Alter Bridge will release 5th album The Last Hero in October, ahead of European tour
Alter Bridge have confirmed their fifth album is entitled The Last Hero, and it’ll be released in October.
The launch of the follow-up to Fortress comes ahead of an extensive European tour and follows dates in North America.
It was produced by long-term collaborator Michael ‘Elvis’ Baskette, and it’s to be launched via Napalm Records, except in North America. Guitarist Mark Tremonti also tweeted an image of the album's cover art.
The band held a listening party in Orlando, Florida, on July 6, featuring a live performance. Fan reports suggest they unveiled 14 new tracks including Cradle To The Grave, Crows On The Line and Island Of Fools. One piece is said to be seven minutes long.
Last year guitarist Mark Tremonti told TeamRock Radio: “The album could go in any direction. I've got a ton of ideas in all different styles. Last time it was just one heavy idea after another – hopefully this time we can branch out and bring something new to the table.”
The launch of the follow-up to Fortress comes ahead of an extensive European tour and follows dates in North America.
It was produced by long-term collaborator Michael ‘Elvis’ Baskette, and it’s to be launched via Napalm Records, except in North America. Guitarist Mark Tremonti also tweeted an image of the album's cover art.
The band held a listening party in Orlando, Florida, on July 6, featuring a live performance. Fan reports suggest they unveiled 14 new tracks including Cradle To The Grave, Crows On The Line and Island Of Fools. One piece is said to be seven minutes long.
Last year guitarist Mark Tremonti told TeamRock Radio: “The album could go in any direction. I've got a ton of ideas in all different styles. Last time it was just one heavy idea after another – hopefully this time we can branch out and bring something new to the table.”
I've been reading up on articles the last few weeks leading up to the unofficial release of their first single today, "Show Me a Leader." I say unofficial because it will be on sale starting Tuesday, and instead of being the 3:49 radio edit it will be 5:05 in length.
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EDIT: Full version now above.
(if you want my personal opinion on the single, it sounds a bit too much like what Myles has been putting out with Slash for my taste, and even though I still like the sound I hope we get more AB-ish sound with the rest of the tracks)
Official track list below. These times must be wrong though since the first one is already incorrect, so take it for what its worth:
1. Show Me a Leader (5:45)
2. The Writing on the Wall (4:04)
3. The Other Side (4:50)
4. My Champion (4:10)
5. Poison in Your Veins (5:12)
6. Cradle to the Grave (4:20)
7. Losing Patience (5:59)
8. This Side of Fate (6:38)
9. You Will Be Remembered (5:23)
10. Crows on a Wire (4:02)
11. Twilight (4:20)
12. Island of Fools (5:40)
13. The Last Hero (6:03)
14. Last of Our Kind (4:21)
As for the listening party that was held, two individuals wrote out their impressions of each song on a fan message board called TheAlterBridgeNation.com. I will quote their song descriptions below in spoiler tags.
From user Ashlee:
Spoiler
I want to start by saying that I am not a musician. I don’t know technical musician terms, and I’m just saying what I’m thinking. I also want to state the caveat that I have heard all of the songs 1 time. I have taken my very best guess at some lyrics that stood out to me, but they might be incomplete or incorrect. I am sorry if this isn’t as detailed as you would like, but I’ll do my best.
Show Me A Leader
Stand Out Lyric: N/A (Wasn’t listening for lyrics at the time)
Notes: This is the song with the seven string, which I imagine is responsible for the nice, long, melodic guitar intro. This song has a giant sound which sets the pace and tone for the entire album. Myles’ voice is nothing but straight power on this one. It is the perfect opener for this album, and is going to hold up well over time. Towards the end of the song, there is a whole lot of BMarsh, which is never a bad thing. There’s a cool guitar solo toward the end, and overall I didn’t feel like this song took a huge departure from Fortress, which made it a nice refresher while being musically interesting enough to let you know more, and bigger, was coming.
The Writing on the Wall
Stand Out Lyric: “Stay and do nothing at all and be denied your greatest sin”
Notes: They played this song live, without vocals, during the sound check, and it was smack you in the face killer. This song has everything you’d want in a heavy AB song, it’s big. It’s loud. And it just has these insane heavy gallops in both the guitar work and drumming. The song continues a theme from Show Me a Leader, of needing leadership and the dangers of follow. Myles vocals just soar. If there’s a note, he’s hitting it. Pure magic. I didn’t note anything about a big solo in this one, but did write down that this is good ole reliable Tremonti guitar work. I think this one will be a favorite for many fans.
