Album review: ALTER BRIDGE – Fortress
Roadrunner [Release date 25.09.13]
After their well received ‘III’ album and Myles Kennedy gaining yet more exposure as part of Slash’s band, Alter Bridge are back and the expectations are high for this new album. Fear not as they have all their key musical building blocks in place and add a few more treats, including the heaviest playing they have done to date on songs like ‘Bleed It Dry’ or ‘Peace Is Broken’.
Much of this is down to the playing of Mark Tremonti who lays down the big riffs with ease and tops of the songs with just the right amount of guitar solos. ‘Addicted To Pain’ has been released as an airplay song and a wise move as it the most instant song on the album and loving the chorus and the guitar solo midway through. I’d be very surprised if this song didn’t quickly establish itself as a live favourite.
‘All Ends Well’ is the nearest we get to a ballad and again Myles Kennedy’s vocals soar into an uplifting chorus. They seem to produce songs like this so effortlessly it must make other bands weep and decide to give up! ‘Lover’ also allows the band and listener some breathing space, as Kennedy gives an almost whispered vocal at the start before the familiar soaring and impassioned vocals kick in.
The title track is interesting as the band head off in a progressive mood midway through and lyrically it is one of the album’s strongest songs. ‘Cry Of Achilles’ has a Led Zep feel as an acoustic intro builds nicely into a monster riff and chorus. The band show on both of these songs that they have ideas to keep pushing their musical boundaries.
Now by their fourth album bands are either often happy to stick in a groove they and their fans are happy with or they may fancy experimenting, not so Alter Bridge who take what they are good at and they max it up be it the soaring vocals or the intense guitar riffs. Time and repeated plays will tell but for me this could beat their awesome ‘Blackbird’ album, currently my favourite Alter Bridge album. You really need to listen to this band if you haven’t already, as along with Shinedown one of the best new bands to emerge in the modern metal/rock genre these past few years.
****1/2
Review by Jason Ritchie
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
Next session: Sunday 1 December
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024
ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)
Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections