Alcatrazz showcase classic metallic fire and fury on V

V proves that Alcatrazz still have it after all these years

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Alcatrazz: V cover art
(Image: © Silver Lining Music)

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V for album number five; V for victory (as the press release claims) – take your pick, or why not have them both? 

With Graham Bonnet having given way to Doogie White on vocals, this follow up to 2020’s Born Innocent features only Jimmy Waldo (keyboards) and Gary Shea (bass) remaining from the original 80s line up – not that this matters, as V overcomes any possible doubts through sheer creative force and lashings of shred. 

It might lack Bonnet’s more off-the-wall lyrical spirit but White is a fine replacement, and Joe Stump’s guitar work is suitably extravagant – it wouldn’t be authentically Alcatrazz without copious widdling. 

And right from opener Guardian Angel via Turn Of The Wheel (shades of Bark At The Moon?) to the unhinged riff fest that is House Of Lies, this is a spot-on rock solid showcase of classic metallic fire and fury.

Essi Berelian
Essi Berelian

Whether it’s magazines, books or online, Essi has been writing about rock ’n’ metal for around thirty years. He has been reviews editor for Classic Rock and Metal Hammer, rock reviews editor for lads mag Front and worked for Kerrang!. He has also written the Rough Guide to Heavy Metal and contributed to the Rough Guide to Rock and Rough Guide Book of Playlists, and the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles (13th edition). Most fun interview? Tenacious D – Jack Black and Kyle Gass – for The Pick of Destiny movie book. An avid record/CD/tape collector, he’s amassed more music than he could ever possibly listen to, which annoys his wife no end.