Spent The Weekend With Alter Bridge! (Well Pawns & Kings at least!) TC
This weekend was a new music blast for me- With releases from The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Skid Row and more, I took some time to kick back and enjoy some new jams completely uninterrupted.
The release I became most addicted to was the new one from Alter Bridge – Pawns & Kings.
Let me begin by saying I LOVE AB most when they get their HARD on. (No pun intended) Full on metal.
AB III was is my fave from the band to date and hearing the opening track “This Is War” I knew there may be a brand new AB release that would reign victorious with me.
Mark Tremonti is simply the best hard rock/metal guitar player in current based rock today and the synergy on this record is magic. Alter Bridge is a crafter of epic jams, visual journeys and master talent and everything in the universe lines up on “Pawns & Kings” for the band. Songwriting, chemistry, performance. And sheer bravery on crafting a phenomenal record that doesn’t follow expectations.
Myles Kennedy has his usual on point technique and absolute feel perfected here. When I listen to Myles with AB I am transported to hard rock bands of my youth. With monster vocalists. Who dominate everything they do.
“Dead Among The Living” is a hard rock masterpiece with Myles vocals taking the listener on a ride with every melody smacking you right in the gut. So good. Same with “Sin After Sin” – a 6 plus minute experience.
“Fable Of The Silent Sun” showcases Myles vocal storytelling and Scott Phillips and Brian Marshall are hard rock’s most underrated rhythm section. Their punch to the face, knock to the head, bowl over can be compared to some of the greatest heavy rhythm masters of all time. Check out the title track to get your face blown and see what I mean.
Mark Tremonti steps out on vocals on “Stay” and it’s beautiful to see his immense talent showcased. I love that this band has been together for so long- (almost 20 years to the day from their very first WDHA visit!) and they are still growing and evolving.
Perfectly sequenced, lyrically brilliant and filled with EPIC jams, “Pawns and Kings” is amazing. Whatever they did making this record…..keep doing it! Producer Elvis Baskette is aways the perfect fifth member guiding and pushing this talented foursome forward.
I cannot wait to see them perform these songs on February 1, 2023 at our WDHA- 40 Something Anniversary Show at the Wellmont Theater in Montclair. Please come out and join us. Mammoth WVH opens, so get there early.
Tickets here- https://wellmonttheater.com/shows/alter-bridge-pawns-kings-tour/
Terrie Carr
Alter Bridge- Pawns & Kings
Alter Bridge- Silver Tongue
