Though blessed with a potent voice,
Alcatrazz leader (and purported star)
Graham Bonnet was heavily dependent on the songwriting skills of his cohorts. Each album is therefore a reflection of the particular guitarist involved, resulting in a stylistic inconsistency that failed to attract a loyal following for the band. As such, their 1983 debut,
No Parole from Rock 'N' Roll, sounds a lot like guitarist
Yngwie Malmsteen's later solo albums. Still, this is an excellent record, successfully fusing
Bonnet's tuneful screaming,
Jimmy Waldo's tasteful
Rainbow-derived keyboard textures, and
Malmsteen's blinding dexterity and speed. The nearly perfect "Island in the Sun" is the album's absolute high point, and it's a wonder the song didn't become a huge hit. And while "Jet to Jet" sounds like little more than a
Rainbow outtake, the epic "Kree Nakoorie" showcases
Malmsteen and
Waldo at their best. Other highlights include the amusing "Too Young to Die, Too Drunk to Live" and "Bigfoot," with its scorching
Malmsteen riff. In short, a fine record that any hard rock enthusiast will appreciate. [The 2015 Expanded Edition of
No Parole from Rock 'N' Roll includes ten instrumental demos (all of the album's songs) as bonus tracks.] ~ Eduardo Rivadavia
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