•
Rating: It was 2004 when former members of Creed, Mark Tremonti, Brian Marshall, and Scott Phillips, orphaned by Scott Stapp, decided to start a new project, driven by a new vital force and a desire to distance themselves from market laws. They lacked a frontman of certain value, capable of interpreting Tremonti's ideas and his intent to rediscover more classical rock sounds, moving away from the usual post-grunge. Said and done, the three identify a talent more unique than rare capable of completing the lineup. This is Myles Kennedy, former singer of the Mayfield Four, a versatile and charismatic tenor capable of singing across three octaves. Thus, Alter Bridge is born. The debut comes with the excellent One Day Remains, and three years later, they return to the scene with Blackbird, a new work produced at their own expense after leaving Wind-Up and signing with Universal Records. It is said that the second album is always the most challenging, but this rule doesn't seem to apply to Alter Bridge, who present an album even better than the previous one, more mature and technically sound. A hard rock album, powerful, gritty, with excellent arrangements, at times moving. Tremonti's compositional aggression becomes one with the emotional dark artistic vein of Kennedy, who, unlike the previous work, participated in the writing of the album's lyrics. Every single track flows beautifully, embedding itself in a perfect work that never falls in tone, free of smudges, sumptuous, with metal tones, where, however, they do not abandon those exciting melodies that made Creed great.
The album opens with "Ties That Bind", a track introduced by a fast and rhythmic riff followed by an insistent guitar-drum crossover in an adrenaline-fueled metal rhythm. Kennedy immediately shows his mettle by launching into a breath-taking high note while the closing features a splendid solo by Tremonti. The listener is catapulted into a metallic atmosphere that also characterizes the following "Come To Life", marked by a robust initial riff followed by a verse sung on very high notes by Kennedy. In the chorus, Tremonti's voice, noticeable again for a memorable solo, overlaps splendidly with Kennedy's, who is instead the protagonist of a chilling final high note. Phillips' roaring drum closes a very tight and exciting piece. The best is yet to come, though, because what follows, the atmosphere becomes more measured, slow, and melancholic. A blues arpeggio introduces "Brand New Star", a piece of stratospheric beauty masterfully interpreted by Kennedy. An explosion of emotions captures the listener, especially when, after two minutes and forty seconds, a splendid riff paves the way for an amazing solo by Tremonti that showcases all his talent. The work flows smoothly, leading to the incredible "Buried Alive", characterized by Tremonti's performance, who, with his flamboyant guitar tricks, opens and closes a piece of great impact. After the raw and lacerating "Coming Home", where Phillips' work fills the gaps, and Kennedy's powerful voice is highlighted once again, comes the beautiful "Before Tomorrow Comes", with a classic rock sound that seems to take us back in time.
Thus, we reach the excellent first single extracted from the album, "Rise Today", a gritty, raw, immediate song that tackles a highly relevant theme: the hope for a better world. The titanic "Blackbird", lasting eight minutes, represents the centerpiece of the work to which they wanted to give more prominence, despite the album touching various themes. Kennedy wrote it in memory of a friend fighting a severe illness. The frontman's interpretation is exhilarating and communicative; the atmosphere is melancholic, dark, and suffering. In the second part of the track, the scene is entirely Tremonti's, who seems to make his guitar cry, creating a climate of intense drama. Splendid, with a sharp beginning and a soothing and damn engaging chorus, is "One By One". It is followed by "Watch Over You", a very sweet ballad with great emotional impact, wonderfully interpreted by Kennedy, who presents an exciting falsetto. An acoustic guitar characterizes the first part of the track, which then explodes and succeeds in enchanting the listener. With "Break Me Down", they return to a more grunge style, while "White Knuckles" is a fast-paced heavy rock piece, centered around a brilliant riff that makes the atmosphere red-hot. Once again, the skill of a wild Phillips, who showcases excellent drum rolls and tempo changes, is to be emphasized. The album closes with another gem, "Wayward One". Arpeggiated start and melodic chorus, slow rhythm, and powerful guitars. Kennedy expresses his vocal versatility in a melancholic track whose last part is entrusted to Tremonti's vein and his usual virtuosities, a worthy conclusion to an intense and flawless album. Our guys work in full harmony, and Marshall's obscure and precious work should not be forgotten. His five-string bass is decisive in every piece, no wonder Tremonti strongly wanted him in the band. The comparison with Chris Cornell is a must when listening to Myles Kennedy's vocal timbre, whose contribution as a second guitarist, among other things, defines and perfects the work.
