Alcatrazz
Disturbing The Peace

THE REVIEW

Out with Yngwie, in with Steve. It's 1985 and after the good success of "No Parole From Rock 'N' Roll," Alcatrazz, led by the charismatic singer Graham Bonnet, known to most for his stint with Rainbow on "Down to Earth," releases "Disturbing the Peace."

Strange as it may seem, despite the overwhelming presence, Vai doesn't play the Vai role (although glimpses of "Passion & Warfare" can already be seen in Wire and Wood): "Disturbing the Peace" is not a guitar showcase, but a good hard rock album from the eighties, where a decent rhythm section allows both keyboard and guitar to manage their spaces without one overshadowing the other. The powerful voice of the extraordinary Bonnet stands out above all.

A major piece, as well as a great opener, is God Blessed Video, a typical track of the former MTV era, which immediately clarifies the direction of the album: rhythmic songs, captivating guitar, and the keyboards adding a pop touch. Along this line are the other strong tracks: Painted Lover, Wire and Wood (with a great solo by Vai), Sons and Lovers. There are also more cadenced but no less captivating tracks, such as the powerful Mercy or the intriguing Desert Diamond, as well as less successful ones: Lighter Shade of Green is a brief space for the acrobatic Vai, who enjoys himself like a child doing tapping and graceful whammy bar tricks, and Will You Be Home Tonight is a clumsy attempt at a "keyboard-driven" ballad, not to mention Breaking the Heart of the City.

While not a universal album, which will nevertheless be appreciated by fans of Bonnet and Vai, "Disturbing the Peace" remains a valid testament to the state of rock music in the eighties, an era certainly not very kind to it, an era in which Alcatrazz, along with a handful of artists, managed to navigate with dignity.