Renowned US-based melodic hard rock band Alliance, with a nearly thirty-year collaboration, and six highly regarded studio albums, return with their new release Before Our Eyes, out now, their first on the Frontiers label and the first in several years. For the new album, the core of the band remains the same with guitarist Gary Pihl (Boston), drummer Mr. David Lauser (Sammy Hagar) and bassist Robert Berry (3, GTR).
A quick step back in time – after Sammy Hagar stopped his solo career to join Van Halen, his drummer David Lauser, along with guitarist Gary Pihl still longed for the allusive missing pieces for a new project outside of their main gigs. Early in 1993, Robert Berry received a call from Lauser. They reached out to keyboardist Alan (Fitz) Fitzgerald (ex-Night Ranger), and gathered together at Hagar’s studio in Mill Valley to work through songs from their demos. According to a witness, “there was an immediate connection. Everybody in the room could feel it. The vibe was powerful and inspiring”. They immediately recognized the common thread that would feed their creativity. A signature style emerged and the band bonded quickly, even though they were spread geographically throughout the country, with Pihl in Boston, Fitz based in Texas, Lauser in Southern California and Berry in the heart of Silicon Valley.
Over the years and through to today, Alliance continues to solidify and bolster their long-distance collaborations. Their musical benchmark, perhaps a product of their high-profile roles outside of the band, has always been pushed to the highest standard, resulting in a series of excellent albums – Bond Of Union (1996), Alliance (1997), Missing Piece (1999), Destination Known (2007), Road To Heaven (2008) and Fire And Grace (2018). Though the scheduling remains challenging their passion and commitment remains energized, a rare trait in these hectic times! It’s clear that they love working together and always strive to top previous work, generating in the process a loyal, patient and growing fan base over the years that I suspect will be more than happy with the latest goodies on Before Our Eyes.
Alliance enthuse about their continued passion: “We’re so excited to have a new label and to be working with the team at Frontiers. With five albums released over the last 30 years we are feeling even more creative and energized by the possibilities that lie ahead. We are looking forward to reaching a wider audience and are already hard at work on album seven!”
The new album kicks off with Tell Somebody, the first single off and subject of the video below. To me it’s immediately obvious that these three guys just love writing and playing together, time not getting too much in the way of their appetite for decent quality rock! The track reminds me a bit of the Hooters early material (quality stuff!), it’s a fresh sounding chunk of melodic but decently heavy rock, 70’s/80’s tinged. Very West Coast, I like it! The band themselves say: “This first single from the new album has a narrative about everyone of us having things going on in our lives that other’s might not see but the hidden meaning alludes to the divisive climate in the world. An open heart, truth and clarity, are the goals.”
Nothing Will Make you Change follows, more nicely composed, upbeat AOR, not having heard these guys before I’m very impressed. Too Many People continues in the same vein, for a trio they create a nicely fat rock sound. It’s also very radio friendly, hints of Bon Jovi, John Cougar Mellencamp, Bryan Adams, you get the “mainstream, melodic, meaty, more-ish” idea. Some very tasty guitar licks keep this one bubbling along very nicely. Face of Justice introduces a softer, more acoustic side to the band’s talents. The use of a banjo again reminds me of The Hooters in their pomp, harmonica and slide combining to provide some classic good quality Americana, a really strong track.
Good Life is next, again a satisfyingly full-on sound, as is Joan of Arc…I guess this band are characteristic of a lot of “Middle America” bands, producing timeless good music. Definitely more flavours of Bryan Adams and John Mellancamp, but you know, so what – It’s seriously good stuff! Can’t Stop Messin’ has a particularly bumptious burst of “cookin’ ” lead guitar that hits the spot; Right initially sounds a bit like filler but is redeemed by more down and dirty lead licks, more evidence of the sheer fun these guys are having. 100 Sad Goodbyes again reminds me of that style of rocking US country-rock that The Hooters and other like The Jayhawks did so well – well produced, very catchy, interestingly punctuated with some nice reverb effects over the strumming.
Tonight feels completely different – darker, slow, blues-rock, swirling organ all soaking the intro, but the rest of the song doesn’t continue that power. Ok, they’re allowed a bit of slack…..And then we’re on to the album’s closer A Bone to Chew On. This feels like another good-time stomp to start with, I was hoping for something more akin to the first few tracks to round off a fine album. It is redeemed by some great lead guitar, and the vocals are suitably up-best, raunchy. A slightly strange track to finish with but nevertheless I was suitably impressed with the majority of the material on here – if you like Bryan Adams, John Mellencamp etc you’ll definitely like this this one!