The Other Side
Stand Out Lyric(s): “They say you’ve gone too far. Who’s to blame for what you are?” “There will be no paradise, once you reach the other side.”
Notes: This song is really moody. It’s got a certain acceptance of hopelessness to it. It really follows along with the theme that’s building in the previous songs. It has a poignant bluesy intro, that in my opinion sounded like it could have been part of earlier AB. Myles goes for every note in this song. It’s going to be a hard one to sing along to. I can’t wait to listen to it again so I can try to draw some more context and meaning from it. I was so gobsmacked by how twisty it gets that it was hard to concentrate on the lyrical story the song was telling.
My Champion
Stand Out Lyric: “Sometimes you lose it all to find you got to keep fighting and get back up again. My Champion.”
Notes: This song has a stunning guitar intro that accents a change in the mood of the album thus far. My Champion is a very hopeful song. This was where I started thinking concept album. I think (granted after only one listen, might change my mind) people will reject it as a traditional concept album, not like American Idiot or Tommy, but it’s certainly thematic. All of the songs go together, and My Champion was where the pieces started to fit for me.
Poison in Your Veins
Stand Out Lyric: “You need some poison in your veins, right now!”
Notes: This was the song in which Ryan pointed out the intro was reminiscent of White Knuckles. I noted that this was so far the most sonically identifiable Alter Bridge song for me. It sounded like it would have easily fit on Blackbird or Fortress. Flip is ALLLLLL over this one, and he dominates the transitions in the music. It his you in the face. Ryan and I both thought we heard some keyboards or synthesizers on the track. It will be interesting to see how everyone likes this one.
Cradle to the Grave
Stand Out Lyric: “From the cradle to the grave, it’s a fear I can’t escape. Where will be my hiding place?”
Notes: We get some of that classic, haunting, ballad-y Myles intro and then the song just punches you in the face. I had literally two notes on this song. OMG IT WAILS. Too mesmerized to write notes. I’m regretting not being more specific, and so looking forward to hearing this again in October.
Losing Patience
Stand Out Lyric: Couldn’t make out a complete lyric.
Notes: Sorry about a lack of lyrics from this one. We’re seven songs in at this point, and it’s about the time where the spouses that were dragged along and the people who have a bit too much to drink are carrying on what they think are quiet conversations. This song is HEAVY, and it hurt my face from melting. There was so much bass and drums on this thing, and I thought Brian really shined. I was also finding a new appreciation for Flip’s drum work here. This track really highlights just how much he’s kicked things up on this record.
This Side of Fate
Stand Out Lyric(s): “We had a dream, now it’s gone. Our future was clear, we were all so very wrong.” “Don’t let us down. Don’t turn away. We made you, now.”
Notes: This is the 6:48 epic song that was mentioned alongside Blackbird in the Q&A. It delivers. I had goosebumps listening to this song. And it’s not “epic” in the way we carelessly use that word to describe cool things. It is epic in the literal sense of the word. GOOSEBUMPS guys. I made a note that I thought the song had some parts where it sounded like STYX, in the best way possible, it had a classic rock vibe to it that I just loved. Flip is an insane, galloping badass on this song.
You Will Be Remembered
Stand Out Lyric: “So I’m giving you this song. I’m giving you this song, for what you have sacrificed, it all. To see that we never fall. You will always be a hero.”
Notes: Easily the most “radio friendly” song on the album. It has a very clean, distinctive Mark Tremonti guitar tone. We thought we might have heard some piano in this one, and while it’s not a ballad, it is definitely not as heavy. This is the song BMarsh spoke about that was military themed. This was the only song where it stood out to me that Mark was singing, and owning, the background vocals. Probably the HUGE room, but I couldn’t tell where he was doing background vocals during other songs. Though he mentioned in an interview he did a lot, so I’m sure I just didn’t hear them He and Myles sound killer together in You Will Be Remembered.