Welcome bands like Alter Bridge, who propose a metal-grunge where the sound of the nineties, which marked a generation, is not denied; however, they have the merit of creating a product that is, at the same time, original, imbued with metal and seventies rock influences, unlike post-grunge bands that are sales champions but often monotonous and repetitive. Blackbird is an album that many will appreciate, from Pearl Jam nostalgics to heavy metal lovers; an album that never gets tired of being listened to and reaches incredible emotional peaks for a band strangely little known outside the national circuit.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Ties That Bind (03:19)
I tear on the leash That keeps me contained and controlled Let me go I want to break free And bite my way out of this hole ONE LAST HOPE TO RISE AND BREAK AWAY ABOVE THE FADED LINE WAY BEYOND THE TIES THAT BIND THIS I KNOW THE RISK IS WORTH THE GAIN IT�S WORTH THE SACRIFICE WAY BEYOND THE TIES THAT BIND I run but the chains Pull me right back to the floor You control I rattle the cage I won�t be your slave anymore ONE LAST HOPE TO RISE AND BREAK AWAY ABOVE THE FADED LINE WAY BEYOND THE TIES THAT BIND THIS I KNOW THE RISK IS WORTH THE GAIN IT�S WORTH THE SACRIFICE WAY BEYOND THE TIES THAT BIND You broke me into pieces Don�t tell me what to be Damn you all, I'm gonna find my way ONE LAST HOPE TO RISE AND BREAK AWAY ABOVE THE FADED LINE WAY BEYOND THE TIES THAT BIND THIS I KNOW THE RISK IS WORTH THE GAIN IT�S WORTH THE SACRIFICE WAY BEYOND THE TIES THAT BIND
02 Come to Life (03:52)
Hey
Tore away the veil of weakness
The enemy now lies beneath us
I think we're safe
Hey
Won't be held down any longer
No disgrace and no dishonor
Keep us chained
(Chorus)
There's nothing we should have to fear
It's alright
We've come to life
We'll never shed another tear
It's alright
We've come to life
Hey
The bulletproof are so resilient
To every fool with an opinion
They never break
By the way
We scream to find a reason
Never doubt or stop believing
And escape
(Chorus)
Now wicked tongues can speak
And rewrite history
But you can't keep the truth contained
And like the song was sung
Just realize we're one
And don't forget were here to stay
(Chorus)
03 Brand New Start (04:55)
Against the sky
Streams of light
Call out to me and you
We leave as one
We've just begun
To find the solace we're due
This is the life we must choose
We will make a brand new start
From the pieces torn apart
The break of day is before us
Cast your sorrows to the wind
Let the highway, take us in
As we escape the disorder
This desert road
That we call home
This is our destiny
We chase the setting sun
As we outrun a life of agony
God how we ache to be free
We will make a brand new start
From the pieces torn apart
The break of day is before us
Cast your sorrows to the wind
Let the highway, take us in
As we escape the disorder
-Solo-
We will make a brand new start
From the pieces torn apart
The break of day is before us
Cast your sorrows to the wind
Let the highway, take us in
As we escape the disorder
We'll make our way
We'll make our way
We'll make our way
We'll make our way
04 Buried Alive (04:35)
I twist and turn
In the darkest space
Can't find my worth
As I numb the pain
Glass to the sky
With a blacktooth grin
This whiskey smile
Takes me down again
I'm cold and I'm so afraid
That I'm too weak and I can't change
(Chorus)
I've been buried alive and
I don't want to be here anymore
Reached out a thousand times for
A hand to pull me from below
I've been buried alive in a world
Of constant sorrow
Reach down tonight set me free...
Save tomorrow
Another shot
Slip into the haze
Another night
Soaked in my disgrace
Toast to the lie
I'll raise my glass and run
A wasted life
What have I become?
