Circuit Breaker [LP]

Few voices in rock are as instantly recognizable as Graham Bonnet’s. Across a career spanning more than five decades, the legendary vocalist has left his unmistakable mark on some of hard rock’s defining records, from Rainbow’s Down To Earth and Michael Schenker Group’s Assault Attack to his own Alcatrazz and an extensive solo career.

Now, with “Circuit Breaker,” the Graham Bonnet Band delivers a remarkable new album that both celebrates that extraordinary musical legacy and pushes it firmly into the present.

Built around Bonnet’s unmistakable voice and an inspired collection of melodic, powerful hard rock songs, Circuit Breaker finds Graham sounding as distinctive and defiant as ever, backed by the formidable line-up of Beth-Ami Heavenstone on bass, Conrado Pesinato on guitar, Shane Gaalaas on drums and Alessandro Bertoni on keyboards.

And while Circuit Breaker stands firmly on the strength of its songs, Graham has brought along some truly extraordinary friends.

Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson joins him for the explosive “The Fifth Force Of Nature,” an historic meeting of two of hard rock and heavy metal’s most unmistakable voices. Dickinson also appears alongside Graham in the accompanying music video, making the collaboration an even more unique event.

Queen legend Brian May lends his unmistakable guitar to “No One Sang For Rory,” a heartfelt tribute to the late, great Rory Gallagher, while Graham reunites with his former Rainbow bandmate Roger Glover on “Wait For The Day To Break.” Helloween and Gamma Ray icon Kai Hansen adds another dimension to the album with a guest appearance on “The Captain.”

There is another fascinating thread connecting Circuit Breaker to one of the landmark albums of Bonnet’s career. Russ Ballard, whose songwriting provided Rainbow and Graham with the immortal “Since You Been Gone” on 1979’s Down To Earth, contributes songs to the new album, reconnecting the two more than four decades later and providing a direct link between an essential chapter of Graham’s past and his music today.

But Circuit Breaker is far more than an exercise in nostalgia.

From the immediate punch of “No One Is Talking” and “Feel The Power” to the melodic drive of “Landslide,” the intensity of “Vengeance Is Mine” and the commanding title track, this is an album alive with the combination of melody, muscle and personality that has always set Bonnet apart.
At an age when most artists would be content to celebrate their past, Graham Bonnet continues to add to it.

“Circuit Breaker” is not simply another chapter in the Graham Bonnet story. It is the sound of one of rock’s great voices still moving forward — surrounded by a superb band, exceptional songs and a few legendary friends.