Crows on a Wire
Stand Out Lyric: “Waiting just like crows on a wire, ___________, that’s all they do. Waiting to consume and devour, _______________, you know they do.”
Notes: I didn’t write down a lot about this one. The tracks are going to rank differently for everyone, and I need to give this one another fair spin. On first listen, it didn’t stand out to me. I thought it had some “Isolation” sounding guitar runs that were pretty cool.
Twilight
Stand Out Lyric: “Twilight, where do we go when it all comes down?”
Notes: This was everything you’d expect out of an Alter Bridge song. It was another that I thought might have fit nicely on an earlier album. It brings the album back to a hopeful place, and has a general theme of tolerating one another’s differences.
Island of Fools
Stand Out Lyric: “Save yourself and no one else!”
Notes: Ryan, Greg and Alex were REALLY into this one, so I hope they have a little more insight. Not being very musically minded I started to find it hard not to write the same descriptions over and over. This song is a gut punch. It goes hard and stays heavy. Mark (?) has a solo that really takes off. Last night someone asked me if Mark and Myles did a lot of back and forth guitar work on this album. I honestly don’t know how I’m supposed to know who is playing when… lol
The Last Hero
Stand Out Lyric: “Can you hear the marching, beating of the drums?”
“No one is coming to save us.”
“Is anything worth saving anymore? Don’t let us down again. We can’t fight this on our own. Have we lost? You’ll save us in the end.”
Notes: Okay, that last lyric I crossed out and rewrote a few times, so it miiiight be jumbled. ANYWAY, this was my favorite song, and I spent a lot of time writing notes about the lyrics specifically. So what I do remember is that we get that classic Myles opening vocal with a soft melody underneath, very atmospheric and then like everything else on the album, the damn thing kicks right up. Upon first listen the song seems to be about believing in someone only to be let down. There is a humongous Mark run/solo (I sometimes get told things I think are solos, are too short to be solos - so I want to be clear.) Basically this song is everything, toward the end Alex looked over and just said “Holy, ****!” It swings you everywhere and then drops back into the atmospheric tone it started with, and gives us one of those powerful ending Myles vocal, ala Cry of Achilles.
Last of Our Kind
Stand Out Lyric: Couldn’t make out a complete lyric.
Notes: So, I’m basically dead from The Last Hero, and I think many people felt similarly because people started getting VERY chatty around us. Last of our Kind is a really great way to end the album, especially considering the journey you’ve just been on. I noted that Flip really shows off on this one again. Last of Our Kind is a solid Alter Bridge song. It sort of wraps you in a warm blanket and says, “I know what you’re feeling right now is confusing, and that was a dark and twisty road we just traversed, but we’re still Alter Bridge, listen…” It was almost comforting.
So, I don’t want to hype this thing to death. I know how you all get when things get hyped to the point of near impossible standards, but I’m telling you, the hype is real. This thing is amazing. I cannot wait to hear it again, because I think after a few listens it will go down as the quintessential Alter Bridge album for me.
Big choruses. My Champion is up there. I got to go with the title track and This Side of Fate also.
The Last Hero. Hands down. On Repeat.
None vocally. I can’t tell their guitars apart by just listening. I’m sure they’re there.
Hope I’ve mentioned some of this above. This Side of Fate for Flip, man it’s AWESOME. Brian serves it up from the start. I think Show Me a Leader has some incredible bass.
Loved the vocal runs I was hearing in The Writing on the Wall. And I always love that atmospheric “Slip to the Void-esque” sound like in The Last Hero.
And I think the ballads question has been answered to death. I’ll try to answer any other questions, and hope the fellas will be around to help me out shortly. Also, remember. These opinions are mine, nobody else’s. Yours will undoubtedly be different, and that is OKAY :-)
Show Me A Leader
Stand Out Lyric: N/A (Wasn’t listening for lyrics at the time)
Notes: This is the song with the seven string, which I imagine is responsible for the nice, long, melodic guitar intro. This song has a giant sound which sets the pace and tone for the entire album. Myles’ voice is nothing but straight power on this one. It is the perfect opener for this album, and is going to hold up well over time. Towards the end of the song, there is a whole lot of BMarsh, which is never a bad thing. There’s a cool guitar solo toward the end, and overall I didn’t feel like this song took a huge departure from Fortress, which made it a nice refresher while being musically interesting enough to let you know more, and bigger, was coming.
