“The Last Hero” is the fifth full length album from American rockers Alter Bridge and an absolute beast of a record. With each subsequent album Alter Bridge has gotten better and better and “The Last Hero” is no exception. With two brilliant guitarists in Mark Tremonti and Myles Kennedy and a powerhouse rhythm section of bassist Brian Marshall and drummer Scott Phillips, Alter Bridge is a true force to be reckoned with. Add in the brilliant vocals of Kennedy, one of the best voices in rock, and the results are bound to be impressive.
Kicking things off is the lead single “Show Me A Leader,” a brilliant anthem with all the complexities one would expect from an Alter Bridge song with dual guitars, soaring vocals, time changes, and a contagious chorus. The record is probably the heaviest thing the band has ever done with the bombastic tune “The Other Side” and the brilliant guitars of “Poison In Your Veins.” Lyrically the album has a loosely based hero them, recognizing the lack of heroes in the first single and paying tribute to heroes in the melodic rocker “My Champion” and the military tribute in “You Will Be Remembered.” Combining fantastic melodies with ultra heavy guitars is right in Alter Bridge’s wheelhouse and something that they do exceptionally well. You can hear the dynamic changes in “Cradle to the Grave” which is a slower paced tune that builds and ebbs and is still super heavy and strong. The album closes with the title track, an epic piece that rises and falls with enormous highs and lows and is a true showpiece for what the band is capable of.
Alter Bridge is the complete package with outstanding songwriting, musicianship beyond compare, and the ability to put it all together in a cohesive package. The result is “The Last Hero,” one of the best records to come out this year.
