ALCATRAZZ Release Fourth Studio Album ‘Born Innocent’
July 31st, 2020
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English-American melodic metal group Alcatrazz issued fourth full-length studio album Born Innocent on July 31st, 2020 through Silver Lining Music.
Born Innocent was produced by Giles Lavery and keyboardist Jimmy Waldo, while Andy Haller helmed mixing, mastering and editing. Alcatrazz’s first album in 34 years, Born Innocent marks the recording debuts of guitarist Joe Stump and drummer Mark Benquechea. Founding members Graham Bonnet (vocals), Gary Shea (bass) and Jimmy Waldo (keyboards) conclude the line-up.
Music and all guitar parts on the title track were performed by Chris Impelliteri. The late Bob Kulick wrote and laid down guitar parts for the song ‘I Am The King’, meanwhile. Japanese guitarist Nozomu Wakai similarly wrote and cut guitar parts for the Irish warrior ode ‘Finn McCool’, while former member Steve Vai wrote the song ‘Dirty Like The City’. And also, ‘Something That I Am Missing’ and ‘Warth Lane’ were written and feature guitar parts by Dario Mollo (Voodoo Hill). Furthermore, D. Kendall Jones’ writing and guitar work is featured on the composition ‘We Still Remember’.
Riot bassist Don Van Stavern performs on the title track, ‘Polar Bear’, ‘Finn McCool’, ‘London 1666’, ‘Dirty Like The City’ and ‘Paper Flags’. ‘Paper Flags’ additionally features a guitar solo by Annihilator’s Jeff Waters.
In discussing the album’s lyrics, the composition ‘Polar Bear’ was touched upon. “Take the song ‘Polar Bear’,” commented Graham Bonnet. “I heard those words ‘polar bear’ and thought it’s an intriguing title because it sounds all cuddly and nice, but it’s not. It’s a story of how when the Eskimo got too old, they would take their lives by sitting in snow, freezing to death and letting the polar bear take the body. The polar bear was very prominent in their lives as a God and also as a way of committing suicide, which is kind of awful. But when an Eskimo loses all his teeth and he could no longer eat, he would lose his strength obviously and then become a weak old man. He could no longer contribute to the tribe, he’d feel his life was useless and so he’d walk out into the snow and sacrifice himself to the bear.”
The track listing is as follows:
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01. ‘Born Innocent’
02. ‘Polar Bear’
03. ‘Finn McCool’
04. ‘We Still Remember’
05. ‘London 1666’
06. ‘Dirty Like The City’
07. ‘I Am The King’
08. ‘Something That I Am Missing’
09. ‘Paper Flags’
10. ‘The Wound Is Open’
11. ‘Body Beautiful’
12. ‘Warth Lane’
13. ‘For Tony’
Alcatrazz’s line-up was as follows:
Graham Bonnet (vocals, ex-Rainbow / ex-MSG)
Joe Stump (guitars)
Gary Shea (bass)
Mark Benquechea (drums)
Jimmy Waldo (keyboards)
Music videos were filmed for the title track and the songs ‘London 1666’ and ‘Dirty Like The City’. In addition, an official lyric video was created for the track ‘Polar Bear’. All three clips can also be viewed below.
Third studio record Dangerous Games was released in September 1986 via Capitol.
Promotional photograph by Alex Solca.
