BENEFITING FROM a well received if slow burning debut album, Chicago based four-piece Survivor were given the opportunity to re-enter the studio for album number two. Their song writing skills had never been in question, but, it must be said, they were still searching for a sound of their own and the hope was that they would dig deep and expose a gritty underbelly that would unlock their true potential. Recorded in Los Angeles, with a slightly reshuffled line-up, the band was allowed to self produce, thus further enhancing the likelihood that a rougher, more immediate sound could be captured. 'Premonition', originally released in 1981, didn't disappoint, showcasing the band in an upbeat and, dare we say it, far more aggressive mood, harnessing a sound that leaps out of the speakers and wrestles you to the floor with little room for pleasantries. Naturally, the band's greatest asset was still their ability to fuse quality songs with hooks and melodies to die for. Tracks such as 'Summer Nights', 'Light Of A Thousand Smiles' (inspired by Journey), 'Poor Man's Son' and the balls-out rocking of 'Chevy Nights' all contain a magical mixture of streamlined efficiency and brutal honesty, the musical net result elevating the band into a far more competitive league. It certainly silenced the naysayers, but it drew a clear line for those who refused the band entry at the time. Some songs for its upcoming Rocky III movie... no prizes for guessing what came next.