Blackbird
Alter Bridge
The title track on Blackbird is almost eight minutes long. Alter Bridge use that space well: a gentle opening, a chorus with real emotional weight and a pair of guitar solos that feel like part of the song's development. It is the centre of the record, and a very convincing reason to take the band seriously.
Myles Kennedy and Mark Tremonti are an excellent partnership here. Kennedy has the range for the biggest choruses, but he can also give the quieter passages a clear sense of vulnerability. Tremonti provides plenty of heavy rhythm playing without reducing the songs to a repeated riff and a vocal pasted over the top. Both musicians leave room for the other to make an impression.
Ties That Bind starts the album at speed, with a sharp guitar attack and a vocal that climbs above it. Come to Life keeps the energy moving, while Brand New Start brings a more open, melodic shape. The heavier songs have a clear physical impact, but the band are particularly strong when a small change in the guitar part leads the song somewhere else.
Rise Today is the most immediate anthem, built around a chorus that seems ready for a large crowd from the first time it arrives. Watch Over You makes a different kind of statement. Its lighter arrangement gives Kennedy's voice room to carry the emotion, showing that the band can make a powerful song without making every instrument equally loud.
There are familiar hard-rock moves throughout Blackbird, and some of the uplifting language is broad enough to fit quite a few songs. What gives the album its identity is the care in the playing. The guitar leads have purpose, the rhythm section stays firm and Kennedy rarely loses sight of the melody even at the top of his range.
For listeners who want strong singing, substantial riffs and guitar solos that are allowed to finish a thought, this is a very rewarding record. Start with the title track, then follow the connections between the heavier songs and the quieter ones. The band's confidence is well deserved.
