Rocktrospectiva: The Outstanding "Alias" Self-Titled Debut Album Turns 35

Released on 18 June 1990, "Alias" was the self-titled debut album from the Canadian band Alias, the album spawned two singles "More Than Words Can Say" & "Waiting For Love", the first single reached No. 1 in Canada and No. 2 in the United States. and the second peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard hot 100 and finally "Haunted Hart" peaked at No. 18.

Back in the early 1990’s several fantastic albums from bands were released, many of these records were quite fantastic but unfortunately never reach the stardom they deserved and never reaching the number of fans that they deserved, in part, thanks to the shift in the musical landscape that was in progress back then.

One of those acts were the Canadian band Alias their debut self titled album was one that, while certainly not an unknown one, should have been bigger. The record actually went Gold when released in 1990 and garnered three singles, the power ballad and band's most-successful tune‘More Than Words Can Say’ 

The band was made up of artists that were already known in the music world. Freddy Curci and Steve DeMarchi who were both previously in the band Sheriff, the other three members of the band, Roger Fisher, Steve Fossen and Mike DeRosier, were all founding members of the phenomenal band Heart, so they're practically pro musicians, Curci had a fantastic and clear voice that sounded utterly fabulous throughout the record, you can check again the terrific ballad ‘More Than Words Can Say’.

The songs were outstanding and simply wonderful AOR gems. The band was a talented group of artists and they sounded great through each track as one would expect with the names involved on the record. But despite their good record, Alais never garnering a massive following like other AOR bands such as Foreigner and Survivor did, even thought Alias still held their own, produced a great record with some incredible songs and gathering a rather large following at the time, yet, sadly, the record still remains somewhat of an undiscovered gem for many, believe it or not.

Alias returned in 2009 with their sophmore album, "Never Say Never", a record that was recorded in 1992 but never released due to the rise of the Grunge era. It is a decent effort but not ever really reaching the strength of the debut.

Alias proved to be a consummate example of commercially oriented, hummable, yet guitar-based FM radio hard rock. The main focus was obviously set on the talents of lead vocalist Frederico Curci and guitarist Steve DeMarchi, nevertheless with great input from the steady rhythm section of former Heart members Steve Fossen, Roger Fisher and Mike DeRosier, along with steve’s brother Denny DeMarchi on additional keyboards and backing vocals. An impressive lineup of musicians, to say the least, who all contributed to one of the finest, most well-produced debuts from the tail end of the golden era of AOR and Hard rock scene

Alias Track List

1. Say What I Wanna Say 2. Haunted Heart 3. Waiting For Love 4. The Power 5. Heroes 6. What To Do 7. After All The Love Is Gone 8. More Than Words Can Say 9. One More Chance 10. True Emotion 11. Standing In The Darkness