Alcatrazz - Take No Prisoners.

Alcatrazz
Take No Prisoners
(Silver Lining Music)
By Paul Davies

Under scrutiny with Doogie White taking on frontman duties once occupied with distinction by fellow former Rainbow vocalist Graham Bonnet, Take No Prisoners (get it?) is the third studio release since re-animating with original keys man, Jimmy Waldo, at the helm. Juddering the speakers with Little Viper and Don't Get Mad...Get Even, with Girlschool rocking up on backing vocals, this is classy heavy rock of the aural avalanche variety. The tracks continue to rumble and tumble out of this album with Doogie White accentuating a mean-mouthed attack that serves him and the songs very well.

In keeping with the Rainbow rock family tree thread, the power rock ballad, Strangers, has more than a muscle memory trace of Dio on which guitarist, Joe Stump, delivers a fury with finesse pounding guitar attack. Gates Of Destiny is their mighty Babylonian epic track, with Jimmy Waldo's keyboards and Stump's harmony guitars driving this musical vehicle straight through them. The title track, Alcatrazz, and Holy Roller (Love's Temple) continues the epic musical journey. Interestingly, the choppy keyboard and chugging guitar motifs on Power In Numbers further remind of Dio era Rainbow.

To close out these ten of the best tunes, Bring On The Rawk, and its hard rock chant and defiant ‘this is not the end’ message, does just what it says on this mighty metal tin of music. For some they might still be out on parole awaiting further judgement, if so, then this full-on heavy duffer-less release should see them break free from any perceived shackles.