Alcatrazz - 'Don't Get Mad... Get Even' (Track Commentary)

The track sees Alcatrazz collaborating with the legendary Girlschool in a full-force, head-banging fist-pumper.

“’Don't Get Mad...Get Even’ is a very Thin Lizzy, AC/DC-ish type of tune” says Jimmy Waldo, Alcatrazz’s keyboardist and founding member, “to make it even better we have our friends Girlschool joining us on the chorus, we recorded this during our last European tour when both bands were together, it turned out fantastic!”

“On a day off during the tour, in a hotel room in France, we were suddenly asked to jump in and sing the chorus on a new Alcatrazz song” adds Girlschool’s drummer Denise Dufort, “Jimmy Waldo had his mobile recording gear on the road, we all got round the microphone, we had fun doing this one, and it's a really good song, a great hard rock song!”»

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 τον Jeff Loomis στην κιθάρα) 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 (δίσκος) το ακούσαμε πρόπερσι με το full length album "V", ο οποίος τον επόμενο μήνα θα αποκτήσει... διάδοχο! "Take No Prisoners" ο τίτλος.

Δελτίο τύπου: «Alcatrazz are determined to make up for lost time, roaring forwards at warp factor 10 to deliver Take No Prisoners, their sixth studio album and the third in three years.

Comprising of ten cracking, charismatic tracks, with each containing the unique fusion of classic American rock with the full grain hard-rocking attitude of British metal, Take No Prisoners sees Alcatrazz energetically soaring and exploring melodic progression with road-warrior riffs.

Lead single and video “Don’t Get Mad... Get Even” sees the band collaborating with the legendary Girlschool in a full-force, head-banging fist-pumper, while “Little Viper” rides a scything guitar into a thunderous, Dio-like assault.

The band also show their calmer, more expansive side with the epic “Strangers”, but when an album finishes at the burn point of “Bring On The Rawk”, there can be no question that Alcatrazz’s collective boot is repeatedly kicking serious ass!!!

Comprised of Doogie White (vocals), Joe Stump (guitars), Jimmy Waldo (keyboards), Gary Shea (bass) and Larry Paterson (drums), and with Giles Lavery and Waldo producing, Take No Prisoners is a loudly, and proudly classic rock album which draws on the Alcatrazz traditions of technically excellent screaming guitars, thunderous rhythm and the sort of vocals and overall aura that evoke prime Dio and Rainbow.

And, of course, a primed and fully-tuned up Alcatrazz, whose career is fast taking on Benjamin Button proportions. The Take No Prisoners tour should be a lot of fun!»

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

Video: "Don't Get Mad... Get Even" (Track Commentary)
Album: "Take No Prisoners"
Type: Full length
Release date: May 19th, 2023
Label: Silver Lining Music

Track Listing:
01. Little Viper
02. Don't Get Mad... Get Even (feat. Girlschool)
03. Battlelines
04. Strangers
05. Gates of Destiny
06. Alcatrazz
07. Holy Roller (Love's Temple)
08. Power in Numbers
09. Salute the Colours
10. Bring on the Rawk

Band members:
Gary Shea - Bass
Jimmy Waldo - Keyboards
Joe Stump - Guitars
Doogie White - Vocals
Larry Paterson - Drums