It didn’t take long for the reunited Alcatrazz to fall apart. Back in 2020 singer Graham Bonnet, bassist Gary Shea and keyboarder Jimmy Waldo decided to put the band together and they recruited guitarist Joe Stump and drummer Mark Benquechea to complete the band. The album they released, Born Innocent, was really good, lots better than I had expected. They album had just about been released when Bonnet declared that he had left the band and started his own version of Alcatrazz while still working with his solo-band. All members decided there was room for two Alcatrazzes so Shea and Waldo recruited singer Doogie White (Rainbow, Michael Schenker, Yngwie Malmsteen, Tank) as Bonnet’s replacement. Now, White is a real go-to-guy and shows up a little here and there, a damn fine singer that seems to work well when hired as a replacement singer. That said, if Alcatrazz will still sound like Alcatrazz without Bonnet is a whole other deal.
The album’s opening number and also a single, “Guardian Angel”, is a speedy, upbeat, neo-classical rocker with a big metal-feel where the effort seems to be to re-create some early sounding Alcatrazz stuff but with a Rising Force vibe and the Yngwie-isms are all over the track. Lots of widdely-diddely guitars, pompous keyboards and a fast-tracked rhythm is here to convince us that all is as it should in the Alca-camp. It holds some hooky melodies but it also flirts with Power Metal. I’m not sure about that. It’s ok, though. The following “Nightwatch” continues the fast, heavy pace and the muscular rhythms hits right on the jaw. It’s energetic as hell and certainly a statement but as a song it’s only ok and really doesn’t stay on in my mind.
Another single, “Sword Of Deliverance” comes on hard and upbeat, heavy and punchy with an edgy Hard Rock vibe but at the same time it’s more nuanced than the two previous tracks and sniffs around Classic Rock at times, especially with the roaring organ with Waldo’s signature all over it. It’s a beefy track with more accessible melodies and a refrain that holds a memorable hook. Good one. With a riff not that far from Dio’s “We Rock”, “Turn Of The Wheel” comes on bringing some classic Hard Rock stomp our way. The upbeat and striking verses contrast some to the held-back pre-chorus with paves way for a faster and chunkier chorus which reminds me of 80’s Rising Force. This is a good one.
“Blackheart” comes out blasting on a chunky groove with another raw organ on top where 70’s Classic Rock meets 80’s Yngwie neo-classical Metal in the guitar department. There are more traces of European Power Metal involved here as well as folky melodies and the vocal-melodies are catchy and straight-forward. I think it’s a pretty good number but I can do without the Power Metal vibes. Latest single “Grace Of God” might be fast and heavy and the beat is solid with the Metal influences prominent but it’s even more a take on 70’s Classic Rock where both Rainbow and Deep Purple comes to mind. Crunchy guitars, a powerhouse keyboard sound and groovy bass-lines. A good tune while listening but it never really lingers on.
“Return To Nevermore” comes on heavy, doomy and dark in a slower pace with an ominous atmosphere and comes across as a mixture of Yngwie’s Rising Force and Tony Martin era Black Sabbath. The song also adds a slight Eastern feel to the melodies – in a kind of “Stargazer” (Rainbow) way – and some crunchy Classic Rock twists that marries brilliantly with the song’s Metal edges. It’s a smash with some infectious melodies and easily the best song on the album. “Target” on the other hand feels like a carbon-copy of early Rising Force – fast, kicking, heavy yet melodic with a great deal of fast, neo-classical guitar playing. It’s an ok song but it really falls kinda flat into oblivion as soon as it’s over.
“Maybe Tomorrow” is one heavy number, slow and darkening with a clear nod towards early 80’s Black Sabbath. It’s a gloomy track with some laid-back and low-key verses but with a chorus that ups the tempo with a stompy rhythm that’s catchy enough with some poppy hooks which makes for a contrasting experience considering the song’s dark and heavy foundation. Pretty good. Like a blending of 70’s Rainbow and early 80’s Saxon, “House Of Lies” is a standard classic Hard Rock stomper, no more, no less. It’s an edgy rocker, upbeat and straight ahead on a chunky groove, which is fine, but otherwise it’s an underwhelming and forgettable piece.
“Alice’s Eyes” blasts away on a firey and fast track with a thunderous bass-line and punchy drumming. The guitars are chuggy, it’s ballsy and rough but it also feel unstructured and the arrangements are messy but what’s worse, there are no hooks to be found and nothing really stands out at all. This one’s a skipper. The record ends with “Dark Day For My Soul”, a title that screams heavy and dark but it’s quite the opposite. It’s a slow, down-to-earth and mellow ballad, down-beat yet with a calm rhythm. It’s an emotional piece of music that contains both piano and a soothing organ. That said, it also holds a bombastic soundscape which makes it quite grandiose. A good song with some awesome vocals by White.
First of all I must say that this really doesn’t sound like an Alcatrazz album at all. To me, Alcatrazz was always Graham Bonnet’s band and without him a pivotal part of their sound is gone. Alcatrazz needs Bonnet. Secondly, the album falters quite the bit and it’s not only because of Bonnet’s absence – the songs on this album just aren’t strong enough and to make matters worse, the production sounds budget. Also, Alcatrazz seems to have picked up influences from European Power Metal which just isn’t to my liking – as I’m just not into European Power Metal. What saves the album, at least some, are the phenomenal musicians – Saxon drummer Nigel Glockler, Tank bassist Cliff Evans and Riot bassist Donnie Van Stavern guests here and there as well – Waldo, Shea and White has competence that really speaks for itself and Joe Stump is a damn fine guitarist. But great musicians alone doesn’t make for a great album when the songs just don’t cut it.
4/10
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Tracklist:
1. Guardian Angel
2. Nightwatch
3. Sword Of Deliverance
4. Turn Of The Wheel
5. Blackheart
6. Grace Of God
7. Return To Nevermore
8. Target
9. Maybe Tomorrow
10. House Of Lies
11. Alice’s Eyes
12. Dark Day For My Soul
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