By Monk
Alt-rock superstars Alter Bridge are one of those bands which divide opinion, not least here at ÜRHQ, but also on both sides of the Atlantic, as they are more than capable of selling out some of Europe’s largest arenas, as their forthcoming dates in support of this, their seventh studio album in the 18 years since they rose from the ashes of the ill-fated Creed, demonstrates, while in their native ÜS they often play in venues a quarter of the size of their European/ÜK counterparts. Maybe its a case of being a big fish in a small pond in once case, and vice versa in the other, as they have a severe lack of competition in one market but “back home” find themselves mired a massive sea of similar-sounding counterparts…
Right from the crashing, almost crushing, opening chords of lead single ‘This Is War’ it is obvious that this is quite possibly the heaviest, and angriest, album in the quartet’s career to date, perhaps exemplifying a sense of released rage at finally being able to once again fully express themselves after the stymied Covidications of the previous 24 or so months. Not that the band (and particularly Kennedy and Tremonti) have been particularly quiet during that period, but this is the sound of a band, as an entity as well as individuals, re-invigorated and re-energized.
While never ones to stray too far from their own tried and tested musical path, they do break some new ground, with Tremonti briefly stepping out of his fellow frontman’s shadow to take over lead vocals for the laconic, introspective ‘Stay’, a song that suits the guitarist’s darker vocal tonality (as evinced on his recent ‘…Sinatra‘ project) much better than it would have Kennedy’s more nasal higher pitch, thus demonstrating the camaraderie, the symmetry and above all the respect that exists between the two musicians.
‘Pawns & KIngs’ proves once again that, with Kennedy and Tremonti as co-captains, each with their own distinctive but uniquely compatible styles, AB are the best at what they do, and that is producing album after album of banging tune after banging tune, each destined to live long in your aural memory cells long after the umpteenth listen. I’ve always admitted to not being the world’s biggest AB fan, but I have always appreciated the quality of their work, never mind the collective and individual work ethics of especially Messrs Kennedy and Tremonti, and this is another fine exemplar of both that quality and those ethics.
- ‘Pawns & Kings’ is released on Friday (14 October). You can get your copy HERE.
Alter Bridge return to the ÜK and Ireland in December, with Halestorm and Mammoth WVH in support. Dates are as follows:
- Monday 5 – Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena
- Tuesday 6 – Glasgow, SSE Hydro Arena
- Thursday 8 – Dublin, 3 Arena
- Friday 9 – Manchester, AO Arena
- Sunday 11 – Birmingham, Resorts World Arena
- Monday 12 – London, O2 Arena
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