Release Date: January 26, 2018

Tankard are a thrash metal band from Frankfurt, Germany, founded in 1982. Along with Kreator, Destruction and Sodom, Tankard are often considered one of the "Big Teutonic 4" of German thrash metal. They released their first record in 1986 and continue to write and record in the same vein: fast thrash metal songs about beer and alcohol. Formed by three classmates, bassist Andreas "Gerre" Geremia, guitarist Axel Katzmann and vocalist Frank Thorwarth.Thorwarth and Gerre soon switched roles; at the same time the trio added drummer Oliver Werner and second guitarist BerhardRapprich. They chose their name from a dictionary upon seeing its definition as "beer mug". Their earliest written song was called "Ray Death", a song about nuclear war and their first gig was played in a local classroom in 1983. As drinking alcohol in the school was banned, they smuggled their beer in with milk cartons. Soon after, Bernhard Rapprich left the band as his conservative father did not want him "hanging around with a bunch of drunks" and he was replaced by Andy Bulgaropoulos. With the line-up now stabilised, the band released their first demo, titled Heavy Metal Vanguard, in 1984. After this, the band toured with fellow German thrashers Sodom. In 1985 they released a second demo, Alcoholic Metal, which cemented their thrash metal style and lyrical themes. Both of these demos were very popular in the underground, and on the strength of this demo they signed with Noise Records with whom they released seven studio albums between 1986 and 1995. Tankard still play to huge crowds globally and released their 17^th studio album in 2017.

The final album released on Noise by Tankard was 1995’s self-titled, ‘The Tankard’. Perpetuating the more serious side shown on its predecessor ‘Two-Faced’, its sound was a melting pot of their signature thrash with elements of speed, power, hardcore and a dash of melody entwined with some of their catchiest choruses to date. The same year they redressed the humorous balance with their Tankwart side project of German language covers done in a punk/metal style, much to their fans amusement.

Track Listing:

1.Grave New World

2.Minds On The Moon

3.The Story Of Mr. Cruel

4.Close Encounter

5.Poshor Golovar

6.Mess In The West

7.Atomic Twlight

8.Fuck Christmas

9.Positive

10.Hope ?

11.Liebesspieler

12.Pogo In Togo

13.Hurra, Hurra, Die Schule Brennt

14.Herr D.

15.Sternenhimmel

16.Konig Von Deutschland

17.Elke

18.Skandal Im Sperrbezirk

19.Billiger Sloga