Alcatrazz: Take No Prisoners

It may still feel a little odd that we have a new album from Alcatrazz with a certain Mr Bonnet nowhere in sight, but Take No Prisoners is now the second release from the version of the band featuring keyboard player Jimmy Waldo and bassist Gary Shea from the original line-up, alongside singer Doogie White, guitarist Joe Stump and new drummer Larry Paterson.

The parting between original vocalist and the band came about mainly due to the desire of Waldo and Shea to take Alcatrazz in a heavier direction, and that’s something certainly borne out through this latest release. Yes, we still get tracks like “Don’t Get Mad Get Even�, which sounds most like it came from the classic Alcatrazz years - and is arguably the best thing on the album - but it’s balanced out by the straight on romping Euro-Metal of “Little Viper� and “Bring On The Rawk�. Both of those latter tracks are also good, but for me, they sound a little forced and formulaic, although that’s maybe not helped by my own personal dislike for White’s vocals in full on metal roar. The guy is, of course, a great singer, but I just think he comes off as a little forced in this kind of setting. Ask him, instead, to howl away on the mid-paced, almost early Rainbow like “Strangers�, and the guy quickly becomes a star once more.

With Waldo behind the keyboards and maestro Joe Stump firing up the guitar pyro, both drive the songs on and there’s no little skill and talent here. The fret-burning, chant along that is “Alcatrazz� itself, and the rumble of “Power In Numbers� being prime examples, but if I was to be completely honest, good though all of this is, to me, it’s all just a little too forgettable. With that in mind I’d class Take No Prisoners as good, but pretty far from essential, and while I must admit that I haven’t sampled Mr Bonnet’s version of this outfit, with this latest offering from his ex-bandmates, I kind of hear the point he was making.

Track Listing
1. Little Viper
2. Don't Get Mad... Get Even (ft. Girlschool)
3. Battlelines
4. Strangers
5. Gates Of Destiny
6. Alcatrazz
7. Holy Roller (Love's Temple)
8. Power In Numbers
9. Salute The Colours
10. Bring On The Rawk

Added: May 19th 2023
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Alcatrazz online
Hits: 680
Language: english

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