Alter Bridge: The Last Hero

What with recent years having seen guitarist Mark Tremonti focusing on his solo band and singer Myles Kennedy performing alongside Guns n' Roses six-string man Slash, the pair's main band, Alter Bridge, seems to have been very much on the back burner. However three years down the line from the Fortress album, Alter Bridge are back with The Last Hero, a release set to reconfirm this band as one of the main players in the modern heavy rock world. Bolstered by one of the most solid rhythm sections around, Brian Marshall on bass and Scott Phillips on drums, this fifth effort from the Orlando, Florida outfit picks up exactly where its predecessor left off, a confident and vibrant signature AB sound now thoroughly established.

From the off the excellent production from Michael Baskette, reprising his role with the band, allows this album to boldly go about its business, a massive drum sound and bottom end the foundation for bristling guitars and varied vocals. What with his recent time as frontman of Slash's band, it's often forgotten than Kennedy is also a highly skilled guitarist in his own right, however combined with the technical mastery of Tremonti, the pair become simply unstoppable. On the flip side, that Tremonti has grown into a more than capable frontman in his own band allows the manner with which his backing vocals intertwine with Kennedy's voice to be a key factor in this band's success. "Show Me A Leader" is an awesome opener, galloping into view on the back of a scintillating guitar solo, towering vocals and punchy riffs. It's a mighty statement of intent and one that the atmospherically charged "The Writing On The Wall" ably lives up to, a deeper, dirtier sound hitting home.

Impressively with thirteen tracks on show the quality never dips, the closing pair of "Island Of Fools" and the album's title track just as vibrant and memorable as those at the front of this instantly impressive album. The former builds tension and release over and over, the burrowing guitars gnawing, biting and scratching ferociously, while the latter somehow manages to maintain the urgent and vibrant impact while intentionally taking the foot off the gas. It also has a chorus to die for, something that's a factor of this album from start to finish. And with "Crows On A Wire" a smash of controlled aggression, "Losing Patience" darting from introspective and pensive to boldly strutting its stuff and "You Will Be Remembered" a tender yet thoroughly believable change of pace, there's simply not a foot put wrong on The Last Hero.

The next time anyone tells you that rock is dead (which it sure as hell ain't!), point them in the direction of Alter Bridge and let them discover The Last Hero. Their faith will soon be restored.

See more about this release on our recent YouTube show!

Track Listing
1. Show Me A Leader
2. The Writing On The Wall
3. The Other Side
4. My Champion
5. Poison In Your Veins
6. Cradle To The Grave
7. Losing Patience
8. This Side Of Fate
9. You Will Be Remembered
10. Crows On A Wire
11. Twilight
12. Island Of Fools
13. The Last Hero
14. Last Of Our Kind (Bonus Track)

Added: October 28th 2016
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Alter Bridge online
Hits: 2192
Language: english

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