As requested here’s “The Pack“, the second and final album by cult British Melodic Hard Rock band ALASKA in its remastered version including bonus tracks, now out of print.
Alaska was founded and led by former Whitesnake guitarist Bernie Marsden, and after the first album release, the band toured Europe as the opening act for Manowar. A quite rare pairing, as Alaska had a very commercial, radio-friendly sound heavy on synthesizers.
For 1985’s ”The Pack” Marsden pushed a bit more his bluesy rocking roots, and overall the LP sounds like ’80s Whitesnake. Still with a very polished production the LP rocks more than its predecessor, although radio-friendly. The over-polished, smooth cover of Kim Carnes’ ballad ‘Miss You Tonight’ is the most obvious hit-hunt for the band.
There’s very cool rockers on here, all of which you feel could have been candidates for inclusion on a Whitesnake album if Coverdale had decided to stick with the classic British bluesy flavoured sound.
‘The Thing’ has the nice soft acoustic start before building into a Zeppelin tinged rocker and ‘Help Yourself’ could also, with a bit of work on the chorus perhaps, have graced any early ‘Snake album. Bass player Brian Badhams solo composition ‘Woman Like You’ offers a couple of solo spots reminding of why Marsden is a respected if un-celebrated guitarist, whilst the punchy ‘School Girl’ and the excellent ‘S.O.S.’ both improve on that.
A different direction similar to Alaska’s first LP is taken with the other tracks. ‘Where Did They Go’ has a more American flavoured AOR feel due in a large way to guest saxophonist Billy Paul taking the lead solo. More surprisingly, although perhaps not given the mid-Eighties release, a couple of tracks have more in common with the pomp rockers Magnum.
‘Run With The Pack’ is a catchy melodic rocker, whilst the synthesiser and big chorus ‘I Really Want To Know’ is pure radio friendly.
Fans of mid-80s melodic rock / AOR sound mixed with bluesy rockers will find a very enjoyable album in “The Pack”. It’s all very polished, melodic, rocking at places, a really well balanced and underrated album. This ’90s remastered CD release is out of print now, used copies being sold for over $100.
Highly Recommended
01 – Run With The Pack
02 – Woman Like You
03 – Where Did They Go (Bonneville Blues)
04 – School Girl
05 – S.O.S.
06 – Help Yourself
07 – Miss You Tonight
07 – The Thing
08 – I Really Want to Know
BONUS TRACKS:
10 – Coupe De Ville
11 – Show Some Emotion
12 – Be Good To Me
13 – You Don’t Have To Worry
Robert Hawthorn – Vocals
Bernie Marsden – Guitars
Don Airey – Keyboards
Brian Badhams – Bass
John Marter – Drums
Billy Paul – guest Sax
ALASKA (Bernie Marsden) – The Pack 1985 [remastered +4] , MP3+FLAC
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