Alcatrazz - 'Island In The Sun (Re-Opened 2025)'

They named it the rock, land of the living dead
A repose for the rich and famous
All the infamous would tell each other's lies
Why did they want to tell the truth

On an island in the sun
Cool Pacific winds blow

Most were poets and they wrote in basic prose
On the walls of their sunset blvd.
In their nine by five rooms, became inspired
By the silence in sight of the city

On an island in the sun
Cool Pacific winds blow
Just across the bay
Battered by the waves

Το μακρινό 1983 ο (πρώην τραγουδιστής των Rainbow και Michael Schenker Group) Graham Bonnet δημιούργησε στο Los Angeles τους Alcatrazz, οι οποίοι συνεχίζουν (με... μεγάλα διαλείμματα) μέχρι τις ημέρες μας. Η πιο πρόσφατη επανένωσή τους έγινε το 2019 με δισκογραφικό αποτέλεσμα το (πολύ καλό) album "Born Innocent".

Τον Δεκέμβρη του 2020 ο δημιουργός της μπάντας (Graham Bonnet) έμεινε εκτός Alcatrazz (με αποτέλεσμα να σχηματίσει τους Graham Bonnet’s Alcatrazz) με τα υπόλοιπα μέλη να τον αντικαθιστούν με τον Doogie White (βλ. Rainbow, Yngwie Malmsteen, Michael Schenker Group, Tank, Cornerstone κλπ). Το αποτέλεσμα της συνεργασίας το ακούσαμε προ τετραετίας με το full length album "V", για να ακολουθήσει πρόπερσι ο δίσκος "Take No Prisoners".

Πέρυσι ο Doogie White αντικαταστάθηκε από τον Giles Lavery (βλ. Jack Starr, Warlord, Dragonsclaw κλπ). "Prior Convictions" τιτλοφορείται το νέο πόνημα της μπάντας, το οποίο αποτελείται από δύο καινούρια τραγούδια και εννέα παλιότερα των Alcatrazz επανηχογραφημένα φέτος. Θα κυκλοφορήσει μέσω της BraveWords Records και αναμένεται τον τελευταίο φθινοπωρινό μήνα.

Δελτίο τύπου: «In advance of their forthcoming 2026 studio album, Alcatrazz reveal a new release to land just in time for their extensive November/December European tour. Prior Convictions contains newly re-recorded versions of nine 1980s era Alcatrazz songs, all featuring new vocalist Giles Lavery. Plus two brand new band compositions “Transylvanian Requiem” and “Stand And Wait Your Turn”.

These new versions of classic Alcatrazz tunes (plus the pair of new songs) continue the powerful hard hitting metal direction Alcatrazz have demonstrated since reactivating in 2020! This is now their forth release this decade, and the band show no signs of winding down any time soon! "Shredlord" Joe Stump delivers hi-octane intensity with his neo-classical approach to the guitar...

While founding members Jimmy Waldo and Gary Shea continue the Alcatrazz musical legacy they started in 1983! Giles Lavery (Warlord / Jack Starr / Dragonsclaw) honors that same muscial legacy of these classic metal anthems and proves that he is indeed the right choice to take the band forward into their next Heavy Metal chapter!»

Ακούμε την επανεκτέλεση του τραγουδιού "Island In The Sun", με τον μπασίστα και εκ των ιδρυτών της μπάντας Gary Shea να μας λέει σχετικά: «I have played Island In The Sun many times since it's inception. So much sometimes I hear it in my sleep. Giles Lavery nails the vocal right up there with other past performances. Well done and looking forward to new music on BraveWords Records.»

Band: Alcatrazz
Country of origin: United States
Location: Los Angeles, California
Formed in: 1983
Genre: Heavy Metal/Shred
Years active: 1983-1987, 2007-2014, 2019-present

Audio: "Island In The Sun" (2025)
Album: "Prior Convictions"
Type: Full length
Release date: November 7th, 2025
Label: BraveWords Records

Track Listing:
01. Transylvanian Requiem (New Song)
02. Stand And Wait Your Turn (New Song)
03. Jet To Jet (2025)
04. Starr Carr Lane (2025)
05. Hiroshima Mon Amour (2025)
06. Island In The Sun (2025)
07. Too Young To Die, Too Drunk To Live (2025)
08. God Blessed Video (2025)
09. Skyfire (2025)
10. General Hospital (2025)
11. Kree Nakoorie (2025)

Band members:
Giles Lavery - Vocals
Joe Stump - Guitars
Jimmy Waldo - Keyboards
Gary Shea - Bass
Mark Benquechea - Drums