ALIAS / NEVER SAY NEVER (2009)

This is the band's second album and an album that should have been released back in 1992 but 'cause of the 'grunge' revolution it came out after all these years! Their first self-titled album is still a classic in my book and one of the best melodic releases ever. It's really too bad that this band back then didn't become a huge name in the melodic rock scene. But hey, that was then and this is now!

Alias is a band formed by Sheriff's two founding members, guitarist Steve DeMarchi and vocalist Freddy Curci. Their first album was a huge success back then with super catchy songs, superb ballads, a tight musicianship and a huge production. For many years, they were in the internet for downloading some bootlegs with Alias unreleased stuff that it had really bad production. But I'm really happy that last year 'Never Say Never' came out and filled with pleasure the fans of this band.

So what we have in our hands is a 17 track album full of big melodies, catchy choruses, emotional ballads, great guitar work by Steve DeMarchi and the amazing vocal lines from F. Curci !! I really can't find a weak moment here. Most of the songs are superb pieces of melodic rock bliss! They can jump from AOR stuff to some more hard edged songs without being boring. The mid-tempos and ballads are good enough to please every AOR fan and the guitar work rocks big time. Last year "Never Say Never" was among my top releases and this album continues and I think it will continues, to be in my cd player in a regular base!

Some of the highlights here are the heavier opener tune of " Woman Enough", "How Much Longer Is Forever", "Wild Wild One", "Pleasure And Pain" (a tune that appears in the James Christian first solo album), "We Want It All " and my all time favourite track "Perfect World". An excellent track!
I hope that in the near future we are going to have more from this great band!
HeavyParadise's Rating : 9/10

Tracks

1. Woman Enough 2. XTCOI 3. How Much Longer Is Forever 4. Give Me A Reason To Stay 5. Wild Wild One 6. Pleasure And Pain 7. The Warden 8. Bare Necessity 9. All I Want Is You 10. Call Of The Wild 11. Diamonds 12. Play Me A Song 13. We Want It All 14. Perfect World (Bonus Track) 15. Into The Fire (Bonus Track) 16. Who Do You Think You Are (Bonus Track) 17. When I'm With You (Acoustic Version )