The Writing on the Wall
Stand Out Lyric: “Stay and do nothing at all and be denied your greatest sin”
Notes: They played this song live, without vocals, during the sound check, and it was smack you in the face killer. This song has everything you’d want in a heavy AB song, it’s big. It’s loud. And it just has these insane heavy gallops in both the guitar work and drumming. The song continues a theme from Show Me a Leader, of needing leadership and the dangers of follow. Myles vocals just soar. If there’s a note, he’s hitting it. Pure magic. I didn’t note anything about a big solo in this one, but did write down that this is good ole reliable Tremonti guitar work. I think this one will be a favorite for many fans.
The Other Side
Stand Out Lyric(s): “They say you’ve gone too far. Who’s to blame for what you are?” “There will be no paradise, once you reach the other side.”
Notes: This song is really moody. It’s got a certain acceptance of hopelessness to it. It really follows along with the theme that’s building in the previous songs. It has a poignant bluesy intro, that in my opinion sounded like it could have been part of earlier AB. Myles goes for every note in this song. It’s going to be a hard one to sing along to. I can’t wait to listen to it again so I can try to draw some more context and meaning from it. I was so gobsmacked by how twisty it gets that it was hard to concentrate on the lyrical story the song was telling.
My Champion
Stand Out Lyric: “Sometimes you lose it all to find you got to keep fighting and get back up again. My Champion.”
Notes: This song has a stunning guitar intro that accents a change in the mood of the album thus far. My Champion is a very hopeful song. This was where I started thinking concept album. I think (granted after only one listen, might change my mind) people will reject it as a traditional concept album, not like American Idiot or Tommy, but it’s certainly thematic. All of the songs go together, and My Champion was where the pieces started to fit for me.
Poison in Your Veins
Stand Out Lyric: “You need some poison in your veins, right now!”
Notes: This was the song in which Ryan pointed out the intro was reminiscent of White Knuckles. I noted that this was so far the most sonically identifiable Alter Bridge song for me. It sounded like it would have easily fit on Blackbird or Fortress. Flip is ALLLLLL over this one, and he dominates the transitions in the music. It his you in the face. Ryan and I both thought we heard some keyboards or synthesizers on the track. It will be interesting to see how everyone likes this one.
Cradle to the Grave
Stand Out Lyric: “From the cradle to the grave, it’s a fear I can’t escape. Where will be my hiding place?”
Notes: We get some of that classic, haunting, ballad-y Myles intro and then the song just punches you in the face. I had literally two notes on this song. OMG IT WAILS. Too mesmerized to write notes. I’m regretting not being more specific, and so looking forward to hearing this again in October.
Losing Patience
Stand Out Lyric: Couldn’t make out a complete lyric.
Notes: Sorry about a lack of lyrics from this one. We’re seven songs in at this point, and it’s about the time where the spouses that were dragged along and the people who have a bit too much to drink are carrying on what they think are quiet conversations. This song is HEAVY, and it hurt my face from melting. There was so much bass and drums on this thing, and I thought Brian really shined. I was also finding a new appreciation for Flip’s drum work here. This track really highlights just how much he’s kicked things up on this record.
This Side of Fate
Stand Out Lyric(s): “We had a dream, now it’s gone. Our future was clear, we were all so very wrong.” “Don’t let us down. Don’t turn away. We made you, now.”
Notes: This is the 6:48 epic song that was mentioned alongside Blackbird in the Q&A. It delivers. I had goosebumps listening to this song. And it’s not “epic” in the way we carelessly use that word to describe cool things. It is epic in the literal sense of the word. GOOSEBUMPS guys. I made a note that I thought the song had some parts where it sounded like STYX, in the best way possible, it had a classic rock vibe to it that I just loved. Flip is an insane, galloping badass on this song.
You Will Be Remembered
Stand Out Lyric: “So I’m giving you this song. I’m giving you this song, for what you have sacrificed, it all. To see that we never fall. You will always be a hero.”
