After a ten-year hiatus,
Journey returned to recording in 1996 with
Trial by Fire, an album that sounds as if no time had passed between it and the band's last album,
Raised on Radio.
Journey have been completely unaffected by any trend in popular music, whether it's hair metal, hip-hop, or alternative rock and, frankly, they're the better for it.
Trial by Fire delivers exactly what any
Journey fan wants -- anthemic rockers and sweeping power ballads.
Steve Perry sounds as powerful as ever, while
Neal Schon's accomplished guitar licks remain as tasty as ever. The songwriting, as before, is slightly hit-and-miss, with singles like "When You Love a Woman" and "Message of Love" standing out from the handful of mediocre album tracks. Which means, if you've enjoyed
Journey in the past, you're certain to enjoy the best moments of
Trial by Fire, but if their arena rock and radio-ready ballads have never agreed with you, the album will not change your mind.