Originally published by L.S. Media. April 18th 2010.

Once more The Alarm release an album full of social commentary, hard hitting lyrics that will make you stop and think and above all, music that will make you want to sing along and go with the flow.

The album Direct Action seems like a wonderful reminder of the band’s previous releases, not only in name, but in the way the band have pieced the tracks together to show how little society has moved on in the years since the band unleashed their debut album Declaration onto an unsuspecting public in 1984.

With The Alarm, whether it is the first incarnation with Dave Sharp or this newer version which has been around since the days of In the Poppyfields, you know that the main driving force behind their success is the use of well crafted lyrics. This new album is no different, from the very start Mike Peters vocals hit you hard in the face and leave you reeling as he talks about the need to Release the Pressure.

The Alarm never shy away from anything they deem to be against their solid principles, this certainly shows in the track Riot Squad which invokes memories of those who fought and lost in the name of freedom.

Mike is joined once again by the trusted personnel of James Stevenson on guitars, Craig Adams on Bass and Steve Grantley on drums, all of whom give a certain gravitas to the production of the album.

The Alarm have created an album full of decent tracks and the odd surprise, in the shape of Willie Nile’s and Frankie Lee’s One Guitar.

It remains to be seen whether the album will bring the group back into the wider public’s attention and not just be bought by those who have followed the band since their humble beginnings and their creative reincarnation but on the strength of songs on this offering, it seems the band are determined to give it a damned good go.

Ian D. Hall