One of the major advantages of the new line up is that 5/6 of the band are based in the UK which means we now rehearse together every month.

This proved to be a huge benefit when preparing for the recording of the album. In fact we pretty much halved the recording time this time out which is a testimony to how well prepared the guys were.

The opening track Battle Stations is a an instrumental and I challenged Andy and Gav to come up with something fast and furious to introduce the new line up on record. I think they came up with an absolute belter!

Rising Anew is a speedy power metal romp which is about PQ being back from the dead. It also refers to the fact that we had been written off in some quarters and the song is a response to that but also a nod to our fans too (For you my friends we carry on). This song looks set to be the new live opener, preceded by Battle Stations.

Glorious is one of the fastest tunes we have done for a long time and is a real feel good type of song. All the elements you require from a 200+bpm power metal anthem are at work here.

Sacrifice is a ballad wrapped up in a more metallic sound. From the opening riff this song stomps along and Chity's vocal lifts the song to new heights. Love the solo section here.

Survive is almost like a distant cousin of 'Sacred Land' (from the Neverworld album). Full on speed is at work again here but lyrically this is a song about the environment.

Better Days is a classic stadium rock style song forged in the same fires as 'Edge of Time or 'Children of the Dream'. The vibe of the song is all about doing your own thing and living your own life the way you want to.

It has a cracking solo from Andy Midgley and a real Journey vibe about it in places. I can see this one becoming a live favourite.

Crunching the Numbers is perhaps the most surprising song on the record. Lyrically it's all about the recession and was one of 3 songs I co-wrote with Andy Midgley (the others being City of Lies and Blood Alliance).

It has a very progressive Dream Theater-esque middle section and one of the catchiest solos I have heard from a long time courtesy of Gav Owen.

Only in My Dreams is the ballad of the album, albeit with a more Malmsteen type feel than previous PQ ballads. Guest backing vocals on this song (and Better Days) from Nick Workman (Vega). Again Chity really raises the emotional stakes on this tune.

Blood Alliance, the title track clocking in at 9 minutes but never seeming like more than 5 when we play it.

This song is equally about the new alliance within PQ but also refers to the idea of secret societies which have existed for centuries, passed down from father to son.

The solo section of this song and the ending are memorable moments for me as well.

City of Lies is the album closer and the lyrics are loosely based on the tale of Dick Whittington, at least in the early part of the song.

Paul Finnie co-wrote the lyrics to this one with me. Another song that's really fun to play and the blast beat section in the middle I'm sure takes people by surprise to start with.

Right at the end of the song, sounding like an old gramophone recording, is the reprise of the chorus from the song 'Power Quest' (which also featured at the end of Neverworld too) played on piano. A fitting way to connect PQ past and present I felt.