Alcatrazz are a melodic,
traditional heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, CA by ex-Rainbow/MSG vocalist Graham Bonnet. This band helped open doors for guitar shredders like Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Via. With
Yngwie in the band, they infused a classical and intricate guitar style to their
sound, and helped open doors for two of the most accomplished and well known
guitarists in metal history: Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Via. Bonnet formed the band with former Steeler guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen,
Gary Shea (bass), Jan Uvena (ex-Alice
Cooper on drums) and Jimmy Waldo (keyboards). After an extensive tour for
their debut, which included a successful tour with Ted
Nugent in the U.S., Malmsteen jumped ship to pursue a very successful solo career. He was replaced by another
up and coming shredder by the name of Steve Vai, who had worked with Frank
Zappa. Vai left shortly after to reach super stardom with David
Lee Roth before becoming a successful solo artist in his own right. Former
Rick Derringer and Alice Cooper guitarist Danny Johnson was recruited for the bands final album that was panned
by critics and fans alike for its commercialism and lack of direction. Upon
the demise of the band in 1987, Bonnet went on to perform with Impellitteri among others.
1. "Island in the
Sun" (3:56) |
 |
Alcatrazz - No Parole from Rock 'n Roll (Polydor) 1984It was the summer of 1984 and my friends and I were heading to Six Flags in Jackson, NJ to see Ted Nugent perform at their outdoor amphitheater. The band opening the show was relatively unknown at the time other than it featured former Rainbow vocalist Graham Bonnet. However, this band also had a young shredder guitarist by the name of Yngwie Malmsteen that we were vaguely familiar with from his former band Steeler. When Alcatrazz took the stage, the young Yngwie ruled the stage and stole the show from band leader Graham Bonnet. This was my introduction to Alcatrazz and Yngwie Malmsteen. Of course, finding their album became an essential that very next day.
"No Parole from Rock 'n Roll" is the band's 1983 debut and is one phenomenal masterwork, from the guitar work to the masterful vocals of Bonnet. Most of the songs are written by Yngwie Malmsteen. Unlike a lot of Yngwie's later solo material, the songs are all written as songs and are not just platforms for Yngwie to shred and show off. Graham Bonnet adds so much character to the songs as well. His voice is soulful and lethal. Jimmy Waldo adds some tasty keyboard textures throughout that give the album a slight Rainbow vibe.This was a match made in heaven, or hell, whichever the case may be. Considering the tensions within the band at the time, I assume it was the later. Favorite tracks "Kree Nakoorie," "Too Young to Die, Too Drunk to Live" and the short instrumental "Incubus."
Alcatrazz - Live Sentence (Polydor/Japan) 1984
1. "Too Young to Die,
Too Drunk to Live" (4:47)
2. "Hiroshima Mon Amour" (4:12)
3. "Night Games" (3:28)
4. "Island in the Sun" (4:09)
5. "Kree Nakoorie" (6:52)
6. "Coming Bach" [instrumental] (:53)
7. "Since You've Been Gone" (3:32)
8. "Evil Eye" [instrumental] (5:13)
9. "All Night Long" (5:45)
"Live Sentence" was recorded in 1984 during the band's Japanese tour. When this album first came out some years ago I really liked it. I have since gone back and read many reviews, almost all of which are lukewarm at best. Perhaps it's nostalgia or the fact that I saw Alcatrazz on this tour, but I still really enjoy this disc. The live sound gives the "No Parlole" material a slightly rawer and more heavy sound. There are a couple Rainbow classics included as well (Since You've Been Gone" & "All Night Long,") that 'ol Yngwie takes some artistic liscense with. "Night Games" was originally a track from Graham's solo album "Line Up". Also included is a live version of a song that would see release on Yngwie's first solo disc titled "Evil Eye". Overall, I wouldn't say that this was one of my all time favorite live platters, but it's still a darn good disc and showcases a young Yngwie who would soon splinter off and change heavy metal history. One minor complaint is the way the disc ends. After "All Night Long" ends the crowd noise begins to fade off but not before the drummer starts into the opening of Rainbow's "Lost in Hollywood, which of course is faded out. A bit of studio wizardry could have been used to get rid of those drum sounds so as not to leave the listener wondering why the song was left out.
Alcatrazz - Disturbing the Peace (Capitol/Japan) 1985
1. "God Blessed Video"
(3:30)
2. "Mercy" (4:22)
3. "Will You Be Home Tonight" (5:03)
4. "Wire and Wood" (3:29)
5. "Desert Diamond" (4:20)
6. "Stripper" (3:53)
7. "Painted Lover" (3:24)
8. "Lighter Shade of Green" [instrumental] (0:46)
9. "Sons and Lovers" (3:37)
10. "Skyfire" (3:55)
11. "Breaking the Heart of the City" (4:58)
'Disturbing the Peace' was the first album release from Alcatrazz after the departure of Yngwie Malmsteen. Enter new shredder Steve Via. Steve is a more than competent replacement for Yngwie, but in my opinion, has a very different charisma than Ynqwie possessed. As such, the band sounds quite different. However, Bonnet's killer songcraft shines through and this album come off as rather good. If it's not as good as the classic debut 'No Parole from Rock n Roll,' then it's only a small step behind.
Altcatrazz - Live '83 (Dead End) 2010 
Released nearly three decades after it was recorded, this live recording was traded by Ygnwie and Alcatrazz fans as a bootleg for years. However, no bootleg I have heard sounds as good as this. This was a band that was young and hungry, but also quite volatile. Of course Alcatrazz circa 1983 featured consumate vocalist Graham Bonnet as well the Swedish shredder known as Yngwie J. Malmsteen. Of course Malmsteen became a heavy metal icon in the future, but here he was still relatively unknown and working his way up the latter of success. Unfortunately this line-up only lasted long enough to produce one legendary album titled "No Parole from Rock 'n Roll", which makes up the majority of the tracks from this live album. Being that the band already released an official live album titled "Live Sentence", this album might seem like overkill. However, "Live '83" features a good set list including several tracks that were not featured on "Live Sentence" including "Jet to Jet" and "Suffer Me". It is quite awesome hearing Yngwie take on Michael Schenker's "Desert Song" from MSG's "Assault Attack" album. "Evil Eye" is the Yngwie composed instrumental that would also see a studio release on his first "Rising Force" release. Overall, a stellar live album from this classic, short-lived line-up of Alcatrazz.
As a bonus, a new studio version of All Night Long" featuring George Lynch (Dokken/Lynch Mob) on guitar is included. The packaging is rather cheap, featuring a four page insert with notes by Martin Popoff, and little else.