TZAR (Canada) – Players Of The Game [Lost Realm Records remaster Limited Edition] (1985) *HQ*

As requested, here’s the only album from Canadian hard rock / metal combo TZAR. The band was about to secure record deal, but they didn’t wait and released their debut LP “Players Of The Game” by themselves.
Reissued by specialized company Lost Realm Records this is the first official CD issue of “Players Of The Game”, remastered, comes with 16-page booklet with lyrics, rare photos and official band biography. A limited edition of 500 copies now out of print.
Have you ever seen a cheessier cover art than the front of “Players Of The Game”? It’s a lot of fun, as it is TZAR’s blend of a American hard rock with a metal edge full of clichés from the era, but that’s why it will put a smile on your face. It’s a 1985 album – you know the type of guitar riffs you’ll find here – a solid lead voice / cool backings, and a decent production.

TZAR was a family affair. The band was made up from 3 brothers, Frank Tahan (guitars, vocals), John (guitars), Peter (vocals, guitars) and high school friend Guy Morin being the first drummer of the band. Their location was on Ontario Canada, and recorded their first attempt in late 1981.
But these were just the baby steps for the band as TZAR were actually active (and in a pro state) in the brief period from 1983 to 1986. Their one and only LP entitled ‘Players Of The Game’ with the ultra ‘cult’ front cover was one of the most an expensive and highly collectible item for all the 80s collectors.

The album was originally printed in 1985 when hard rock / glam metal was at its peak.
Musically speaking we can hear a lot of primal Motley Crue (‘Don’t Try to Love’, ‘Heavy Metal Queen’) here and there and the passion that ‘Too Fast for Love’ had. It’s not only the vocal’s approaching. The guitar tuning, the production, the backing vocals, the lyrics… everything remind of the Crue’s debut.

You can hear also some Scorpions elements (‘Born to Rock’) or later L.A. Guns (‘Missing You’), as TZAR were seeking for a hit in order to make the breakthrough. The potential of the band’s members are obviously audible, while the compositions are fair enough – ‘We’ve got the Right’ and ‘One Ticket to Paradise’ both have melody and catchy choruses but an aggressive edge.

“Players Of The Game” is a fun listening. It’s mid-Eighties glam metal / hard rock with some limitations in production but it is a really nice effort that may have cost a lot in past years – as many were selling its few copies for a small fortune – however thanks to Lost Realms Records the album was available again. While this limited edition of 500 CD is out of print, still you can find used copies at auction sites.
A very well done reissue with the complete ‘Players Of The Game’ album remastered from the best analog sources available, plus a 16-page booklet with song lyrics, rare photos and an official biography written by vocalist / bassist Peter ‘Le Grand’ Tahan.

01 – Don’t Try Love
02 – Heavy Metal Machine
03 – Players Of The Game
04 – We’re Coming On
05 – Born To Rock
06 – We’ve Got The Right
07 – One Ticket To Paradise
08 – Much Too Late
09 – Missing You

Peter “Le Grand” Tahan – Vocals (lead & backing), Bass
Frankie D. Tahan – Guitars, Vocals (lead & backing)
John Tahan – Guitars
Ludwig van Guy – Drums

out of print
www.amazon.co.uk/Players-Game-Tzar/dp/B000IFSMMA