Mark Tremonti’s solo project gives the guitarist of Alter Bridge and – once upon a time – Creed the opportunity to channel his inner metalhead. As the man has stated multiple times during interviews, it is the music he grew up with. “Marching in Time” is a great, modern metal record, with thrash and speed metal riffing all over the place, combined with choruses that are more melodic than someone would expect on a typical album of the genre, plus Michael “Elvis” Baskette’s recognizable sound and production quality. I think the result is significantly better than 2018’s “A Dying Machine” whose concept album format didn’t quite fit Tremonti’s vibe.
“A World Away” serves as a great representation of the album, fast and explosive, maybe the best opener Mark has written since the days of “Cry of Achilles”. Give “Thrown Further” a listen as well, and of course the title track, a 7+ minute epic endeavor, not quite on par with ‘Blackbird’ but confident and ambitious nonetheless.
Although I still believe Tremonti’s debut, 2012’s “All I Was”, has all their virtues in the best possible analogy, “Marching in Time” is a more than worthy ‘adversary’.
