ALLISON – They Never Come Back [Ltd. Digipak reissue] (2022)

Hard Rock / Metal from Switzerland is by no means unusual. Just think of Krokus, Gotthard, Shakra or Crystal Ball. Here comes another band from this alpine country. Fronted by Janet La Rose, ALLISON were already founded in 1986. And actually, the band had a great future ahead of them. Many gigs at home and abroad are on the credit side. Among others, they opened for Van Halen, Bon Jovi and Asia. And they were very lucky to open for Thunder, Van Halen and Bon Jovi at the sold-out St. Jakobstadion in Basel in front of 55,000 enthusiastic fans.
Two very good studio albums date from the first creative period. And then grunge came along and hardly any record label was interested in good female fronted hard rock anymore. So, the band was pigeonholed.
A quarter of a century later, three of the founding members got together and thought it was time to reactivate Allison. The result, “They Never Come Back” was released in November 2020 via an indie label.
Now Allison have been signed by Massacre Records, and while they are working on a new CD, the 2022 re-release of “They Never Come Back” is now set to increase worldwide awareness.

It took 25 years to ALLISON to get ready this, their 3rd album. After two successful platters in the first half of the ’90s and having gigs with major acts, ALLISON broke up in 1998. However, and always fronted by powerful vocalist Janet La Rose the band reunited few years ago – and as the album artwork make it clear – laced up their gloves again to get into the ring.

Musically, ALLISON still offer solid classic melodic hard rock, which is increasingly settled in the mid-tempo range typical for the more melodious side of the genre.
The new album opens with the fist-in-the-air uptempo rocker “The River”, then “Edge Of Golden Days” takes us back two decade ago with its radio friendly feel, next “Crank It Up” puts rocks hard again yet midpaced and with some bluesy flavor.

“Hang Tough” is a strong power ballad, including nice synth strings and La Rose’s smooth vocals with a certain Ann Wilson color. However, on most tracks seems her voice acquired a rougher edge resembling Janet Gardner (Vixen).
“Merry-Go-Round” scores with a great chorus. A wah-wah effect is modulated onto the guitar sound with the help of a talkbox. You don’t hear that too often these days. It’s nice that there are still musicians who use this old technique.

Beautiful hooks, purposefully placed riffs and once again the invitation to sing along are the trademark of “Rock High”. With “Can You Hear Me”, things really take off. Here Allison leave the usual midtempo area. THE headbanger of the album. The guitarists shine again.
After this tempo peak, it’s back to the usual midtempo realms. In “Open Water”, the Hammond organ wavers discreetly to the rock sounds.

An old-school female-fronted melodic hard rock album is always welcomed, so I’m glad ALLISON are back in business.
Highly Recommended

01 – The River
02 – Edge of Golden Days
03 – Crank it Up
04 – Hang Tough
05 – Beautiful World
06 – Blackbird
07 – Merry-Go-Round
08 – Rock High
09 – Can You Hear Me
10 – Open Water

Janet La Rose – vocals
Pierce Baltino – bass
Jonny Stutz – guitars
Robi Würgler – guitars
Sean Evans – drums
Dani Feusi – keyboards

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