After having my ears violated musically by this new album, it's only fair that I finally give it a just review. Alter Bridge, since their inception, have and will always be a top band on my list -- this album furthers that notion.
The album starts with the cryptic intro on Slip to the Void. Kennedy has never sounded so creepy in my life. Want to catch a girl by surprise with some singing? Get this effing song down, especially if you're the oddball no one notices! This song has a dark tone and lyrically sets the tone for the entire album for the most part. It, by far, is one of Alter Bridge's most creative intros of all. Soon as the rest of the song kicks in, their staple hard rock/metal sound kicks in. If you're a hardcore Mark Tremonti fan, though, you'll notice that the main riff in the verse sounds almost reminiscent to the bridge and outro riff of Good Fight by Creed from their Full Circle album. The vocal melodies are spotless and I dare say I haven't heard a good combo like this since Jerry Cantrell and Layne Staley from Alice In Chains.
Their single Isolation has an ass-kicking factor. If it weren't Alter Bridge, this song probably would've been made by some metalcore/hardcore band except not as cool and would sound generic instead of sounding pretty good. Kennedy's solo has a classic rock tone to it whereas Tremonti's licks always have a more good 80's blues/metal sound.
Ghost of Days Gone By has nostalgia written all over it, especially with the lyrics "Do you feel the same/For what was remained/Yesterday is gone, we can't go back again/Do you ever cry/for the Ghost of Days Gone By". It is a slightly different alt rock sound than what we're used to with Alter Bridge, bit it has good quality to it. I found myself wishing I could rewind to my younger days and wanting to change things, that's how nostalgic the song made me feel. Kennedy's solo is simple but has a sweetness. The riffs Tremonti throws in on the outro and bridge, again, sound Creed-ish. Reminds me of Creed's b-side song To Whom It May Concern. Some might sigh but relax, it sounds good together.
All Hope is Gone is a song built around wanting to get out of a rut but feeling so powerless as one always feels like things loop in repetition for what looks like an eternity. Tremonti rocks your socks off with a sweet hard rock solo. The vibe is reminiscent of I'm Coming Home from their Blackbird album.
I like the sweet but simple licks found in Still Remains. This song's all about how sometimes, no matter how much you want to help someone, their free will can and will at times be used to give you the proverbial middle finger.
Tremonti busts out another good solo on Make It Right. This song's one of those, "when are you gonna cut the crap and fix your life already" songs. Good licks in there too.
If you felt a sadness in your heart with In Loving Memory from their debut One Day Remains, prepare to cry a little more. Wonderful Life made me cry. This song's supposedly about a man losing his wife but I get the feeling it was inspired by the passing of Kennedy's father. Kennedy's voice just draws you in, it's that simple.
I Know It Hurts has a nice upbeat riff opening to it. Sweet yet simple licks make their way to the verses once again. Tremonti's solo is kickass here too.
Show Me A Sign was on ok track but pretty damn good. It has a One Day Remains vibe to it. Has a somber tone to it too.
Fallout has a nice classic rock-ish intro and verse guitar lick going. All the start of the bridge was missing was the sound of feet stomping because it certainly had me waiting for it. I'm not sure if it's Tremonti's solo or Kennedy's. It's a hard call but I'll say Kennedy because his solo is very simplistic but the second solo is definitely Tremonti hands down and very nice too!
I confess that Breathe Again is lukewarm to me. It feels somewhat weak compared to most of the album. It sounds very One Day Remains-ish. The bluesy licks give it some backbone.
In Coeur D'Alene, it's safe to say that the line is blurring on Tremonti. You can't say it sounds like Creed or Alter Bridge. Tremonti's paid his dues in songwriting and has defined his sound. When you hear him, you know it's him in either riff, melody, soloing or otherwise.
Life Must Go On is another episode of nostalgia but with the resolution that you must move forward with your life. It has a One Day Remains feel and damn does it feel good. Has a nice outro lick from Tremonti that reminds me of Creed's Song You Sing.
Words Darker Than Their Wings has a weight about it. According to Tremonti in one of his online interviews, this song was about a convo he and Kennedy had where Kennedy had lost faith and belief in anything spiritual and how Tremonti was like, "Dude, you gotta believe in something". Kennedy belts out probably his highest sung note ever recorded that I'm aware of close to the end of the song. As far as lyrics go, the second pre-chorus felt weird, "How could I be wrong/I hope there comes a day your fear is gone/How could we be lost/Lost just cease to be not carry on". That last line sounds a bit fragmented but Tremonti's delivery makes us overlook that. This is possibly Tremonti's best vocal performance since Creed's My Own Prison and A Thousand Faces.
Zero reminded me that there's still a bassist in the band. By far, one of my favorite tracks in the album and my favorite bonus track. The timing and groove of the verses remind me of Blood Brothers by Iron Maiden. I definitely dig the classy solo thrown in towards the end.
Home was pretty cool too. Tremonti pulls off some sweet licks within the song. The essence of I Know It Hurts seems to bleed in this song as well as Creed's Young Grow Old with a good punch of a solo within.
So how does this stack up? Is it better than:
- One Day Remains? Yes. There is a lot of stigma with ODR because it sounded to some people like the 4th Creed album that never released. AB III is more creative, more progressive and definitely more eclectic.
- Blackbird? Depends who you ask. I'm like Two Face on this one, I'll flip a coin and thanks to Batman, it always lands on edge. It's hard to say. Blackbird was a tough act to follow. Lyrically, it is a tough call. Musically it's even tougher because, while Blackbird is memorable and solid, ABIII is technically sound and a lot of effort is shown in terms of creativity.
Favorite songs on the album: Home, Slip to the Void, Isolation, Ghost of Days Gone By, All Hope Is Gone, Wonderful Life, Life Must Go On and Words Darker Than Their Wings.
+ They made the best sounds of One Day Remains and Blackbird come together and coexist.
+ Kennedy's licks
+ Tremonti's riffs and killer solos
+ lyrics mostly written by Kennedy
- Bass is so compressed you can barely hear it over the heavy layers of guitar in a lot of songs
- if you're an AB hater just because you prefer Creed, you'll whine because some things will remind
you of Creed.
- while seeing Kennedy take more space in guitar work, he isn't as bombastic and iconic as Tremonti
- some love Blackbird so much that they'll have trouble embracing ABIII
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