''This Means War'' is the third album by English
heavy metal band
Tank
A tank is an armoured fighting vehicle intended as a primary offensive weapon in front-line ground combat. Tank designs are a balance of heavy firepower, strong armour, and good battlefield mobility provided by tracks and a powerful engi ...
, released in 1983. On this album, the line-up expanded to a four-piece, with the addition of second guitarist Mick Tucker, former member of the
NWOBHM
The new wave of British heavy metal (commonly abbreviated as NWOBHM) was a nationwide musical movement that started in England in the mid-1970s and achieved international attention by the early 1980s. Journalist Geoff Barton coined the term ...
band
White Spirit. Thanks to Tucker's songwriting contributions and to the sound being expanded by an extra guitar, the band changed their music in comparison with their previous albums with longer, more melodic compositions, which helped differentiate Tank from
Motörhead
Motörhead () were an English rock band formed in London in 1975 by Lemmy (lead vocals, bass), Larry Wallis (guitar) and Lucas Fox (drums). Lemmy was also the primary songwriter and only constant member. The band are often considered a precu ...
, the band they were often compared to.
Track listing
All songs written by Tank.
;Side one
# "Just Like Something from Hell" – 8:30
# "Hot Lead, Cold Steel" – 5:46
# "This Means War" – 5:18
;Side two
#
"Laughing in the Face of Death" – 5:16
# "(If We Go) We Go Down Fighting" – 5:26
# "I (Won't Ever Let You Down)" – 4:40
# "Echoes of a Distant Battle" – 5:03
;CD edition bonus tracks
Since 2007, editions of the album have been available on CD with the following bonus tracks:
#"The Man Who Never Was" (B-side of "Echoes of a Distant Battle" single) – 4:31
#"Whichcatchewedmycuckoo" (additional B-side of "Echoes of a Distant Battle" 12") – 3:20
#"Swapiyayo" (from French & Holland versions of ''This Means War'' LP) – 1:13
Personnel
;Tank
* Algy Ward – vocals, bass
* Peter Brabbs – guitar
* Mick Tucker – guitar
* Mark Brabbs – drums
;Production
* Produced by John Verity
John Verity (born 3 July 1949) is an English guitarist and singer. Best known for as a member of Argent, a band formed by Zombies keyboardist Rod Argent. He joined the band alongside John Grimaldi, replacing Russ Ballard.
Early life, family and ...
* Cover art by Chris Webster
References
{{Authority control
1983 albums
Tank (band) albums
Music for Nations albums