Review ALLISON ‘They Never Come Back’

“They never come back”, that is what some people might have said after Allison, the Swiss hard rock outfit, parted ways in 1996. With two albums under their belt, the quintet disbanded after guitarist Jonny Stutz announced that he will leave the band.

21 years later, the band played a gig as a surprise for Pierce Baltino, who celebrate his 50^th birthday in 2017. And as it happened to other bands too, the chemistry suddenly felt good again which was the starting point for a new album that will hit the shelves these days.

‘The Never Come Back’ is the album that proves everybody wrong who thought that the quintet will never return. Not having chosen the easiest moment for a reunion, thinking about the pandemic, at least provided the band with sufficient time for working on new songs.

Allison stand for hard rock made in Switzerland. That the alpine country has a vivid scene isn’t new. Bands like Gotthard are the spearhead of alpine hard rock and there are bands like Allison, benefiting from the mighty trailblazers. Although the songs of the album aren’t a mind-opening experience, ‘They Never Come Back’ rocks from start to finish.

The rougher vocals of singer Janet La Rose need a moment for unfolding a thrill while the powerfully guitars of ‘The River’ are a success factor right away. Next to the hard rock roots, Allison also knows how to celebrate the blues. ‘Blackbird’ is a slowly and grooving track that blossoms and the closer ‘Open Water’ provides a rock-solid ending of an entertaining album.

‘They Never Come Back’ is the well-forged return of the Swiss hard rockers and fans of a good riff and groove should check out this album.