When Alcatrazz formed in 1983, every member brought their own unique quality to the table. Graham Bonnet brought his powerhouse vocals which launched Rainbow into commercial superstardom and arguably gave Michael Schenker the best post-UFO outing of his career (1982’s Assault Attack). Bassist Gary Shea and keyboardist Jimmy Waldo provided a lush, melodic atmosphere which made New England cult heroes of the melodic rock scene. Jan Uvena reminded us why he was one of the most in demand drummers of the era, playing for everyone from Alice Cooper to Iron Butterfly. The icing on the cake was a young Swede named Yngwie Malmsteen, whose six string skills were unparalleled.
Together, they gave us an 80s metal classic in No Parole from Rock ‘n’ Roll (1983). But just as quickly as they came together, they fell apart. Alcatrazz stuck around for a few more years amidst changing times and lineups, but it wasn’t the same. While these subsequent releases have their moments, Disturbing the Peace (1985) and Dangerous Games (1986) fell victim to musical meandering and AOR cliches. Taking this into consideration, the stakes were high for Alcatrazz’s first album in nearly 35 years, Born Innocent.
Born Innocent sees the return of Bonnet, Shea, and Waldo. Joining them is drummer Mark Benquechea and guitarist Joe Stump. Although if you hadn’t told me Stump was playing on this album, I would’ve sworn it was Yngwie. I’ve heard Stump’s name for years, but never got around to checking him out. His shredding is a dead ringer for early Yngwie. Look no further than the trio of tracks which open the album: “Born Innocent”, “Polar Bear”, and “Finn McCool”. Alcatrazz is back and make sure you don’t forget it! For a group of guys who have been rocking in various bands/projects since the 1970s, they sound as fierce and unrelenting as they did in the beginning.
As impressive as Stump’s virtuosity is, the real star of the show is the immaculate vocals of Graham Bonnet. They say age is just a number. However, Bonnet is 72 years old and somehow sounds the exact same as he always has. I’ve seen singers half his age embarrass themselves onstage and on record. That he’s been able to maintain the exact range and power he’s possessed since metal’s glory days is nothing short of miraculous. It doesn’t matter if Alcatrazz is playing their signature sound (“Polar Bear”), dark, crushing metal (“London 1666”), or carefree hard rock (“I Am the King”). Bonnet belts it out song after song after song.
This is the followup to No Parole from Rock ‘n’ Roll we’ve been waiting for. It’s been almost 40 years, but better late than never. With his golden voice intact and powerhouse band in tow, Bonnet has rejuvenated Alcatrazz for a brand new generation of metalheads. This is a band who truly puts the “super” in supergroup!
8 out of 10
Label: Silver Lining Music
Genre: Heavy Metal/Hard Rock
For fans of: Rainbow, Michael Schenker Group, Yngwie Malmsteen