This Means War
Tank · 1983
40 min · 7 tracks · heavy metal
A ferocious blend of heavy metal aggression and anthemic songwriting, driven by powerhouse riffs and commanding vocals.
Top tracks — play these first
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Just Like Something From Hell — The opening track sets a relentless tone with its driving rhythms and aggressive lyrics that embody the album's military imagery.
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This Means War — The title track encapsulates the band's signature sound and thematic focus on conflict, featuring powerful guitar solos and anthemic choruses.
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Laughing in the Face of Death — This track showcases Tank's ability to merge melody with heaviness, illustrating their lyrical exploration of fearlessness amidst chaos.
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If We Go (We Go Down Fighting) — An empowering anthem that emphasizes resilience, it combines catchy hooks with a battle-ready spirit, resonating strongly with fans of the genre.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong songwriting and energetic performances typical of its genre but lacks some cohesion in pacing.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a fast-paced track that sets a high-energy tone, maintaining aggressive tempos throughout the first half.
- Each song features prominent guitar riffs and solos, often accompanied by shouted choruses that invite audience participation.
- The final two tracks slow down slightly, introducing more melodic elements while still retaining heavy instrumentation.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- ferocious anthems for empowerment
- cathartic release through intensity
- high-energy tracks for motivation
- defiant spirit in every song
Maybe skip if you
- prefer mellow, calm sounds
- seek gentle, soothing melodies
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1983, This Means War marked Tank's third studio album during their rise within the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene. Following their acclaimed albums Filth Hounds of Hades and Power of the Hunter, this record solidified their reputation for delivering hard-hitting, militaristic themes in music.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Motörhead· Judas Priest· Saxon
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Just Like Something From Hell 8:31
- 2 Hot Lead Cold Steel 5:46
- 3 This Means War 5:19
- 4 Laughing in the Face of Death 5:17
- 5 If We Go (We Go Down Fighting) 5:27
- 6 I (Won't Ever Let You Down) 4:40
- 7 Echoes of a Distant Battle 5:03
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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