Twenty plus years and counting into a consistently great career, as well as coming off ‘Pawns & Kings’, one of their best records to date, Alter Bridge decided to go the self-titled route on their 8th studio release.
The result, as expected, gives off the same confidence as the aforementioned decision; solid songwriting and top-notch performances, with Myles Kennedy choosing fewer high notes than in the past, and riffs, riffs, and more riffs. This is the true strategic advantage that makes Alter Bridge irresistible. They combine well-crafted melodies with the ability to enrich that framework with riffs reminiscent of Joe Duplantier (‘Trust in Me’) and Andreas Kisser (‘Tested and Able’), written (mostly) by Mark Tremonti.
The sole ballad on the record (‘Hang by a Thread’) is cool but won’t outshine similar songs from AB’s back catalogue. In contrast, the group’s longest track so far, ‘Slave to Master’, is one of their very best. Just as epic as you would imagine, it features one of the best solo sections of their entire discography.