(Chorus)
Save Tomorrow
Save Tomorrow
Let me breath again
Show me where I begin
To find the will to change
Before I lose everything
(Chorus)
Reach down tonight set me free
And I will follow
05 Coming Home (04:20)
As I peel away
All the years of pain
I've discovered what's been all along
You were so right
I was so wrong
Every shooting star
They all fall so hard
They all fade like a played out song
Now is the time
Before all is lost
I'm coming home
(I'm coming home)
I'm coming home
(I'm coming home)
So I'm coming home
Lost on a road I don't belong
I rest my song
I'm so alone
Far from the streets I call my own
I'm coming home
Rushing back to me
As the city sleeps
So afraid of what I will find
Memories they haunt
From deep inside
Every broken man
Comes to understand
That he'll never find paradise
When all that he wants
Was there all the time
I'm coming home
(I'm coming home)
I'm coming home
(I'm coming home)
So I'm coming home
Lost on a road I don't belong
I rest my song
I'm so alone
Far from the streets I called my own
So I'm coming home
Back to a world left long ago
And now I know
I'm coming home
I'll find my way back
I'm letting go
I'm coming home
We've come to find
What we take for granted
Keeps us alive in the end
So don't let time
Leave you empty-handed
Reach out tonight and make amends
So I'm coming home
Back to the place where I belong
I'll rest my song
I'm so alone
Far from the streets I call my own
So I'm coming home
Back to a world left long ago
Now I know
I'm coming home
I'll find my way back
I'm coming home
I'm coming home
(I'm coming home)
I'm coming home
(I'm coming home)
07 Rise Today (04:21)
[Verse 1: Mark Tremonti]
Now is the end of time, a fool and his legacy are gone
His pride found another way to make sure it all went wrong
Awake in a new day, our fears have come to pass
And this time they’re gonna last
This time they’re gonna last
[Break: Mark Tremonti & Myles Kennedy]
Don’t let me drown
Don’t let me drown
[Refrain: Mark Tremonti & Myles Kennedy]
Now all of the fields are burning, it blocks out the sun
I see all the water rising to drown everyone
[Verse 2: Mark Tremonti]
This is the season we tear our rivals down
This circle of tyrants will end us all right now
The earth has provided the means to burn it down
Well, don’t you see it now?
Well, don’t you see it now?
[Break: Mark Tremonti & Myles Kennedy]
Don’t let me drown
Don’t let me drown
[Refrain: Mark Tremonti & Myles Kennedy]
Now all of the fields are burning, it blocks out the sun
I see all the water rising to drown everyone
This is tomorrow's way to end our days
Watch as the clouds they gather now to wash us away
[Bridge: Myles Kennedy]
Water is rising coming to wash it all away
There’s no denying we were so wrong
Water is rising coming to wash the filth away
There’s no denying we are so
Lost
[Bridge: Myles Kennedy]
Staring down the end of time
Every fear is realized
Crying out is much too late
There’s nothing we can do to save
For the time has come
[Chorus: Mark Tremonti & Myles Kennedy]
Now all of the fields are burning, it blocks out the sun
I see all the water rising to drown everyone
This is tomorrow's way to end our days
Watch as the clouds they gather now to wash us away
[Outro: Mark Tremonti]
At the end of days
The end of days
08 Blackbird (07:58)
The willow it weeps today
A breeze from the distance
Is calling your name
Unfurl your black wings and wait
Across the horizon’s
Coming to sweep you away
It’s coming to sweep you away
Let the wind carry you home
Blackbird fly away
May you never be broken again
The fragile cannot endure
The wrecked and the jaded,
A place so impure
The static of this cruel world
Cause some birds to fly
Long before they’ve seen their day
Long before they’ve seen their day
Let the wind carry you home
Blackbird fly away
May you never be broken again
Beyond the suffering you’ve known
I hope you find your way
May you never be broken again
Ascend may you find no resistance
Know that you made such a difference
And all you leave behind
Will live to the end
The cycle of suffering goes on,
But memories of you stay strong
Someday I too will fly,
And find you again
Let the wind carry you home
Blackbird fly away
May you never be broken again
Beyond the suffering you’ve known
I hope you find your way
May you never be broken again
May you never be broken again
09 One by One (04:20)
Underneath the desert sun
They bid my brother’s blood to run
