The Road To Heaven is the third album from Alliance, released some ten years after the band's debut made it's appearance on the scene, not that the members of Alliance have been quiet in between times. Aside from releasing a sophomore album, Missing Piece, each of the four members have been busy with other projects. Band main man Robert Berry has worked alongside Keith Emerson and Carl Palmer in the band 3 whilst both David Hauser and Gary Phil have spent time with Sammy Hagar with Phil also invloved with Boston and finally keyboard player Alan Fitzgerald has worked with Night Ranger. With resumes like that it's hardly surprising that The Road To Heaven has quality stamped all over it.

From opener, and near title track, Road To Heaven with it's Van Halen/Foreigner vibe to the closing notes of final track Much More Innocent, which happens to be on of the best on offer, this is simply an excellent album from start to finish. In between to keep you interested there is the sublime ballad Make A Stand alongside the synth driven party rocker Like Me Like That and the equally impressive Anything Goes which puts a smile on your face as it's perfect summer listening and the Heartland-esque Nothing Else I Can Do which is once again top notch.

All in all The Road To Heaven is quite simply an excellent album and one that will appeal easily to fans of bands like Boston or Foreigner. it really is the perfect follow up to the band's debut release having more in common with that album than with it's successor, the more singer/songwriter like Missing Piece.  The Road To Heaven is  melodic rock at it's best and just goes to prove there’s life in the genre yet.

Dougie