propulsive charge of “Gangland” to the brooding layers of “Mirror” and the explosive hooks of “Hellbound,” Spellbound walks the line between traditional British metal and an evolving melodic sensibility. Short interludes like “Minotaur” hint at conceptual depth, while songs like “Silver and Gold” channel blues roots into arena-ready riffs.
Spellbound exemplifies NWOBHM's versatility. It’s an album that honored the roots of '70s hard rock but looked forward with a modern bite. Unlike the punk-laced aggression of Motörhead or the operatic grandeur of Iron Maiden, the Tygers forged a sleek, dual-guitar attack wrapped in anthemic songwriting—equal parts raw and refined.
Produced by Chris Tsangarides, a name synonymous with genre-defining heaviness, the album was tracked at Morgan Sound Studios in London. Tsangarides’ touch is unmistakable: clean, yet ferocious. He let the guitars roar without clouding Deverill’s vocals or Brian Dick’s thunderous drumming. With Andrew Warwick joining as recording engineer, the team sculpted an album that sounded both immediate and precise.
Internally, Spellbound marked a moment of evolution. The band’s earlier vocalist, Jess Cox, was replaced during the transitional phase, causing brief ripples among fans loyal to the debut’s rawer sound. Yet the gamble on Deverill paid off, and the chemistry with Sykes created a tension that energized every track. There were no mainstream controversies tied to the album, but its elevated production and stylistic shift marked a clear line in the sand for critics and diehards alike.
"Tygers of Pan Tang" is a British heavy metal band that was formed in 1978 in the city of Whitley Bay, England. The band is considered to be one of the pioneers of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) movement and is known for their high-energy, fast-paced music and powerful guitar riffs. Their most popular songs include "Wild Cat," "Love Potion No. 9," and "Don't Stop By." Despite lineup changes and hiatus periods, the band continues to tour and perform, and they have a dedicated fanbase that supports their music and legacy.
The name Tygers of Pan Tang is derived from the fantasy novels of British author Michael Moorcock, particularly his Elric of Melniboné series. In this universe, Pan Tang is a fictional island nation inhabited by warlike sorcerers and ruled by dark forces. The "Tygers" are fierce, mythical beasts that serve the island's inhabitants. The band adopted this name to evoke a sense of mysticism, power, and exotic danger—perfectly in line with their intense, heavy metal sound.
Album Production Information:
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Record Label & Catalognr: MCA Records 203 671 |
Media Format: 12" LP Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram |
Year & Country: 1981 Made in Germany |
Personnel/Band Members and Musicians on: TYGERS of PAN TANG - Spellbound |
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Complete Track-listing of the album "TYGERS of PAN TANG - Spellbound" |
The detailed tracklist of this record "TYGERS of PAN TANG - Spellbound" is:
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The Spellbound album cover by Tygers of Pan Tang is a stylized, surreal illustration dominated by a vivid sky-blue background and a full, glowing pale yellow moon at center. A muscular orange tiger with bold black stripes and a white underside walks cautiously across a jagged cliff ledge on the left side of the composition, tail slightly raised, head low, muscles tensed.
The cliff the tiger walks on is rendered in soft gray and off-white tones, with deep, angular cracks hinting at geological tension. Across a dramatic gap in the center is another cliff—broken and precarious—awaiting the tiger’s leap. Below the chasm, the rock forms mirror-like sculpted profiles of two human faces in profile, carved into the canyon walls, facing each other across the void.
The band’s name, Tygers of Pan Tang, appears in a jagged white stencil font in the upper left corner, while the album title Spellbound is printed in a matching font at the top right. The overall effect evokes suspense, tension, and mysticism, echoing the intensity and mythical energy of the band's music.
This is the back cover of the Tygers of Pan Tang album Spellbound, presented on a diagonal layout framed by a solid cobalt blue background. At center, a full-color photograph features the five band members posing against a rustic stone wall. All wear long hairstyles and a mix of denim, leather jackets, and metal fashion typical of the early '80s NWOBHM scene.
From left to right: Jon Deverill stands in a dark velvet jacket and black shirt, hands calmly folded. Behind him, John Sykes wears aviator sunglasses, platinum blonde hair, and a white scarf over black leather. Robb Weir and Brian Dick flank the center with casual confidence, while Rocky Laws stands far right in a striped shirt, belt buckle visible, and partially unzipped leather jacket.
Above the image, the full tracklisting is printed in uppercase light blue and white text: “Gangland,” “Take It,” “Minotaur,” “Hellbound,” “Mirror,” “Silver and Gold,” “Blackjack,” “The Story So Far,” “Tyger Bay,” and “Don’t Stop By.”
Below the photo is a detailed section of credits including production by Chris Tsangarides, engineering by Andrew Warwick, recording at Morgan Studios London, and exclusive management by Tom Noble. Band roles are clearly listed, and there's a humorous closing credit to "Big Dick – Stix, Kix and a bag of Trix." The MCA logo and catalog number (203 671-320) appear in the top left.
This is a close-up image of the Side One label of the Tygers of Pan Tang album Spellbound, released on MCA Records with catalog number 203 671. The label features the classic MCA "rainbow" design—a soft sky-blue background with fluffy white clouds and a vivid arcing rainbow that fades into the upper left quadrant.
The album title Spellbound is printed in bold uppercase black text near the top, just above the centered MCA Records logo in violet. Below the spindle hole, the band name Tygers of Pan Tang appears in uppercase letters.
The left side of the label displays key details: "33⅓", "203 671", and the year of release, 1981. Track titles for Side One are listed in small text below: “Gangland,” “Take It,” “Minotaur,” “Hellbound,” and “Mirror,” with durations and the band name in parentheses. The label also credits Chris Tsangarides as the producer.
A rim of fine-print legal text surrounds the edge of the label, printed in German, indicating copyright protection and distribution restrictions. This is a West German pressing, as evidenced by the language and pressing code.