Many miles away
Hell has come today
Fire raining from the sky
See the face of fear asking one last time
Let me get home safe
Before it’s too late
One by one
The brave will fall
Life is lost again
They gave it all
Deep within the castle walls
So many grievers’ funeral songs
Echo in their sleep
Ode to memories
The sacrifice of flesh and blood
For a promise land that may not be won
Let us not forget
The hero laid to rest
One by one
The brave will fall
Life is lost again
They gave it all
And they gave it all
A price we can’t ignore
If their hope what they're dying for
For every hero gone
For every family torn
We will honor you forever more
One by one
The brave will fall
Life is lost again
They gave it all
One by one
The brave will fall
Life is lost again
They gave it all
They gave it all
10 Watch Over You (04:19)
Leaves are on the ground
Fall has come
Blue skies turning grey
Like my love
I tried to carry you
And make you whole
But it was never enough
I must go
And who is gonna save you
When I'm gone
And who'll watch over you
When I'm gone
You say you cared for me
But hide it well
How can you love
Someone not yourself
And who is gonna save you
When I'm gone
And who'll watch over you
When I'm gone
And when I'm gone
Who'll break your fall
Who will you blame?
I can't go on and
Let you lose it all
More than I can take
Who'll ease your pain?
Ease your pain
And love is gonna save
You when I'm gone
And I'll watch over you
And I will give you strength
When you're not strong
Who'll watch over you
When I'm gone away?
Snow is on the ground
Winter's come
You long to hear my voice
But I'm long gone
12 White Knuckles (04:25)
Are you still lost tonight
Living but dead inside
This is a proclamation
This is a call to rise
Are you abused, alone?
Walking with broken bones
If you feel you've been forgotten
Let this song guide you home
We are the disillusioned
We've been left wanting more
Before every aspiration
Hits the floor
Hold on for your life
All we feel is so
Far from alive
The damned are done believing
And the cursed can dream no more
So hold on for your life
Because only the strong survive
They tell you what you should be
They sell you their plastic dreams
Opinions are all provided
But nothing is what it seems
I dare you to take control
Cause empty your hands
And bruised on the soul
For those who show no resistance
And those who are weak below
We are the disenchanted
We die with each passing day
And no one here understands us
So I say..
Hold on for your life
All we feel is so
Far from alive
The damned are done believing
And the cursed can dream no more
So hold on for your life
Because only the strong survive
How will it feel?
To live a lie
Until your dying day
When nothing is real
As we sacrifice
Bending until we break
It's been revealed
Hold on for your life
Dreams are not theirs to take
Dreams are not theirs to take
Hold on for your life
All we feel is so
Far from alive
The damned are done believing
And the cursed can dream no more
So hold on for your life
Because only the strong
I said only the strong survive
14 We Don't Care at All (03:46)
Crack the heart with true intentions
Blood and scars and no redemption
Weve been a slave to your disaster
Lost it all it doesnt matter
And we dont care at all
We got nothing to take on
And leave the rest to fall
Were going back where we belong
Waste aways amount to nothing
But your opinions keep on coming
Were dead inside to your rejection
Risk it all and did I mention
Ill say it again
Ill say it again
And we dont care at all
We got nothing to take on
And leave the rest to fall
Were going back where we belong
Never doubt it
Never question
What we were
And where weve been
Scream out loud
As our intentions
Find a word
And we dont care at all
We got nothing to take on
And leave the rest to fall
Were going back where we belong
Ill say it again
And we dont care at all
We got nothing to take on
And leave the rest to fall
Were going back where we belong
Loading comments slowly
Other reviews
By tiamazzo
"Blackbird is a decisive turning point for Alter Bridge."
"The title track is an epic 8-minute song, breathtaking and decidedly over the top—a gem."
By jeff3buckley
His two solos in the song that gives the album its name are treasures to be guarded and are considered among the greatest in rock history.
The last five tracks appear as yet another faded and repetitive filler of an album that could have been twenty minutes shorter.
