''Declaration'' is the debut studio album from

The Alarm The Alarm are a Welsh rock band that formed in Rhyl, Wales, in 1981. Initially formed as a punk band, the Toilets, in 1977, under lead vocalist Mike Peters, the band soon embraced arena rock and included marked influences from Welsh languag ...

. It was released in 1984 by

IRS Records I.R.S. Records was an American record label founded by Miles Copeland III, Jay Boberg, and Carl Grasso in 1979. I.R.S. produced some of the most popular bands of the 1980s, and was particularly known for issuing records by college rock, new wav ...

. The album was released initially on vinyl and cassette. A CD version was released in the U.S. by June 1984. An extended re-master version was released in 2000, including extra tracks.

Critical reception

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...

'' magazine wrote: "This is one of the best new live bands I heard last year, and they've put a lot of that power into their first album." William Ruhlmann wrote in a mixed to favorable review in AllMusic "the Alarm seemed to play every song as if it was the climax of their set. In the short term, that excited listeners, however; Declaration was a number six hit in England and broke through to the Top 50 in the U.S. In retrospect, it's more smoke than fire."

Track listing

All songs written by Eddie Macdonald and Mike Peters, except where noted. Side one #"Declaration" – 0:45 #"Marching On" – 3:35 #"Where Were You Hiding When the Storm Broke?" – 2:56 #"Third Light" – 3:25 #"

Sixty Eight Guns "Sixty Eight Guns" is a song by Welsh rock band the Alarm that was released as a single in August 1983 and later appeared on the group's debut album '' Declaration'' in February 1984. It was written by Alarm members Mike Peters and Eddie MacDonal ...

" – 5:49 #"We Are the Light" – 3:16 Side two #

"Shout to the Devil" (Macdonald, Peters, David Sharp) – 4:10 #"Blaze of Glory" (Macdonald, Peters, Sharp) – 6:04 #"Tell Me" (Sharp) – 3:14 #"The Deceiver" – 5:05 #"The Stand (Prophecy)" (Macdonald, Peters, Sharp) – 1:15 #"Howling Wind" – 6:44 2000 Remastered CD edition bonus tracks #"The Peace Train" #"Reason 41" #"Second Generation" #"Unbreak the Promise" #"The Chant Has Just Begun" #" Bells of Rhymney" #" Bound for Glory" #"Absolute Reality"

Single releases

"Marching On", "The Stand", "Sixty Eight Guns" and "Where Were You Hiding When the Storm Broke?" had already been released as singles before the album went on sale. "The Deceiver" was the only single to be released from the album after this time.

Personnel

The Alarm * Mike Peters – vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica *

Dave Sharp Dave Sharp (born 28 January 1959) is an English guitarist who co-founded, along with Mike Peters, the Welsh punk/new wave band The Alarm. Early career Sharp was born in Kersal, Salford, Lancashire, and began playing with the band Seventee ...

– acoustic and electric guitars, vocals *Eddie Macdonald – bass, electric guitar, bowed guitar, vocals *Twist – drums, percussion, vocals Production * Alan Shacklock – producer *Chris Porter – engineer *Michael Ross, Simon Adamcewski – artwork *Robert Mason – illustrations *Stephen Oliver – photography

Notes

{{Authority control 1984 debut albums The Alarm albums I.R.S. Records albums Illegal Records albums Albums produced by Alan Shacklock