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.