American hard rock band Alcatrazz once featured legendary musicians like singer Graham Bonnet as well as guitarists Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai. With their current line-up of guitarist Joe Stump, keyboard player Jimmy Waldo, bassist Gary Shea, drummer Mark Benquechea and new singer Giles Lavery, Alcatrazz re-recorded nine songs of their back catalogue. In addition to well-known numbers like “Hiroshima Mon Amour”, “Island In The Sun” and their biggest hit “God Blessed Video”, »Prior Convictions« also features two brand-new numbers, “Transylvanian Requiem” and “Stand And Wait Your Turn”.
The release embodies how Alcatrazz sound today. Guitarist extraordinaire Joe Stump can barely hide his excitement: “Something old is something new and these new versions of some of the old Alcatrazz classics are killer and 100% metal.”
“The new line-up is firing on all cylinders,” enthuses keyboardist Jimmy Waldo, while his colleague on bass, Gary Shea”, adds: “My prior convictions have always remained true, step up and rock hard. »Prior Convictions« continues the Alcatrazz saga with a 21st century twist of classic songs and new music.“
Although »Prior Convictions« is not a new studio album, it’s a clear sign that Alcatrazz are continuing the legacy, giving new fans the chance to get familiar with a whole bunch of bona fide hard rock classics from the eighties. Old fans, on the other hand, will quickly learn that the new line-up is every bit as potent as past incarnations of the band.
»Prior Convictions« was originally issued exclusively on CD in 2025 via Brave Words Records. Thanks to High Roller Records, it’s now also out on high-quality vinyl.
1. Transylvanian Requiem
2. Stand and Wait Your Turn
3. Jet to Jet
4. Starr Carr Lane
5. Hiroshima Mon Amour
6. Island in the Sun (Re-Opened 2025)
7. Too Young to Die, too Drunk to Live (2025)
8. God Blessed Video (Grand Theft Audio 2025)
9. Skyfire (2025)
10. General Hospital (2025)
11. Kree Nakoorie (2025)