Album Review: AB III
Alter Bridge – AB III
This is the album that made the world take notice.
Scott Tailford
Coming off 07′s stellar sophomore effort ‘Blackbird’, Alter finally carved a definable sound for themselves, leaving the Creed comparisons far behind. Now here with ABIII we have a completely different beast altogether. Thick meaty riffs abound and pad out the rhythmic section of the album, as well as some of the best melodically phrased solos of the last decade. Lead guitarist Mark Tremonti has come a long way since the Creed days, and along with vocalist/co-lead player Myles Kennedy, they have a very definable and intense sound.
The album tells a story of personal redemption through addressing personal themes such as depression and loss of identity (Isolation, Slip to the Void) as well as touching upon larger issues such as religion (Words Darker Than Their Wings), along with what it is like to lose someone you love (Wonderful Life), this is a fantastically engaging album. These themes are perfectly set against an instrumental section laced with building crescendos, multiple guitar lines and anthemic choruses that have served Alter very well on last years’ first headline arena tour. ABIII is a phenomenal listening experience that will engage you for its’ entire 1 hour runtime. So buy a decent pair of headphones, sit down, and try to soak it all in.
SHUTTER: LIVE REVIEW: DESPITE MY DEEPEST FEAR
Despite My Deepest Fear @ Trillians Newcastle.
With support from Dethrone your Idols, Make No Mistake and We Have a Touchdown.
By Glen Lewis
Ear-blistering screams and room shaking riffs are the main course for the attendants of Despite My Deepest Fear and every crunch and crackle seems to literally shake the room – though it may have actually been the dedicated mosh-pit pioneers who set the foundations vibrating.
Very early on, the crowd was already fully formed, and there was real electricity in the air when first support act Dethrone Your Idols start their set. However, while the band play through a cracking set filled with crunchy riffs, a ton of tempo changes and searing vocals, it’s only the singer who seems to really get into his stride as he storms around the room giving his vocal chords a brutal beating. The rest of the band seem a little sedated for the most part and only get moving from time to time when they decide to do some jogging on the spot – a cornerstone of scream metal performances that they seemed happy to fall back on. Seeing more energy would have been fantastic because besides this, the performance was a hit, especially considering this was Dethrone Your Idols’ first gig. They were the heaviest act of the night and with great riffs and a plethora of breakdowns to sink your teeth into, they’re certainly an act to keep your eyes on throughout 2012.
Make No Mistake made a beeline for my heart when their set opens on the back of Ledger’s Joker being played over the speakers, and the first lyrics “I’ll fuck you up” kick in. These guys mean business. Amongst their set which blends old-school sounding rock shredding, quick punk beats and gritty vocals was a cover of Asking Alexandria’s ‘The Final Episode’, which went down a treat. Earning themselves more than a few pits and even some guy sliding his arse across the room like a dog with an itch, Make No Mistake put on a great show. The various solos which were picked out with lighting speed makes this band less dark and much more rock and roll than others on the bill, but they still hit a heavy chord or two in their various brain-melting breakdowns. It’s a shame, then, that Make No Mistake recently played their very last gig.
We Have A Touchdown sport some really crisp scream vocals and bass that shakes your core. Every member got moving from the very first song and they lead the way for several pits, even synchronising a jump into the audience to encourage some serious moving. The structure of their music involved a lot of tempo changes and every song has a heap of sections and tones, so the frequent second-long pauses to make shifts pack more punch are a welcome punctuation rather than a distraction. The metal-core genre is a complex one and We Have A Touchdown handle their transitions well, where other bands may allow a hiccup or two into their set. The best part of their set by and far were the breakdowns, all of which satisfied completely – although the wild-card blues style solo mid-set was another highlight.
Despite My Deepest Fear played a set filled with brilliant songs that dabbled in all corners of the metal genre… and a cover of Katy Perry’s ‘Firework’ which, while a little strange and over the top, went down very well and was a worthy risk to take. They played with fire in their hearts and had a great energy and connection with the audience from the top to the bottom. However, underneath the great melodies and well-written riffs, there’s a slight sloppiness I couldn’t shake. For every brilliant breakdown there was a second or so of noticeable uncertainty in their performance. These hiccups usually occur when the band launch into an instrumental section and simply suggest that the band are a little out of practise. This being said, if the creases were ironed out, this would have been a nigh-on flawless set. The songs were short but very sweet, the melodies hit satisfying highs and the heavier sections absolutely deserved every pit they formulated.
So the gig relieved the itch for a mosh, even if it stumbled a couple of times. All involved were sufficiently sweaty post-show and it’s a guarantee that every ear in the room was ringing.
(NOTE: Archetype were originally on the bill for this gig, but pulled out at the last minute)
