ALTER BRIDGE – The Last Hero (2016)
Sometimes you have unexpected surprises, and this one comes in the form of “The Last Hero“, the new ALTER BRIDGE album to be released next October 7. The Orlando, Florida-based always hacve been too much ‘alternative’ metal to my ears, but this new effort, their fifth studio album, is a kick ass record.
Yeah, they still craft songs played on seven string guitars with some alternative tunings, but hell, now they have added tons of melodic groove to the music and a huge, big sound to it benefited with a more bright production than the ‘darker’ heard before.
Kicking off the record, “Show Me A Leader” is evidence of exactly that. Not only the opening track, it also serves as the lead single for ‘The Last Hero’ and justifiably so. Vocalist Myles Kennedy is taking a different route and the subtle shift in energy lets the song excel.
Just listen the feel-good, singalong powerhouse “My Champion” which owns the line “you gotta keep fighting and get back up again,” a lyric that embodies much of the legitimacy and spirit that courses throughout ‘The Last Hero’. It’s very melodic and bouncy like never before in this band’s catalog.
Is this a new Alter Bridge? I like it then.
Musically, Mark Tremonti drive things with his skills on guitar. The self-proclaimed “guitar nerd” playing is, unsurprisingly, incredible throughout the entirety of the record, further cementing their reputation as a byword of great guitar playing. “Yeah, that’s all well and good,” you might say, “but are there any guitar playing standouts?” Try “Poison In Your Veins,” for it will infect you in the best way possible.
The forthcoming Alter Bridge album “The Last Hero” is easily the best of their career, as to me, while the band still retains their signature style the sound has evolved into something more dynamic, melodic.
Production is terrific, another high point on this fresh effort, and coupled with a great performances and solid songwriting, “The Last Hero” rocks.
You should give this one a proper listen, you may be as surprised as I did.
01 – Show Me a Leader
02 – The Writing On the Wall
03 – The Other Side
04 – My Champion
05 – Poison In Your Vains
06 – Cradle To the Grave
07 – Losing Patience
08 – This Side of Fate
09 – You Will Be Remembered
10 – Crows on a Wire
11 – Twillight
12 – Island of Fools
13 – The Last Hero
14 – Last of Our Kind (Bonus Track)
Myles Kennedy – lead vocals, rhythm and lead guitar
Mark Tremonti – lead guitar, backing vocals
Brian Marshall – bass guitar
Scott Phillips – drums, percussion
PRE ORDER:
www.emp-online.com/alter-bridge-the-last-hero-cd/art_340205/
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