Don't Walk Away

Don't Walk Away, the first salvo from NWOBHM legends Tank, is one of the greatest, most important EPs in metal history. With these three tracks, Tank laid the treads for a grittier interpretation of NWOBHM influenced heavily by Motörhead. This combination of heavy riffin' blues based rock and proto-speed metal was a potent molotov cocktail lobbed onto a scene primed to explode into speed-and-thrash metal in just a few years time.

'Don't Walk Away' is the kinda blues bar brawl jam that Tank would return to frequently over their early career. With Algy Ward's forward bass thump and sneering vocals, this song oozes sleazy charisma highlighted by Peter Brabb's grimy soloing. 'Shellshock' is the track that sets a spark heard on down the ages. Here is Tank channeling Motörhead as power trio hurtling forward but the riffing is more angular, knifing ahead of the two-step punk beat and this track was a definite match to the wick of speed, thrash, and d-beat (as if Sodom's cover didn't make that obvious enough). Algy's angry street-style vocals, a marked departure from most NWOBHM, was part of that influence too. 'Hammer On' is another bruiser and wraps this EP up on an energetic note of fist-pumping heavy metal thunder.

Often seen to stand in Motörhead's shadow, mainly due to their power trio format and the fact that this EP and their first full-length are their most well-known (and Motörhead-ish), Tank actually went on to cultivate a unique sound on their further full-lengths. This EP however is the perfect adrenaline spark and introduction to this great band.