Notes: Easily the most “radio friendly” song on the album. It has a very clean, distinctive Mark Tremonti guitar tone. We thought we might have heard some piano in this one, and while it’s not a ballad, it is definitely not as heavy. This is the song BMarsh spoke about that was military themed. This was the only song where it stood out to me that Mark was singing, and owning, the background vocals. Probably the HUGE room, but I couldn’t tell where he was doing background vocals during other songs. Though he mentioned in an interview he did a lot, so I’m sure I just didn’t hear them He and Myles sound killer together in You Will Be Remembered.
Crows on a Wire
Stand Out Lyric: “Waiting just like crows on a wire, ___________, that’s all they do. Waiting to consume and devour, _______________, you know they do.”
Notes: I didn’t write down a lot about this one. The tracks are going to rank differently for everyone, and I need to give this one another fair spin. On first listen, it didn’t stand out to me. I thought it had some “Isolation” sounding guitar runs that were pretty cool.
Twilight
Stand Out Lyric: “Twilight, where do we go when it all comes down?”
Notes: This was everything you’d expect out of an Alter Bridge song. It was another that I thought might have fit nicely on an earlier album. It brings the album back to a hopeful place, and has a general theme of tolerating one another’s differences.
Island of Fools
Stand Out Lyric: “Save yourself and no one else!”
Notes: Ryan, Greg and Alex were REALLY into this one, so I hope they have a little more insight. Not being very musically minded I started to find it hard not to write the same descriptions over and over. This song is a gut punch. It goes hard and stays heavy. Mark (?) has a solo that really takes off. Last night someone asked me if Mark and Myles did a lot of back and forth guitar work on this album. I honestly don’t know how I’m supposed to know who is playing when… lol
The Last Hero
Stand Out Lyric: “Can you hear the marching, beating of the drums?”
“No one is coming to save us.”
“Is anything worth saving anymore? Don’t let us down again. We can’t fight this on our own. Have we lost? You’ll save us in the end.”
Notes: Okay, that last lyric I crossed out and rewrote a few times, so it miiiight be jumbled. ANYWAY, this was my favorite song, and I spent a lot of time writing notes about the lyrics specifically. So what I do remember is that we get that classic Myles opening vocal with a soft melody underneath, very atmospheric and then like everything else on the album, the damn thing kicks right up. Upon first listen the song seems to be about believing in someone only to be let down. There is a humongous Mark run/solo (I sometimes get told things I think are solos, are too short to be solos - so I want to be clear.) Basically this song is everything, toward the end Alex looked over and just said “Holy, ****!” It swings you everywhere and then drops back into the atmospheric tone it started with, and gives us one of those powerful ending Myles vocal, ala Cry of Achilles.
Last of Our Kind
Stand Out Lyric: Couldn’t make out a complete lyric.
Notes: So, I’m basically dead from The Last Hero, and I think many people felt similarly because people started getting VERY chatty around us. Last of our Kind is a really great way to end the album, especially considering the journey you’ve just been on. I noted that Flip really shows off on this one again. Last of Our Kind is a solid Alter Bridge song. It sort of wraps you in a warm blanket and says, “I know what you’re feeling right now is confusing, and that was a dark and twisty road we just traversed, but we’re still Alter Bridge, listen…” It was almost comforting.
So, I don’t want to hype this thing to death. I know how you all get when things get hyped to the point of near impossible standards, but I’m telling you, the hype is real. This thing is amazing. I cannot wait to hear it again, because I think after a few listens it will go down as the quintessential Alter Bridge album for me.
Were the choruses as big as the past few records? Any that specifically stood out? Sounds like My Champion is an obvious one.
Any particular tracks have solos that made you want to relisten right away?
Any back and forth between Mark / Myles ala Fortress solos or vocally?
Any standout moments for Brian / Flip?
Any particular vocal sections that were cool like one of Myles' super long sustains?
And I think the ballads question has been answered to death. I’ll try to answer any other questions, and hope the fellas will be around to help me out shortly. Also, remember. These opinions are mine, nobody else’s. Yours will undoubtedly be different, and that is OKAY :-)
- - - - - - - - - - -
From user abw1987:
Spoiler
I'll preface my song-by-song thoughts by saying that my notes are not the most complete. I did not note any lyrics or track song structures by verse/chorus/etc. I didn't even keep track of the solos. I mainly tried to document the general feel/style of the songs while also enjoying them in the moment rather than burying my face in my notepad. So with that said, here's what I've got:
1. Show me a Leader - The album opens with a creepy, clean guitar intro. I likened it to what you would get if the "Cry of Achilles" intro met the mood of the "Slip to the Void" intro. Then we are hit with a slow, heavy guitar-driven section peppered with slow, bendy leads, similar to the intro to Avenged Sevenfold's "Beast and the Harlot." This leads into an upbeat arena-rock verse, led by a heavy palm-muted guitar riff. The chorus is one of Alter Bridge's more unique compositions, featuring an unusual on-and-off staccato timing. Near the end we are treated by a huge guitar solo with some of Myles's vocalizations layered on top. While I don't recall any specific lyrics, I got the sense that the writer is crying out for someone to lead the world out of its current myriad woes. Taken as a whole, this could be another representative song for the band, cementing their unique brand of larger-than-life, intricate, heavy, melodic rock.
2. The Writing on the Wall - Track two starts with a heavy (drop B?) intro -- a headbanger not dissimilar to "Farther than the Sun." This segues naturally into a nasty, low verse. The chorus totally faked me out; at first it sounded like a typical uplifting Alter Bridge melody, but there's a dark inflection that separates it out. Leading into the bridge, the song features a "Thunderstruck"-style guitar lead.
3. The Other Side - This one starts with a deep, slow intro akin to Metallica's "For Whom the Bell Tolls", or maybe even something out of Five Finger Death Punch. The verse features one of Myles's more tender vocal performances, pulled back into a sultry, breathy style. Layer that on top of a slow, groovy, deep guitar/rhythm section, and you've got another signature Alter Bridge moment. I didn't note anything about the chorus, but the bridge almost had a doom metal vibe.
4. My Champion - The fourth track begins with a fingerpicked guitar intro much like the intro to Tremonti's "Never Wrong." Then there's a very rock n' roll lick leading into a verse with a very sweet melody. The chorus has more of a positive vibe to it; my wife likes the darker stuff so she said it "sucks"… but she sucks.
5. Poison in Your Veins - So I can't really explain why but this song made me think of the phrase "porn rock," or maybe "stripper rock." And that got me thinking that maybe the whole album could be described that way. Go ahead and laugh; you'll see what I mean. Anyway this must be where the booze really started to kick in last night because my mind deteriorated to the point that I thought "heavy riff verse" was worth writing down. However I did also note that this song has one of the dirtiest bridges ever, and it uses a similar drawn-out phaser effect to the bridge of "Fortress."
6. Cradle to the Grave - If there's a song on this album that will bring you to your knees, this is it. It begins with a guitar intro that reminded me of the volume knob tricks in Tremonti's "Fall Again." My notes on the rest of the song follow a similar pattern: the verse, sad; the chorus, desperate; the bridge, absolutely devastating; and the solo, beautifully tragic.
7. Losing Patience - Don't ask me why, but apparently the intro sounds like suddenly being attached by a swarm of bees. The verse is has a downbeat, lost feeling, almost as if lamenting the circumstances in a fallen Soviet state. The chorus lifts the listener out of the darkness into a glimmer of hope. And the bridge is dirty and metallic.
8. This Side of Fate - When asked if this album contained an epic song akin to "Blackbird", the band cited this song, noting that it's 6:48 in length. The intro is an upbeat but slowly-descending heavy riff. The verse pulls back into vulnerable-sounding vocals over a fingerpicked guitar riff. The chorus almost sounds medieval and features some double bass pedal work. There's a clean interlude, and Myles solos with perhaps the most feeling ever. The final chorus injects the song with a reassuring sense before Mark takes it home with--yes--an epic guitar solo.
9. You Will be Remembered - This track starts with a distorted, fingerpicked, major-key guitar riff that could almost find itself on a country album. The verse and pre-chorus gave me a nostalgic feeling, and the chorus brings the feels, ballad-style.
10. Crows on a Wire - I may have overdone it with the superlatives but I thought this song has the dirtiest riff ever. The chorus again reminded me of "stripper rock", and Myles takes his vocals to impressive heights. The solo is enormous. I couldn't tell, but it sounded like the song changed key after the solo before reverting back for the final chorus.
11. Twilight - Continuing on the theme of missed movie soundtrack opportunities (see also: Tremonti's "Catching Fire"), "Twilight" starts with a heavy major-key intro. The verse and chorus are positive in feeling, but not in the bland "Breathe Again" way. The pre-bridge showcases what sounds like Tremonti's phaser pedal. There's also a mega solo that fits especially well into the surrounding instrumental.
12. Island of Fools - This one starts off ominous before hitting a heavier stride. I described the chorus as Slash meets Alter Bridge's soaring melodies. The final chorus has a very "last stand" feel to it. There are also two solos, and the final one stood out to me as epic.
13. The Last Hero - Given the title, it is only appropriate that the intro and verse almost sound like a theatric soundtrack. The verse contains nice harmonies, and the bridge offers an unpredictable melody. The bridge is just brutal, such that the next chorus seems slow and deep. After this I thought the song was ending several times. I wrote "BRUTAL outro", followed by "final clean vocals", and then "another chorus - surprise!", then a solo, and then another brutal section finally ends the song. The ending fake-outs reminded me of the first time I heard "Fortress" (the song).
14. Last of our Kind - The final track starts with an ominous-sounding phaser effect on the guitar: heavy, low, and groovy. The verse and pre-chorus are creepy sounding, and the chorus features Alter Bridge's signature blend of dark and melodic. I know "epic" is an overused word around here, but it certainly describes the chorus. The bridge contains some speed-picking, and the solo make me think of a Viking funeral.
It's really difficult to get a cohesive impression of the album after only hearing it once in a concert venue. I can really only remember the chorus melody of "Show Me a Leader"; other than that I'm relying on my notes. With that said, it is going to suck waiting until October to hear this record again! If Alter Bridge had zero ****s to give when they wrote Fortress, I think they're now into negative ****s territory for The Last Hero. Their ability to write songs that are intricate, unique, and catchy only continues to amaze me. After witnessing their most recent recording process where the band recorded me of their parts separately, I was afraid the record wouldn't gel. It appears my worries were unfounded because this is another masterpiece, and certainly another step forward for the band.
1. Show me a Leader - The album opens with a creepy, clean guitar intro. I likened it to what you would get if the "Cry of Achilles" intro met the mood of the "Slip to the Void" intro. Then we are hit with a slow, heavy guitar-driven section peppered with slow, bendy leads, similar to the intro to Avenged Sevenfold's "Beast and the Harlot." This leads into an upbeat arena-rock verse, led by a heavy palm-muted guitar riff. The chorus is one of Alter Bridge's more unique compositions, featuring an unusual on-and-off staccato timing. Near the end we are treated by a huge guitar solo with some of Myles's vocalizations layered on top. While I don't recall any specific lyrics, I got the sense that the writer is crying out for someone to lead the world out of its current myriad woes. Taken as a whole, this could be another representative song for the band, cementing their unique brand of larger-than-life, intricate, heavy, melodic rock.
2. The Writing on the Wall - Track two starts with a heavy (drop B?) intro -- a headbanger not dissimilar to "Farther than the Sun." This segues naturally into a nasty, low verse. The chorus totally faked me out; at first it sounded like a typical uplifting Alter Bridge melody, but there's a dark inflection that separates it out. Leading into the bridge, the song features a "Thunderstruck"-style guitar lead.
3. The Other Side - This one starts with a deep, slow intro akin to Metallica's "For Whom the Bell Tolls", or maybe even something out of Five Finger Death Punch. The verse features one of Myles's more tender vocal performances, pulled back into a sultry, breathy style. Layer that on top of a slow, groovy, deep guitar/rhythm section, and you've got another signature Alter Bridge moment. I didn't note anything about the chorus, but the bridge almost had a doom metal vibe.
4. My Champion - The fourth track begins with a fingerpicked guitar intro much like the intro to Tremonti's "Never Wrong." Then there's a very rock n' roll lick leading into a verse with a very sweet melody. The chorus has more of a positive vibe to it; my wife likes the darker stuff so she said it "sucks"… but she sucks.
