Graham Bonnet Band - Day Out In Nowhere

Over a fifty-five plus year career starting with The Blue Sect in 1965 and then having a hit single with the song “Only One Woman” (interestingly written by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb) in 1968 as part of the duo The Marbles, Graham Bonnet has had an incredible career that has included fronting Rainbow, Alcatrazz, MSG, Impellitteri and many other bands.  His latest release is Day Out In Nowhere, the third album from the Graham Bonnet Band, which is rounded out by Beth-Ami Heavenstone (bass), Conrado Pesinato (guitar), Alessandro Bertoni (keyboards) and Shane Gaalaas (drums).  Also featured throughout the album are guest appearances from guitarists Jeff Loomis, Mike Tempesta, Roy Z and Takanori Ozaki, drummers John Tempesta and Levi Dokus and legendary keyboardist and Bonnet’s former bandmate Don Airey.  In describing the album he said, “Similar to the first two albums, it will reflect different eras of my career, but with a contemporary twist”, which is a very good description of what you can expect to hear.  While most of the album is rooted in classic hard rock, there is a lot of diversity here that touches on various parts of his career.  Right out the gate with the upbeat, high energy rocker “Imposter” there is no denying that Bonnet’s voice is still in great shape, the band is at the top of their game and that this has the makings of a great release.  Things move in more of a progressive metal direction next with “Twelve Steps To Heaven”, a song that takes a blunt look at the struggles of trying to maintain sobriety, while “Brave New World” features some great guitar work from Roy Z and has a “classic” Bonnet vocal.  “Uncle John”, a dark song dealing with pedophilia and based on a real person from Bonnet’s youth, and “When We’re Asleep”, featuring the Tempesta brothers, are a couple of really strong classic rockers that have a bit of a modern edge to them.  The title track takes things down for a moment and is a nice, leisurely paced tune that then leads into the faster “The Sky Is Alive”, a cut that takes you back to his days fronting Alcatrazz.  With “David’s Mom” and “It’s Just a Frickin’ Song”, a track featuring Airey that musically is reminiscent of their time in Rainbow, they lighten the mood a bit with lyrics that are sillier and more tongue in cheek, before they tear into “Jester”, a cut featuring Jeff Loomis on guitar that is a fast paced rocker and the heaviest song here.  Closing things out is “Suzy”, an over the top ballad that features an orchestra and while a great showcase for his voice, seems a bit out of place here.  Day Out In Nowhere is definitely a release that Bonnet should be adding to the high points of his amazing career. 

(Frontiers Records)