TANK Begins Recording New Album

Legendary British power metal mercenaries TANK — featuring Mick Tucker and Cliff Evans on guitar alongside ex-RAINBOW/YNGWIE MALMSTEEN frontman Doogie White and ex-BRUCE DICKINSON bassist Chris Dale and drummer Steve Hopgood — have entered the studio to begin recording their new album, "War Nation", for a late April/early May release via Metal Mind Productions. The follow-up to 2010's "War Machine" is being helmed by new hotshot producer Phil Kinman at his west London studios.

Commented Doogie: "We started writing for the new album last autumn and after a week or two, we took the tapes and put a razor through them. We had just come back from a successful series of concerts and we were really vibed up. Listening to what we had laid down, we knew we could do better. So taking a fresh approach we started throwing ideas around. I am very pleased with how it is all sounding now."

Added Cliff: "As with our 'War Machine' album, 'War Nation' will include a variety of different influences and styles. With a wealth of musical ability to draw from, we don't like to limit ourselves. Individually we've worked with names such as Ritchie Blackmore, Bruce Dickinson, Paul D'Anno and Yngwie Malmsteen. So many bands release albums now where once you've listened to the first two songs you've heard the whole album. Not with TANK. Each song that makes it onto our album has to deserve it. Our standards are high."

Continued Doogie, "With songs like 'Justice for All' and 'Grace Of God', we are upgrading the TANK sound while retaining all the elements that made 'War Machine' so successful. There are killer riffs and haunting melodies and lyrics that you can take from, what you want, or indeed what you need.

"I did not want the album to be titled after a song. But I was overruled by the other guys so the album will be called 'War Nation'.

"With all that has been going on in the world over the last while, it appears that a great many people in the nations of the world are not prepared to put up with the status quo anymore. Whether it's ruthless dictators, corrupt politicians and bankers, religious godheads. The people are restless and screaming 'Damnation, War Nation.'"

TANK will release its first-ever concert DVD this year. Recordings were made while opening for JUDAS PRIEST in 2011 and further footage will be captured during the band's show at Stodola in Warsaw, Poland on March 9. The setlist will include fan favorites such as "This Means War", "Echoes Of A Distant Battle", "Power Of The Hunter" and "The War Drags Ever On", plus future classics such as "Judgement Day" and "Phoenix Rising".

"War Machine" was released on October 25, 2010 in Europe via Metal Mind Productions (December 7, 2010 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.

Photo credit: Tony Mottram