Legendary British power metal mercenaries TANK — featuring Mick Tucker and Cliff Evans on guitar and original TANK drummer Mark Brabbs alongside two new recruits, ex-RAINBOW/YNGWIE MALMSTEEN frontman Doogie White and ex-BRUCE DICKINSON bassist Chris Dale — are planning to enter the studio this coming weekend to record four new songs. Doogie states, "We have 14-15 songs under consideration for the album, including 'War Machine', 'Judgement Day' and the two we played live over the summer that were received really well — 'Phoenix Rising' and 'Great Expectations'.

"I have to say they are sounding awesome and very heavy. Gone are the punk elements of earlier TANK albums. That was then but... this is NOW.

"Mr. Tucker is a ferocious writing partner and we have written the bulk of the album together, with Cliffy Evans coming stomping in with a selection of his rawkers. Together, these guys are a guitar force to be reckoned with.

"The band was really cooking in the rehearsals, so I hope we capture that energy on the album live."

Video footage of the new TANK lineup performing the band's classic song "Shelshock" on July 23, 2009 at the Headbangers Open Air festival in Brande-Hörnerkirchen, Germany can be viewed below (courtesy of "stoneagelightning").

The current TANK formation recently commented on a statement issued by the group's founding bassist/vocalist Algy Ward, in which he slammed his former bandmates for taking a version of the band out on the road in Europe without him.

Ward told Classic Rock magazine that the group "playing various European festivals this [past] summer under the name of 'TANK'" was doing so "without my consent." He added, "The band name TANK, associated logos and images are my sole intellectual property and copyright."

Responding to Algy's statement, TANK's current lineup said, "It's a real shame when bands come to this isn't it? The trouble is TANK fans want to hear TANK play live. E-mails have come in from all over the world. Promoters have for the last eight years been trying to book TANK shows but Algy can't play live.

"As Algy himself says, he's not able to tour due to ongoing health problems. We wish him all the best there, but in the meantime, it's a question of do TANK fans want to hear three quarters of TANK plus two highly qualified new chaps playing the TANK material (and some new songs) or not get to see TANK at all?

"Judging from the amazing reception we received at Sweden Rock Festival last week, it would seem the overwhelming answer is yes, TANK fans are rabid to get a chance to hear TANK live.

"Many of the fans at Sweden Rock were young enough never to have had a chance to see TANK play before, now at last they can. Some of the old fans we spoke to nearly had tears in their eyes, saying they never thought they'd get a chance to hear TANK live ever again.

"But it's always difficult for some fans to cope with band lineup changes, especially when it's the frontman not able to perform any more. However, we would like to point out that since 1984, the TANK sound can be directly attributed to the bludgeoning wall of power created by the Gibson Les Pauls of Mick Tucker and Cliff Evans. The most popular songs in our live show were written by Mick and he's come up with some classic new material for the forthcoming studio album which TANK fans are going to love.

"Some difficult decisions have been made over the past few months and we have no regrets. The music and our fans are what's most important to us now and always will be. Anyone who thinks we're in it for the money has been very misinformed.

"Come and see us live, have a beer with us and enjoy our music."

In a recent interview with The Rainbow Fanclub Legacy, White stated about his collaboration with TANK, "Mick and I write well together but I need to understand TANK. It is important for the fans who have loved this band to understand that if Algy wanted to still play, then I would not be here. If they want to hear TANK, then they will have to adjust to the departure of Mr. Ward the same way the guys in the band have to. It will still be big riffing guitars. I have wanted to do a metal album for ages, so here goes."