Alter Bridge’s self-titled album, released on January 9, has marked a significant evolution in the Creed spinoff’s aggressive and driving musical style. At just over an hour in length, it is one of their most consistent projects so far, and arguably the best album released so far this year, with tracks to please both casual listeners and hard rock aficionados.
The album kicks off with “Silent Divide” ––squealing guitars open the track, almost reminiscent of early Metallica. The track quickly develops with the drums and bass driving the rhythm of the song into a heavy rocker’s dream. The song’s transitions between major and minor keys in the chorus give the song a positive and reminiscent tone.
“Rue The Day” follows, more heavy, focused, and retrospective than “Silent Divide.” I can deeply relate to the spiritual journey and the anguish that the song describes: “constructs of ill intent, have filled your heart again” was one of the hardest hitting lyrics for me. Overall, the song is a prodigious mix of power ballads seen in 80’s glam metal and the modern drive and spirit of rock.
Conversely, “Power Down” shifts the instrumentation back into a high-tempo, hard-rock sound. However, the lyrics seem to, in a sense, continue the journey started in the previous song, discussing burning out. The message in the song is to convince the listener to “power down” to find the beauty in life, to smell the roses along the way.
“Trust In Me” blends the lyrics of a typical Christian song with genuinely appealing instrumentals, complemented by the exceptional vocals of Myles Kennedy. Somehow, a non-faith band can express the faith and meaning of Christendom in a more engaging and unique than most contemporary artists.
Shifting the tone, “Disregarded” initially sounds more akin to the sound of bands like Slipknot but shifts more into a traditional modern rock sound. The guitar solo in the bridge, executed by frontman Myles Kennedy, is utterly phenomenal, a defining highlight of the instrumentals on this record.
“Tested and Able” follows, delving into the heavy instrumentals even harder in its intro, sounding like a Korn or Godsmack song at first. It shifts into a mix of hard rock and rhythm guitar giving the track a more positive inclination than the previous songs on the album. It’s an unusual sensation transitioning from a hard-rocking intro to a more gentle and soft-rock akin body, yet it’s captivating, with the guitar work of Kennedy and lead guitarist Mark Tremonti enhancing the appeal.
Alter Bridge’s ability to seamlessly blend metal-esque intros with regular rock sections is fascinating, a trend that continues with the track “What Lies Within.” It’s honestly not my type of track––compared to the rest of album, the impression left on me feels unsure whether the song wants to be a hard-driving track or a power ballad.
Completely shifting the tone of the album, “Hang By A Thread” is a refreshing electro-acoustic break from the loud, thick guitar tracks of the album’s previous tunes. A more uplifting tune, it repeats throughout the track “You’ll never keep this good man down.” I didn’t really care for “Hang By A Thread” at first, but it’s grown on me and I’ve come to add it to my regular rotations.
On a more eerie note, “Scales Are Falling” seems to continue the trend of reforming the sound on the LP, continuing with dark and vivid imagery within the lyrics, but reworked into a progressive rock package. Some of the guitar work on this song evokes a blend of Pink Floyd and Ænima-era Tool if they were combined and somehow harmonized into a nearly 6-minute-long modern rock song.
“Playing Aces” is a return to the driving sound heard earlier on the album––this time, the lyrics delve into someone who is doing anything they can to come out on top beyond their previous failures.
In an interview with Kerrang, Kennedy confirmed the song title is related to the gambling analogy of the same name. This tie in is so relatable, especially in such a cut-throat society built on either hitting it big or becoming a “failure”.
The penultimate song, “What Are You Waiting For,” is arguably the only song on the album that I don’t particularly enjoy. It feels like a rehash of the entire preceding record, lacking any fresh elements that would make it truly appealing. It’s a good track on its own, but it’s somewhat overshadowed by the relatively consistenttracks that precede it.
Marking the album’s conclusion, “Slave to Master” is a 9-minute track that feels like a progressive culmination of all the messages conveyed throughout the album. The song begins gradually, transitioning into a heavy guitar-driven section with sprinkles from Metallica and Slipknot; the song is also reminiscent of their own debut album, “One Day Remains.”
The song moves into a slower guitar track before erupting into a frenzied guitar solo, featuring one of the best guitar solos of the 2020s. The ending lyrics, “it’s out of control, so where do we go?” is a reminder of our lives: We don’t have full control, but with the control we do have, we need to guide our own destiny.
Overall, Alter Bridge’s self-titled album is bar-none one of the most consistent albums that have been produced this decade. The instrumentals, singing, lyrics, and track arrangement are all excellent and deserve the utmost praise. Alter Bridge, in my opinion, have always been an underrated band, overshadowed by the superstardom of Creed and Myle Kennedy’s work with Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash.
If you’re a fan of hard rock, Christian rock or anything new, “Alter Bridge” is a must-listen record that is already a contender for being album of the year.
