Now at the age of 74, the former Rainbow/MSG/Impellitteri/Alcatrazz singer Graham Bonnet is at a creative high. Since he re-started his career back in 2016 albums have been showing up on a regular basis be it with his Graham Bonnet Band or Alcatrazz or guesting with his old pal Michael Schenker both on album and tour. He also managed to squeeze in an album with the short-lived, ill-fated belly-flop EZoo band back in 2017 too. While all that’s impressing it’s even more impressing just how high in quality his records have been. With yet another album now out and with Alctrazz now not in his life anymore it’ll be interesting to find out if he’s still on quality high.
Opening track and lead-off single “Imposter” proves that he’s still got it. It’s a roaring Classic Rock number quite reminiscent of his Rainbow days but also nods towards both Deep Purple and Alcatrazz with some mild progressive touches. It’s a straight ahead rocker made to be played live. It’s quite easily embraced but it’s not hit-laden or radio-friendly, just a damn good Rock tune. “12 Steps To Heaven” is more fast-tracked and upbeat with raunchy guitars that goes for the throat on a straight ahead rhythm, again perfect for the stage. It’s another Classic Rock tune but with more an 80’s than 70’s vibe. Great stuff.
Guitarist Roy Z, who produced both Bruce Dickinson and Rob Halford, guests on the on the stompy Classic Rock groover “Brave New World” with an intense and striking solo. While it’s a raunchy rocker it also contains some smoother laden vocal-melodies and big backup vocals with a Melodic Rock flirtatious chorus that holds an infectious hook. Latest single is the mid-paced and rough-edged “Uncle John”, a darker tune that handles the serious subject of pedophilia, holds a progressive rhythm pattern that actually brings early Dream Theater to mind. The bottom is beefy and fat, the guitar sound is edgy and the soundscape is big. The chorus is effective enough but that one little “it” thing is lacking for it to go all the way. Still a pretty good tune.
The album’s titular track comes on a little mellower with poppier undertones, not a far cry from any of Bonnet’s early solo-albums, but it still comes on with a chunky, tough beat and a heavy guitar which carries the big and upfront vocal-lines. It’s a really catchy tune with a contagious refrain and I’m surprised it’s not a single. On the other side we have the heavy, fast and progressive hard-rocker “The Sky Is Alive”, a song with an underlying darkness that brings Black Sabbath to mind at times. Some eastern flair has found its way in here which builds a nice, dynamic contrast and so does the slow and atmospheric passage. The refrain is hardly hit-catchy but it’s, just like the whole song, damn memorable. Very good.
Tthe edgy rocker “David’s Mom” handles the topic of a teen’s fantasies of his friend’s mom. It’s an upbeat, straight ahead tongue-in-cheek rocker with easily embraced vocal melodies. It’s a decent track albeit quite standard and not one of the album’s stand-out tracks. Featuring The Cult/White Zombie drummer John Tempesta, “When We’re Asleep” is a rough-edged, punchy and heavy foot-stomping rocker that will surely kick up some dust live. Very melodic but still a meaty hard-rocker, the song really sticks with some striking and concise hooks. Very good.
Bonnet’s old friend from his Rainbow days, Don Airey, now in Deep Purple, shows up in “It’s Just A Frickin’ Song” where Deep Purple really is the key. With a raw and edgy classic Hard Rock guitar sound, a roaring Hammond organ from Airey and punchy rhythm, this fast paced rocker is given a 70’s Classic Rock sound. It’s a pretty straight, meat n’ potatoes rock ‘n’ roll swinger perfect for the stage. Good one. Fast, hard and edgy, “Jester” jumps into the Metal sphere with a guest appearance from Jeff Loomis (Nevermore, Arch Enemy) who slams away with a glistening guitar solo. It’s one heavy and gritty belter, the heaviest song on the album, but it’s also big on memorable melodies and hooks. I dig this.
As a closer, Bonnet and his cohorts has chosen a way softer approach. The big ballad “Suzy” is organic, deep and heartfelt and features only Bonnet with an orchestra backing up which gives the song a sort of Beatles “Eleanor Rigby” kind of touch. The musical landscape is large, it’s bombastic and grandiose but still down-to-earth. It really is a bit of a surprise and whether you like it or not it contributes largely to the albums dynamic’s. I think the song is great.
As a whole, this is another really good solo effort by Bonnet and the quality hasn’t been lowered this time either. It also seems to be a very personal album that brings up lots of heavy subjects such as alcoholism, child molestation, the death of someone close, self doubt and the dark times we live in right now. Another subject is writer’s block, not as heavy subject but pure hell for a writer of any kind. All this makes for a honest album, an album from Bonnet’s heart and mind. That doesn’t guarantee that it’s any good but in this case, it really do mean just that. Well done.
7/10
More Graham Bonnet Band reviews:
The Book
Meanwhile, Back In The Garage
Tracklist:
1. Imposter
2. 12 Steps To Heaven
3. Brave New World
4. Uncle John
5. Day Out In Nowhere
6. The Sky Is Alive
7. David’s Mom
8. When We’re Asleep
9. It’s Just a Frickin’ Song
10. Jester
11. Suzy
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