Since their beginning, I always felt that Alter Bridge was on the verge of doing something extraordinary. With two of the most talented men in music in Myles Kennedy and Mark Tremonti, their dueling guitars and emotional vocal stylings are not to be missed. Yet both musicians have taken time off from Alter Bridge to explore other things. Tremonti has been busy with his heavier than life solo record and Myles of course has achieved a whole new level of success with Slash. Now they are back with their rock steady rhythm section of Brian Marshall on bass and Scott Phillips on drums to give us a brand new Alter Bridge album, “Fortress.” I was definitely curious to see how their time apart would affect the band and the new record. The answer is simple. Working on their different ventures has allowed Tremonti and Kennedy to reach a creative peak and unleash the beast that Alter Bridge was always meant to be.
“Fortress” is just a monster of a hard rock record and the heaviest thing Alter Bridge has ever done. Opening the album is the acoustic guitar intro of the epic track “Cry of Achilles” before taking a turn to the heavier side. There are radio friendly hits like the first single “Addicted to Pain” and “Cry a River” and the melodic ballad “All Ends Well.” Highlights include the incredible guitar work from Tremonti on “Bleed It Dry” where he shows complete control over every single note and tone proving sometimes less really is more and the outstanding vocal performance from Myles on “Calm the Fire.” One listen to that song and you will hear why Kennedy is one of the best and most emotive vocalists in rock and roll. Not to be outdone, Tremonti takes over lead vocals on “Waters Rising” giving Kennedy a chance to blend in vocal harmony. You’ll also want to check out the slower grind of “Lover” with soaring vocals and wailing guitars.
“Fortress” has taken Alter Bridge to a whole new level. They’ve been able to take some creative risks while still holding true to the core of the band’s sound and given us a truly extraordinary hard rock album.
