Having been a long-time fan of Myles Kennedy in all his guises, and first seen these guys on the ‘Apocalyptic Love’ tour in 2012 (incidentally the first time Slash and Myles Kennedy introduced a young guitarist called Chris Buck, currently with Cardinal Black), it was an easy call to review this collaboration.
From the first track and current single, ‘The River is Rising’ ,you know you are going to be listening to artists at the peak of their productivity which displays all they have to give. It is a different style for Myles’ vocals as you can pick up the G’nR styling in the gruffer intonation that is absent from his solo stuff and which is audible in the heavier Alter Bridge sound.
There isn’t a track that doesn’t display the influence of a career as long as Slash has had (and why would there be?). There is also some of G’nR influence in Myles’ vocals throughout, especially on the old-fashioned rock ‘n’ roll number ‘Actions Speak Louder Than Words’.
The first of the two tracks that stick out for me is ‘Fill My World’, as the riff just jarred as a reminder of probably one of the best-known riffs of all time, ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’, albeit just a similar timing on a different chord progression, when you hear it you’ll know what I mean. Other than that, it’s a good track.
The other stand out track is the final one, ‘Fall Back To Earth’, which has James Bond theme tune written all over it, from the opening riff to the softer vocal delivery and the build up to the chorus and riff that lies under the chorus, as well as the crescendo and breakdown.
All in all, it’s a good album from one of the best “side projects” out there. Hopefully it will be seen live at some point, when Myles isn’t too busy with Alter Bridge and his own music.
- ‘4’ is released tomorrow (Friday 11 February). You can get your copy HERE.
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