Review Summary: Alter Bridge come through uncertainty and other projects to make one of the finest albums since the turn of the millennium.
Album number 3 from metallic hard rock royalty Alter Bridge saw its release during a time of uncertainty as to whether the band was likely to continue at all, or at least just sporadically. With singer Myles Kennedy recruited to Slash's solo band and Mark Tremonti, Brian Marshall and Scott Phillips tied to reformed post grunge arena rockers Creed it seemed increasingly unlikely that Alter Bridge would see the light of day once again, or at least not for a considerable time perhaps. Fortunately seemingly out of the blue they came out with ABIII, an absolute gem of an album and their best album so far.
There are some notable differences to Alter Bridge's previous releases One Day Remains and Blackbird. Firstly ODR and Blackbird are generally positive and uplifting albums with themes of perseverance and coming through hard times. ABIII on the other hand is much lyrically darker, with a loose concept through most of the album about someone who has come to lose belief in faith and what they had once considered truth and fact. This concept see's AB take a progressive element. Album opener Slip To The Void is perhaps the clearest example of this concept, with a sinister intro with a low guitar and almost whispered vocals about falling into darker realms of doubt.
This darker concept continues through much of the album. Lead single Isolation, easily the albums most instantly anthemic song and AB's most successful single to date; despite it's punchy riff and sing-along chorus, continues from Slip To The Void as the protagonist finds themselves alone after their loss of faith. Ghosts Of Days Gone By follows next and brings to mind remembering happier, securer times over a slower paced song with a no less anthemic chorus.
It is a loose concept however as album doesn't follow this idea completely throughout. Wonderful Life is an Alter Bridge ballad at its very best and finds Myles Kennedy's beautiful voice at its best, showing fragility and deep sadness as the songs lyrical content portrays a husband's loss of his wife to cancer. It isn't all darkness and hopeless however, I Know It Hurts is a pure anthem in the same vain as Isolation or Blackbird's Come To Life, and is the most hopeful song on the album, saying that no matter what happens we have to fight on and we will get what we deserve eventually. Life Must Go On appears to be from the perspective of someone who has hit rock bottom but feels they have to keep on as well.
What also separates this album from their previous works is that it requires more than one listen to fully appreciate. Whilst much of Blackbird is instantly punchy and anthemic, much of ABIII requires an extra listen or two to fully grasp the strength of the song writing and brilliance of. All Hope Is Gone, Still Remains and Show Me A Sign are such examples, they do not quite hit home at first but after more listens they seem to come out of their shells and their full potential is revealed.
ABIII was released near the end of last year, but has barely left my speakers and is still an amazing listen. Each listen reveals more to the listener, the strength of the song writing on display here is often subtle but multiple listens show how amazing these songs are increasingly each time. This is a dark record but with some elements of hope and strength that we have become familiar with from previous material. This is without doubt one of the most superb hard rock albums in a very long time, purely essential listening. A more thought out album title could have been used mind.
