The Alarm - Equals
It may be difficult to believe now but The Alarm were huge in the 80s. With their Celtic-tinged folk-punk, they sold over six million albums, with 17 UK top 50 singles. A 1986 concert at UCLA was broadcast live by satellite to a global audience also in its millions. The band disbanded in 1991 but main man Mike Peters has helmed a reconvened Alarm since 1999.
In 2005, Peters was diagnosed with leukaemia, which reoccurred in 2015. Wife (and Alarm keyboardist) Jules subsequently underwent treatment for breast cancer. The fact that this album exists at all is a minor miracle. Whilst it is difficult to ignore the backstory, Peters would want this to be judged on its own merits.
This is a good album and there are some cracking songs, played with joy and passion by Mike, Jules, guitarist James Stevenson and drummer Smiley. The lyrics are as heartfelt and the choruses as big as ever. The harmonica break on Cenotaph is a delight to hear. Peace Now may be one of Peters’ strongest songs ever. This LP is not as strong as Strength or Declaration but, for all that, there is plenty here for existing fans to love and it may just bring some new ones into the fold.
7/10
