This band has been dwelling on the AC/DCation of their sound for quite a while, I believe.

Didn't even realise this dropped. Wasn't a huge fan of the last couple of albums, but I do have a soft spot for Blackbird and Fortress.

Slave to Master fuckin rules. One of their best songs

Was hoping these guys were on the path to some more progressive music after BB and Fortress, bummed they stopped evolving at all.

whoa i havent thought about alter bridge in so long

Band still sounds largely stuck, but yeah closer track is killer

Album Rating: 2.5

@GFunk,



Listened to the closer at your suggestion. It's a good song and probably the best track on the album but it didn't grab me at all. Felt like a throwback to Blackbird with added chances for Tremonti to throw in a couple of guitar solos. I can't quite put my finger on it, but there seems to be zero spark in anything. Even the energy on the closer felt lethargic at times; like the band knew the math formula for a 9-minute rock closer and just colored by numbers.



Compare any song off this with something like "White Knuckles" or even Blackbird's t/t. Myles Kennedy sounds so energized (I know, I know we're talking nearly 2 decades between) and he actually makes use of his versatile range. And holy shit is the production actually fitting for the music they're making, and it's Baskette again.



At least going back and listening to "Slave to Master" motivated me to give Blackbird a relisten. Cause man is that a fantastic rock album or what?

Album Rating: 2.5

Completely agree, that was my thoughts. Blackbird def my fav AB release

Album Rating: 3.5

@Christbait, fair enough glad you gave it a shot. I'm a major fan of these guys, both on and off stage so I guess I'm biased to enjoy what they put out.

The positive of this release is that I diligently listened through their entire discog leading up to release and yes, Blackbird is amazing. Blackbird to ABIII to Fortress is one my favorite three-record-runs in any band, period.

Album Rating: 2.5

"The positive of this release is that I diligently listened through their entire discog leading up to release and yes, Blackbird is amazing. Blackbird to ABIII to Fortress is one my favorite three-record-runs in any band, period."



You're not wrong at all. I even think One Day Remains is a remarkably good debut and a good appetizer leading into Blackbird.

Album Rating: 3.5

I enjoyed this more than I expected to (especially since I haven't really liked anything since Fortress) but god damn is it one of the worst-sounding rock production jobs in recent memory.

There was a mojo to them up to Fortress, after that its felt very empty.

Been a long time fan. Comparisons against themselves are going to be hard because they've created a lot of great music and this album as a whole does not reach the heights of fortress or blackbird. I will say, however, there are a few songs like Scales and Slave that are up there with the best they've done. The minor chord phrasings used in those songs are terrific. Often we are discovering an artist as they discover themselves and there is nothing left hidden here, we know what we're getting at this point. It's a tale as old as time with almost every band.

Album Rating: 2.5

Very wise analysis. We can't hope that old dogs learn new tricks all the time. Anyone here ever make a list of bands who refreshed their sound 2 decades in?