Thirty four years since the release of 1986's Dangerous Games and the bands subsequent breakup, Alcatrazz are back, with a new album Born Innocent
Much of what you'll hear on Born Innocent will take you back to the No Parole From Rock 'n' Roll debut from 1983. Catchy hooks, Bonnet's unique yet still impressive vocal delivery, and boatloads of shredding neo-classical guitar solos permeate each and every song, as on the first single "Polar Bear", the upbeat "Finn McCool", and the melodic title track. "We Will Still Remember" is more of a mid paced rocker with crunchy riffs and textured keyboards, Graham dropping in a can't miss chorus that is one of the albums best, while "London 1666" is a potent mix of melodic hard rock & metal with a wealth of guitar riffing. "I Am the King" also rocks hard, as does the kind of proggy "Something That I Am Missing", a track with some manic organ tones, beefy riffs, and blazing guitar solos. Waldo's heavy organ is back again on "Paper Flags", a must hear for any Deep Purple/Rainbow/Uriah Heep fan, and another of Born Innocent's heavy numbers, along with the crushing "The Wound is Open" and "Body Beautiful".
Overall, Born Innocent is a much heavier and harder rocking album that I ever expected, and as strong as the recent Graham Bonnet Band releases that have come out over the last couple of years. While Bonnet himself obviously shows his age a bit here in spots singing on these heavier styled songs, for the most part his voice has still held up pretty well over the years, making this a welcome return from a much missed band.
Track Listing
01. Born Innocent
02. Polar Bear
03. Finn McCool
04. We Still Remember
05. London 1666
06. Dirty Like The City
07. I Am The King
08. Something That I Am Missing
09. Paper Flags
10. The Wound Is Open
11. Body Beautiful
12. Warth Lane
13. For Tony