Review | Alter Bridge – Alter Bridge

Napalm Records

Yes, it was about time for another Alter Bridge album. Operating since 2004 the original line-up of Myles Kennedy (vocals, guitar), Mark Tremonti (guitar, vocals), Brian Marshall (bass) and Scott Phillips (drums) has certainly never soiled the rock world with their presence, music, and gigs. The band has received world-wide praise for their relentless efforts. By simply calling their 8^th album ‘Alter Bridge’ the successor of their highly successful ‘Pawns & Kings’-album from 2022 the foursome is ready to consolidate their position as one of the most beloved modern day rock groups with an eleven-song record that contains all the ingredients of what we have been given by the group in the last decades.

VAN HALEN

Alter Bridge was able to get together in the famous studio ‘5150’, once owned by Eddie van Halen and now after Eddie’s passing now in the capable hands of his son Wolfgang, who as we know operates quite successful under the name Mammoth. For the Alter Bridge-boys being able to do the bulk of their writing and their pre-production of the album surrounded by the ghost of Eddie van Halen was something like a dream come true and according to the lads them being there able to work with their long-time friend and producer Michael ‘Elvis’ Baskette certainly had a positive effect on the music and the total outcome of the record.

THE BIG SECRET?

Is the fact that the two main composers (Myles and Mark) both have a career outside of Alter Bridge the big secret? Myles works with Slash and he also releases his own material, Mark releases albums under his own name Tremonti. Is that why, when they come together some two to three years after the last Alter Bridge release that the ideas are fresh again and that they have not been sitting on each-others lip for years in a row and are happy and determined to add another chapter to the career of Alter Bridge when they finally hook up again? It might be an interesting question to ask both musicians.

INTENSITY AND GRIT

Whatever the secret is that makes it work may never be completely answered. The fact remains that on ‘Alter Bridge’ the intensity that has been put in the execution of the songs is one of the key elements here. The group has established their own sound throughout the years and combined with the grit of the music you can hear without a shadow of a doubt that Alter Bridge sounds like no other band in the rock scene. The voice of Myles, the power riffs and hooks, the tightness of bass and drums, it all is again on full display and for us to enjoy.

ALTER BRIDGE – THE CONCLUSION

Noticed that I did not mention any song titles or specific tracks? The reason for that is that the band has delivered a flawless album with absolutely no weak moments. The consistency of the song material and the execution is of such a high class that the whole album is a joy to hear. I invite you to pick your own favourite tracks but I am quite sure that just as I did you will go into a flow that is almost second to none. Alter Bridge is, by staying true to themselves, on this record setting the standard for a lot of other groups in 2026. The new year starts with a bang, that is for sure. Who will follow?

Release date: 9 January 2026