5. Poison in Your Veins - So I can't really explain why but this song made me think of the phrase "porn rock," or maybe "stripper rock." And that got me thinking that maybe the whole album could be described that way. Go ahead and laugh; you'll see what I mean. Anyway this must be where the booze really started to kick in last night because my mind deteriorated to the point that I thought "heavy riff verse" was worth writing down. However I did also note that this song has one of the dirtiest bridges ever, and it uses a similar drawn-out phaser effect to the bridge of "Fortress."
6. Cradle to the Grave - If there's a song on this album that will bring you to your knees, this is it. It begins with a guitar intro that reminded me of the volume knob tricks in Tremonti's "Fall Again." My notes on the rest of the song follow a similar pattern: the verse, sad; the chorus, desperate; the bridge, absolutely devastating; and the solo, beautifully tragic.
7. Losing Patience - Don't ask me why, but apparently the intro sounds like suddenly being attached by a swarm of bees. The verse is has a downbeat, lost feeling, almost as if lamenting the circumstances in a fallen Soviet state. The chorus lifts the listener out of the darkness into a glimmer of hope. And the bridge is dirty and metallic.
8. This Side of Fate - When asked if this album contained an epic song akin to "Blackbird", the band cited this song, noting that it's 6:48 in length. The intro is an upbeat but slowly-descending heavy riff. The verse pulls back into vulnerable-sounding vocals over a fingerpicked guitar riff. The chorus almost sounds medieval and features some double bass pedal work. There's a clean interlude, and Myles solos with perhaps the most feeling ever. The final chorus injects the song with a reassuring sense before Mark takes it home with--yes--an epic guitar solo.
9. You Will be Remembered - This track starts with a distorted, fingerpicked, major-key guitar riff that could almost find itself on a country album. The verse and pre-chorus gave me a nostalgic feeling, and the chorus brings the feels, ballad-style.
10. Crows on a Wire - I may have overdone it with the superlatives but I thought this song has the dirtiest riff ever. The chorus again reminded me of "stripper rock", and Myles takes his vocals to impressive heights. The solo is enormous. I couldn't tell, but it sounded like the song changed key after the solo before reverting back for the final chorus.
11. Twilight - Continuing on the theme of missed movie soundtrack opportunities (see also: Tremonti's "Catching Fire"), "Twilight" starts with a heavy major-key intro. The verse and chorus are positive in feeling, but not in the bland "Breathe Again" way. The pre-bridge showcases what sounds like Tremonti's phaser pedal. There's also a mega solo that fits especially well into the surrounding instrumental.
12. Island of Fools - This one starts off ominous before hitting a heavier stride. I described the chorus as Slash meets Alter Bridge's soaring melodies. The final chorus has a very "last stand" feel to it. There are also two solos, and the final one stood out to me as epic.
13. The Last Hero - Given the title, it is only appropriate that the intro and verse almost sound like a theatric soundtrack. The verse contains nice harmonies, and the bridge offers an unpredictable melody. The bridge is just brutal, such that the next chorus seems slow and deep. After this I thought the song was ending several times. I wrote "BRUTAL outro", followed by "final clean vocals", and then "another chorus - surprise!", then a solo, and then another brutal section finally ends the song. The ending fake-outs reminded me of the first time I heard "Fortress" (the song).
14. Last of our Kind - The final track starts with an ominous-sounding phaser effect on the guitar: heavy, low, and groovy. The verse and pre-chorus are creepy sounding, and the chorus features Alter Bridge's signature blend of dark and melodic. I know "epic" is an overused word around here, but it certainly describes the chorus. The bridge contains some speed-picking, and the solo make me think of a Viking funeral.
It's really difficult to get a cohesive impression of the album after only hearing it once in a concert venue. I can really only remember the chorus melody of "Show Me a Leader"; other than that I'm relying on my notes. With that said, it is going to suck waiting until October to hear this record again! If Alter Bridge had zero ****s to give when they wrote Fortress, I think they're now into negative ****s territory for The Last Hero. Their ability to write songs that are intricate, unique, and catchy only continues to amaze me. After witnessing their most recent recording process where the band recorded me of their parts separately, I was afraid the record wouldn't gel. It appears my worries were unfounded because this is another masterpiece, and certainly another step forward for the band.
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The album will also feature three new tunings, a seven-string guitar (in the single above), some acoustic guitars will be in the mix though not as prominent or singled out, and no lead vocals this time by Mark Tremonti (only harmonies).
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