Alter Bridge
Blackbird

THE REVIEW

I almost feel sorry... Yep... I'm a bit embittered... Let me explain...

If you're reading this review, you've either stumbled upon it by chance, or you're one of those, like me, who spent quite a few posts insulting each other in three different DeBaser reviews of the previous Alter Bridge album... "They're just Creed with a new singer, They suck, Great album, They're post-grunge, They're pop-rock pretenders, They're Pearl Jam clones, That's not true at all, What a great voice, I preferred the old singer, Get lost if you don't understand anything, Etc..."
Good times... About three years ago...

But not now. You can't anymore. And as I was saying, I almost feel sorry... Mind you, it's not like you can't insult each other anymore... In fact, I'm sure some foul words will still come out... And you can also discuss various aspects of the album (e.g., Great_Album VS Album_Sucks, which is more than legitimate).

But it won't make sense anymore to spit (figuratively) at each other regarding the 2 classic issues responsible for the old debate:
1. "They're just Creed with a new singer, and they really suck..." VS "No, that's not true at all, because..."
2. "They're just Pearl Jam clones and they suck..." VS "No, that's not true at all, because..."

If we want to joyfully insult each other, the back-and-forth will have to necessarily shift to other topics. Indeed, because of Blackbird, Alter Bridge's second album, you can say everything, but not that it has anything to do with Creed or Pearl Jam. Not at all. Sorry guys, insulting each other about Creed VS Alter Bridge VS Pearl Jam was fun, I enjoyed it too, but now it ends here.
It simply doesn't make sense anymore. Closed.

It ends here in the sense that Blackbird is a decisive turning point for Alter Bridge. Probably, if you're one of those who stumbled upon this review almost by chance (and therefore don't know the longstanding issue...) and listen to the album, you would "classify" it as Hard Rock or Alternative Metal, or similar (but I don't want to delve into the nosographic issue of hard rock_post grunge_soft metal_pre pop musical labels, debated years ago...).

Honestly trying to draw connecting threads between this work and old comparisons is truly impossible (or at the most, naive). In general, the first evident thing is that AB's sound in "Blackbird" has become heavier and darker. Decidedly so. There are about 3-4 definitely heavy pieces. The compositional style has shifted to a more aggressive side. But also the "soft" side (for some perhaps "pretentious") has not been entirely abandoned (unfortunately?).

Overall, the album is well-balanced, there is an alternation between moments of good metal (yes, I would say Metal...), and a couple of lighter and radio-friendly moments (perhaps a somewhat commercial choice?), as well as catchy yet powerful and enjoyable songs. Notably, "Blackbird" was in fact self-produced by Tremonti & Co, as they paid to terminate their contract with WindUp (greedily pressing for a "Creed reunion"); they then recorded the album with "Elvis" Baskette as producer, and only later reached an agreement with Universal Records for its release. Complete compositional freedom thus, detached from market choices (at least one hopes...). And the new style is noticeable.
A note of merit must be attributed to Baskette, who did a really good job. Light years away, even in terms of simple mixing, from the rough production (not his) of the previous One Day Remains. The sound of "Blackbird" presents itself well-balanced, sharp yet also "round", never confused, and allows one to sufficiently distinguish the instruments (in One Day Remains I still doubt whether there is bass or not...:-).

The technical performances of the 4 ABs are very good. Myles Kennedy (vocals) has tenor-like characteristics that allow him to "go up and down" as he pleases. I don't see anyone in the current hard rock scene who can replace him (let alone live, I add. If you're thinking of Cornell, fantastic on CD, go hear him live...).
It's perhaps this very dynamism of Kennedy that distances the ABs light years from the old comparisons.
Moreover, this second album is the result of the joint compositional effort of Tremonti and Kennedy. The latter has been able to bring his darker, blacker nuances, both as a voice and as a guitar.

Mark Tremonti (guitar) proves he has improved even more technically, indeed he presents 7 really good solos, even though his shredding risks losing some expressiveness in the long run, to the detriment of the melodic line of the solo itself. In any case, his style stands out strong and clear, characterizing the entire AB sound, and many songs are indeed based on his powerful riffs.
A "strength" demonstration.
Scott Phillips' (drums) performance accompanies the band's sound "hardening".
In this work, he moves fairly well, with his style never dry nor concise, but rather complex and "filling". He occasionally remembers he has the double pedal, and when he does, we certainly do not regret it. Finally, Brian Marshall (bass), poorly treated in the previous album's mixing, regains some space. But without exaggerating, in the sense that his role is never prominent, but accompanies the band's strong points, which are the power of the riffs and Kennedy's vocal abilities.

The songs... Reviews that go through the album track by track bore me a bit,
so I'll try to succinctly put it like this:
Do you feel like listening to a couple of nice hard tracks? Either you go get Rocco Siffredi's latest work, or you listen to White Knuckles (definitely the most fast & heavy, with some little gifts for double pedal lovers...). Or Buried Alive (spectacular intro spawned by a Mark Tremonti shred, for tremolo bar lovers...). Instead, Rocco Siffredi's power doesn't appeal to you, you're more romantic, looking for something more sustained?
You could try Brand New Start (a classic but effective ballad, that grabs). Or Watch Over You (another lighter ballad, where vocalist Myles Kennedy gives a demonstration of remarkable technical ability and expressiveness). Do you want proof of the maturity of AB's new style, testing the power of the riffs combined with the melody of the vocal lines?
Try Come To Life, or One by One or Coming Home. Honest songs, certainly without structural avant-gardes, but solid and pleasant.

Do you want to hear the song you totally didn't expect? Definitely Blackbird, the title track. An epic 8-minute song, breathtaking. Decidedly over the top, a gem. In albums, if you're lucky, there's at most one song like this. And indeed, there it is. "Epic". AB themselves have defined it as such. Unthinkable for the mainstream hard rock standards these days. Listen to believe. Do you want to be able to wrinkle your nose a bit and say, "This one here might not change my life..." The ABs didn't lack anything... Break Me Down and Rise Today might be the slightly weaker tracks (and probably wink a bit at the commercial), yet, surprisingly,
the latter was chosen as the first single and video (cute videoclip by the way). There are also a couple more songs (Ties That Bind, When Tomorrow Comes, Wayward One and the bonus tracks of the different editions). I'll leave them to your "virgin" listening (definitely pleasant)(?...).

In conclusion... "Blackbird": is it worth getting? Yes. Regardless of whether you like Creed or Pearl Jam or they make you sick... Actually, as I said, it has nothing to do with it... "Blackbird" has what it takes to become a much-appreciated album by anyone interested in hard rock. An aggressive, impactful album, but with the presence of more intimate spaces as well. There are few "serious" and "genuine" albums like this around. Bet that if Alter Bridge plays in Italy, it will be sold out? And that you'll probably be there too?

Tiamazzo