Balance schaffte es in Europa nie zu einer Popularität ähnlich der von Saga, Survivor oder Asia. Für Freunde hymnischen AORs (Adult orientied Rock) war sie trotzdem mehr als ein Geheimtipp. Ihre höchst radiokompatible Debüt-Single [Breakin' away] schaffte es 1981 sogar auf Platz 22 der amerikanischen Billboard Charts.

Das Nachfolgealbum "In for the count" erfüllte nur teilweise die Erwartungen des Erstlings. Die Chemie zwischen Castros Stimme und dem wesentlich schwereren Songmaterial irritierte sowohl Pop als auch Rockfans und die Band verschwand. 1992 erschienen die beiden ersten Alben als CDs und 1997 als Doppel CD in Deutschland.

Mit Peppy Castro, Gitarrist Bob Kulick und Keyboarder Doug Katsaros trafen sich 2007 - nach 25 Jahren der Funkstille - wieder drei Originalmitglieder der New Yorker Band. Kulick war zwischenzeitlich als Nachfolger für Gitarrist Ace Frehley bei Kiss eingestiegen, Tourmitglied der Meat Loaf Band und als Gitarrist auf unzähligen Tribute Scheiben wie "Butchering the Beatles ~ A Headbashing Tribute", "Spin the Bottle ~ and All-Star Tribute to KISS", "One Way Street, A Tribute to Aerosmith", "An All Star Tribute to Shania Twain", "Welcome to the Nightmare: An All-Star Salute to Alice Cooper", "An All Star Tribute to Cher", "Stone Cold Queen: A Tribute" weiterhin im Fokus der Öffentlichkeit.
Katsaros spielte und arrangierte Songs von Rod Stewart, Cher, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith und Anderen und arbeitete für verschiedene Broadway Shows, wie "The Rocky Horror Show" und "Footloose". Castro sang auf CDs von Diana Ross, KISS, Laura Branigan und Michael Bolton bevor er sich mehr auf TV Jingles fokussierte.

Die magischen Momente des ersten Albums sorgten auch bei mir für Euphorie als ich hörte, dass Balance "Equilibrium" für den 20. Februar 2009 ankündigten. Synthesizersequenzen und wallende Keyboardvorhänge ergänzen den von Kulicks Trademark Gitarre geprägten Sound auf ihreem neuen Album. Castros Stimme trifft auch nach 25 Jahren noch alle hohen Töne.
"Breathe" rockt im Geiste von Rush, "Old friends" ist ein Midtempo Rocker. "Crazy little Suzie" erinnert an unkonventionellen, schweren Rock a la Dream Theater. Heutige Produktionstechniken und Sounds verschafften dem Balance Sound ein Update. 11 Songs im Geiste des zweiten Albums "In for the count" sind es geworden. Die Gitarrensolis sorgen immer noch für erhöhte Aufmerksamkeit. Manchem werden die popigen Kleckse des ersten Albums und eine hymnische Ballade a la [Falling in love] fehlen. Für alle Freunde des AOR gilt: Reinhören und eine eigene Meinung bilden.

The Melodic Rock and AOR scenes are both made up of legendary albums and bands, which, as time goes by, become even more respected among the community of fans. Balance are exactly one of these bands, whose name and reputation, like good wine, has stood the test of time for more than two decades.
Formed at the end of the 70’s by three promising talents out of the NY music scene: singer Peppy Castro (formerly of The Blues Magoos, Wiggy Bits and Barnaby Bye), the classically
trained keyboardist Doug Katsaros and guitarist Bob Kulick (who had already appeared as a guest musician on KISS recordings and on the Paul Stanley solo album in 1978 as well as
playing in Meat Loaf’s band), Balance soon inked a deal with Portrait Records who released the band’s first eponymous album in 1981.

While the song writing and production quality shone all over the record and the band were immediately on the same level as contemporary luminaries such as Toto, Survivor or Journey, the album for which Balance are still today highly regarded is the follow up “In For The Count” released in 1982. The line-up was completed by former Speedway Blvd. member (the band that also featured the future Dream Theater keyboardist Jordan Rudess) Dennis Feldman on bass and Chuck Burgi (ex Brand X and later with Rainbow and Red Dawn) on drums. On “In For The Count” the band kicked in with heavier guitars and outstanding production skills, with a song writing talent that was not afraid to experiment while still keeping their strong Melodic Rock trademark intact.
In a perfect world that record should have catapulted Balance to the same level of popularity as Journey, Foreigner or Survivor, however fate and the label’s lack of support decreed the end of This document was created using iPool music promotion software - http://iPool.info the band. As proof of the multi-talented artists involved in Balance, all members went on to brilliant careers in music in the following years. Kulick, continued collaborating with the members of KISS and Meat Loaf and went on to form Skull and Murderer’s Row, before
becoming a Grammy Award producer in LA. Katsaros played, sang & arranged for KISS, Rod Stewart, Cher, Bon Jovi, Sinéad O'Connor and Aerosmith among others and worked in several rockin' Broadway shows, including The Rocky Horror Show and Footloose. Peppy collaborated and sang on records by Diana Ross, KISS, Laura Branigan and Michael Bolton before starting to work in the jingles business.
The three of them kept in touch and had the chance to work together on several projects, however they never had the chance to work on a new Balance album and complete their musical circle, so as soon as they got a proposal from Frontiers Records, and after the recent reissue of their classic “In For The Count” album on Rock Candy / Universal, they decided the time was right to start working again.
Completed with the help of Bret Chassen on drums (who also co-produced the album together with Bob Kulick), the resulting album “Equilibrium” is truly a labour of love: a record written and crafted with the highest respect for the fans and the same enthusiasm as the old days, bringing back the trademark sound and updating it to the production techniques and taste of the new millennium. A true Melodic Rock masterpiece!

1. Twist Of Fate
2. Breathe
3. Old Friends *
4. What Have You Done
5. Winner Takes All
6. Crazy Little Suzie
7. Liar
8. Walk Away
9. Who You Gonna Love *
10. Forever
11. Rainbows End