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Other than Rush, and other classic acts, my absolute favorite band coming out of the 80's was Alcatrazz, The first two albums have been in rotation in my life ever since. After the release of their third album "Dangerous Games" the band was pretty much over and done. Graham Bonnet surfaced with some random acts solo work, but it wasn't until this last decade he really started to getting a constant pulse again. His recent work with the Graham Bonnet band if I am not mistaken he may have wanted to call Alcatrazz, but there were conflicts. Yngwie Malmsteen (I believe) was involved in the digital remaster of "No Parole from Rock 'n' Roll" for iTunes, and I thought it might end up leading to a new album with Graham, but it never happened. And then right in the middle of Graham having to drop the Alcatrazz idea - Michael Schenker decided he wanted to tour and record in the studio with all his former lead singers (to everyone's amazement it included Graham) and Michael Schenker Fest was born and the band now has two albums. Little did I realize sandwiched in-between all that Graham Bonnet and Jimmy Waldo had somehow put plans together to record a new studio album as Alcatrazz. I just found out it was released in May of this year. The lineup is:
Graham Bonnet – lead vocals
Joe Stump – guitars
Jimmy Waldo – keyboards, synthesizers, keytar, piano, backing vocals
Gary Shea – bass, backing vocals
Mark Benquechea – drums
So how is it? I just got it, and have not listened to the entire album, but based on what I have listened to. Its that signature shedder sound from the first album. It's not what I would call their best work, but it is Alcatrazz and it's more Alcatrazz than the career ending "Dangerous Games" ever was. I am biased. I love Graham Bonnet and I love Alcatrazz, and now we have finally gotten a new album out of this band. Erasing "Dangerous Games" its been 35 years since the band released a studio album worthy of their name. Its not going to put them in the hall of fame, and probably not even back on the map, but it is Alcatrazz and that's enough for me.
Graham Bonnet – lead vocals
Joe Stump – guitars
Jimmy Waldo – keyboards, synthesizers, keytar, piano, backing vocals
Gary Shea – bass, backing vocals
Mark Benquechea – drums
So how is it? I just got it, and have not listened to the entire album, but based on what I have listened to. Its that signature shedder sound from the first album. It's not what I would call their best work, but it is Alcatrazz and it's more Alcatrazz than the career ending "Dangerous Games" ever was. I am biased. I love Graham Bonnet and I love Alcatrazz, and now we have finally gotten a new album out of this band. Erasing "Dangerous Games" its been 35 years since the band released a studio album worthy of their name. Its not going to put them in the hall of fame, and probably not even back on the map, but it is Alcatrazz and that's enough for me.