With a nearly thirty-year collaboration, and six highly regarded studio albums, melodic hard rock band Alliance return with their new release, Before Our Eyes, their first on the Frontiers label on 28th March – Ahead of that and out now the second single and accompanying lyric video, from it, ‘Nothing Can Make You Change’.
Their first album in some time, the core of the band remains the same with guitarist Gary Pihl (Boston), drummer Mr. David Lauser (Sammy Hagar) and bassist/singer Robert Berry (3, GTR).
“We are excited to have a new label and to be working with the team at Frontiers. With five albums released over the last 30 years we are feeling even more creative and energized by the possibilities that lie ahead,” said the band “We are looking forward to reaching a wider audience and are already hard at work on album seven.”
Berry commented on the new single: “’Nothing Can Make You Change’ was written lyrically with two different paths in mind. If you’ve had a tough relationship it speaks to trying to keep the two as one. On the other hand, if you’ve had a friend or family member with addiction problems it represents the struggles to overcome”.
Pihl gave some insights on the process behind the recording, by saying: “‘Nothing Can Make You Change’ was an opportunity for me to experiment with 60s/70s guitar ideas, using a repetitive eighth-note riff reminiscent of Pete Townshend’s synth patterns. The middle guitar solo is played backwards – a technique used by The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix – requiring me to think in reverse to match the chord progression. I also used a bottleneck slide for the outro, inspired by early blues players and 60s British rock bands like Cream and The Yardbirds.”
“Nothing Can Make You Change”, is one of the earliest songs on our album. I recall us arranging the song and coming up with the broken down verses on drums. I love the staccato double stops on the second verse… This song is really an amalgamation of all our pop influences. Great track!”, added Lauser.
It follows previous single ‘Tell Somebody’ about which they commented: “The song’s narrative applies to every one of us having things going on in our lives that other’s might not see but the hidden meaning alludes to the divisive climate in the world. An open heart, truth and clarity, are the goals.”
After Sammy Hagar stopped his solo career to join Van Halen, his drummer David Lauser, along with guitarist Gary Pihl still longed for the allusive missing pieces for a new project outside of their main gigs. Early in 1993, Robert Berry received a call from Lauser. They reached out to keyboardist Alan (Fitz) Fitzgerald (ex-Night Ranger), and gathered together at Hagar’s studio in Mill Valley to work through songs from their demos. According to a witness, “there was an immediate connection. Everybody in the room could feel it. The vibe was powerful and inspiring”. They immediately recognised the common thread that would feed their creativity.
A signature style was beginning to emerge, and the band was bonding even though they were spread geographically throughout the country, with Pihl in Boston, Fitz based in Texas, Lauser in Southern California and Berry in the heart of Silicon Valley.
Over the years and up to today, Alliance continues to solidify and bolster their long-distance collaborations. Though the scheduling remains challenging their passion and commitment remains energized. Their musical benchmark, perhaps a product of their high-profile roles outside of Alliance, has always been pushed to the highest standard. And it’s clear that they always strive to surpass their previous release. For those who want to check them out further try: Bond Of Union (1996), Alliance (1997), Missing Piece (1999), Destination Known (2007), Road To Heaven (2008) and Fire And Grace (2018).
Before Our Eyes looks to follow suit and features the tracks: ‘Tell Somebody’, ‘Nothing Will Make You Change’, ‘Too Many People’, ‘Face Of Justice’, ‘Good Life’, ‘Joan Of Arc’, ‘Can’t Stop Messin’’, ‘Right’, ‘100 Sad Goodbyes’, ‘Tonight’ and ‘A Bone To Chew On’.
The album can be ordered here and you can watch the video to ‘Tell Somebody’ here at RAMzine.
