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ARTIST: Tarzen
ALBUM: Tarzen
LABEL: Valentino Records
SERIAL: 790 277-1
YEAR: 1985

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

LINEUP: Danny Peyronel - vocals, keyboards * Salvador Dominguez (Salva) -guitars * Michel Peyronel - drums * Ralph Hood - bass * Stuart Epps - producer

TRACK LISTING:01 Taboo * 02 Pack Rules * 03 Running With The Wrong Guys * 04 Love You Wild * 05 Shout That Name * 06 Tarzen * 07 The Hills Have Eyes * 08 Drum Talk * 09 Jungle Muscle * 10 Tribal Man

WEBLINKS: Tarzen FB page

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Background
The band's pedigree includes being former members of UFO and Heavy Metal Kids (Danny), French punk legends Extraballe and Argentine hard rock pioneers Riff (Michel), Spanish rock legend Miguel Rios (Salva) and cult AOR greats Grand Prix (Hood). Danny also co-wrote the Meatloaf hit 'Midnight At The Lost And Found'. Argentine born Danny and Spanish Salva were members of Banzai, a promising Spanish hard rock band. The latter was considered the best Spanish guitarist at the time. Danny and Salva joined forces with Danny's brother Michel and Ralph Hood to establish a melodic hard rock band based in Madrid, to sing in English and gain international exposure.

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The Songs
Produced by the renowned Stuart Epps (Elton John, Led Zeppelin), this is a dynamic chunk of melodic hard rock, a cross between Def Leppard, the Kiss of 'Animalize' and some Van Halen hints. Danny's voice has Bon Scott's overtones, a solid tenor with no accent at all for an Argentine born. Salva's guitar sound is Michael Schenker meets Van Halen. A talented musician, thankfully providing the right amount of guitar shred to the songs. The rhythm section is primal and bombastic. Best songs are 'Pack Rules' (should have been a great hit, the intro riff is unbelievable catchy), the fast paced 'Taboo' and 'Tarzen', the fluid 'Running With The Wrong Guys', the chunky headbanger 'Love You Wild' and 'Drum Talk'. Keyboards and jungle-type choruses round up the tribal atmosphere of this hidden gem.

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In Summary
The album was released worldwide and a tour supporting Twisted Sister in their 1985 US tour followed. Unfortunately, sales were disappointing, and the next album, 1989's 'Madrid/Es Una Selva Ahi Fuera' (another gem, this time in an AOR vein), was only released in Spain and Argentina. Tarzen's 1985 debut is a largely unknown melodic hard rock hidden classic that, IMO, was far more enjoyable than other 1985 releases from well known bands such as Ratt, Motley Crue and even AC/DC. Never released on CD (I am reviewing my cassette-tape version), it is well worth chasing.

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