I welcome you to drink from the chalice of the metal Gods. It’s easy for metal to become a parody I blame Jack Black in School of Rock. Alter Bridge out of Orlando, Florida are pure, old school head banging metal with bellowing vocals and shout backs. When I say old school I mean it. Conjuring up images of Judas Priest leather but with a twist. For every intense howl we are offered a truly intricate melodic break.
Guitarists Mark Tremonti. and vocalist/guitarist Myles Kennedy take show us that metal is an art form. From the opening classical strumming of “Cry of Achilles” you know this wont be a stereotyped adventure. Maturity shows clearly that there is more to the genre than synchronized hair whipping and devil horns. A pleasant intro to the power the song evolves into.
“Bleed It Dry” comes in, kicks your ass and departs just as quickly. There are very few tunes that can cause you to pause what your doing to actually listen intently. “Bleed It Dry” does just that. A cosmic whoopin’ that’s a bit more pleasing than you’d expect.
“Lover” makes me wonder if Scott Weilands ghost was in the studio that day. Wait, Weiland isn’t dead yet but his Velvet Revolver spirit is most certainly fused into this tune. I’d call it the best of the album for sheer power of vocals. Its odd to really get emotions from metal vocalists so often hidden under the growl. Kennedy turns into a sexy beast during this one.
“Waters Rising” has such lovely lyrics and a calliope of guitars. Easy enough to go mainstream but we really don’t want Alter Bridge to cross that bridge. he tune “Farther than the Sun” has some of the best drumming and griding guitars that I have heard in a long time. The stuttering riffs just command movement. It’s a highly addictive and fist pumping anthem. As powerful as the band is they keep a constant accessibility that prevents them from sounding cliche’. Metal Gods as mortals perhaps or is it the tight production?
As well produced as this album is it is not without flaw. There are times when it becomes a bit redundant. “Cry A River” could have been left off. I have issue with when ever word ends with ‘ah’, ‘riv-ah, for evah…’ its a bit stereotypical hard rock but again it was the rage in those hair metal days. Maybe this tune is a true nod to their forefathers? “All Ends Well”, teeters on Nickelback. The lyrics are beautiful, the vocals are glorious but I think the band checked out.
‘Fortress’ is one of the best albums of 2013 providing a fabulous roller coaster of ballad and balls The album is constructed to keep you on your toes flowing from one extreme to another. Alter Bridge have opted to tour Europe in support of the release, which pisses me off. C’mon you’re from Florida where’s your USA loyalty? Actually they play the House of Blues in Orlando October 4th, drop the album on October 8th then blast to the UK..damn it.