Good Day Noir Family,
A ritual-like force runs through Sulam, and Antsud Metal Project use that force to pull the listener into a world that feels ancient and strangely forward-looking at the same time.
Sulam is Antsud Metal Project’s Album Out Now
Ethnic tones, metal muscle, and modern production come together, yet remain wild. Hingede öö opens the record with epic guitar figures and wide cinematic energy.
The riffs hit hard, and yet they leave space for atmosphere. Also, the track sets a mood that feels spiritual and fierce, which prepares you for the journey ahead.
Then Kaugel Sa arrives with an arpeggiator that sounds like it came from some distant future. Soon after, the female voice enters like a siren, guiding you into a darker and more fantasy-driven place. However, the song never drifts away. Instead, it holds your focus through melody and pulse. Külm raises the intensity even more. The opening vocal line feels like a spell, and the band’s Estonian roots shine through with pride. Because of that, the music carries the cold wind of the north in every note. It does not try to hide where it comes from, and that honesty gives the track its strength.
Püie moves with a steady, epic rhythm. At the same time, it keeps a melodic heart that lets the listener float. Yet, when the verses arrive, the band pulls back, which creates a striking sense of contrast. That play between fullness and space works across the album, and it keeps each track alive. The mix of keys, strings, and percussion adds a futuristic and ethnic layer that sometimes recalls Wardruna, although Antsud Metal Project keep their own identity clear.
Hundinahk stands out with a guitar riff that feels drawn from a fantasy tale. Still, the track never loses the metal edge that defines the group. After that, Vetevaim opens with a calm introduction and then breaks into a driving rhythm. The changes between heavy riffs and airy moments feel natural, which shows how well the band handle dynamics. Ei Enam closes the album with a more bucolic tone. The track is like a farewell, yet it also leaves a sense of quiet hope.
Singing in their own language adds another layer of depth. It pulls you deeper into their culture and makes the album feel more genuine than a standard English-language release. Sulam turns into a full experience that blends heritage, fantasy, and modern power into one strong statement.
Sulam is Antsud Metal Project’s Album Out Now!
Ancestral!
Sulam is Antsud Metal Project’s Album Out Now
Antsud Metal Project, or AMP for short, is an exciting collaboration between members of Antsud, Estonia’s celebrated folk band, and producer Emmanouil “Hermano” Tselepis. The project began as an experiment—reimagining Antsud’s original songs in a heavier, more dynamic style. The result? A powerful fusion of distorted guitars, thunderous drums, epic orchestral arrangements, and atmospheric synthesizers.
In 2024, the team dedicated themselves to crafting a full album that features both reimagined Antsud classics and brand-new compositions. This album, named “Sulam” which means alloy or amalgam, is out now.
Mark Tremonti (Guitar/Vocals) Brian Marshall (Bass) Scott Phillips (Drums)
What I enjoy the most:
The overall quality. These guys have been together for many, many years and still make very good music, with fantastic guitar solos (Slave to Master, to name one), riffs, catchy vocal melodies and a massive production. The album is really solid and apart from some “heard before” (see below) moments, there are lots of new ideas and generally, I find the album very inspired. It’s a very solid album.
What I didn’t like as much:
I would love the band to experiment a little more, especially in long albums like this one (12 songs for 1 hour of music). Some ideas are not very different or sometimes taken from the past. Hang by a Thread sounds a little too much like Watch over you, for instance.
Album Cover:
Not very metal, but classy and modern.
Rating 72/100
Top Tracks: Silent Divide, Scales are Falling, Slave to Master.
Give it a go by clicking on the Spotify player below.
SKY VALLEY MISTRESS SHARE NEW VIDEO FOR ’TOO MANY GHOSTS’
2ND ALBUM ‘LUNA MAUSOLEUM’ RELEASED 23RD JANUARY 2026 (NEW HEAVY SOUNDS)
Sky Valley Mistress continue the countdown to the release of their second album Luna Mausoleum, that is due to land on Friday 23rd January 2026 (New Heavy Sounds).
Intended to be the soundtrack of their Hearsecraft ride to the moon, Pilot Kayley “Hell Kitten” Davies and Commander Max “Leather Messiah” Newsome launch you into the Sonic Stratosphere with an audio journey fuelled by 70’s hard rock, driven off the road to a fresh new destination.
Today sees the release of the official video for previous single ’Too Many Ghosts’, a song which, according to the band, “is meant for the open highway. Somewhere you have the freedom to put your foot down and still feel like you’re cruising”.
Watch the video now, which stars the band and the hearse they drive around in on tour known as ’Thundertaker’:
In a brief glimpse behind the curtain, the band have also shared the details and dangers behind the making of ’Too Many Ghosts’.
“The story behind making the music video for Too Many Ghosts is that it took five separate weekends to shoot with us only managing to actually record any footage during the last day. The reasons for the failed recording days were:
– A car full of drugs dealers moving us on from location and ‘politely’ requesting that we don’t return
– The power generator for the lights being faulty followed by torrential rain
– Our videographer realising he had forgot his memory card after driving 90 mins to location followed by the hearse breaking down due to a broken fan belt
– Kayley’s astrosuit zip breaking after shooting one take
The hearse battery also died moments after we finished filming, which meant I (Max) was left alone in the middle of Slaidburn Moors at the dead of night in a hearse with no power or heating (it was fucking COLD) for a few hours whilst I waited for a recovery vehicle and Kayley to return from driving our videographer home in the other car.
This video started the band’s catch phrase of ‘the curse of the hearse’ that we use any time something goes wrong, which it does. A lot.”
New album Luna Mausoleum takes you through desert rock grooves and mountainous riffs, you are guided by Kayley’s soulfully smoked voice and her range of soaring, delicate, yearning and understated melodies as the band ride peaks and valleys of dynamics and pace with an eclectic selection of instrumentation of fuzz guitars, organs, real orchestras and a children’s choir.
Twisting influences of Queens of the Stone Age with Portishead and turning from Spiritualised-sized gospel choruses to the gallow heavy swing of Black Sabbath, with sound as fast as light they move between their influential orbit to create a modern classic that is entirely their own. There isn’t space in this genre the band haven’t explored. This is a demonstration of their refusal to wait for permission to create a record that stands in scale with some of the most monumental albums in rock.
The band’s statement on their intent behind creating Luna Mausoleum was that it should be “greater and beyond all reason”.
Not only this but the first pressing of the record will be on ‘Moon Dust’ vinyl in a printed foil gatefold sleeve including a Luna Mausoleum card model that you can build released by New Heavy Sounds.
The band who has one member play every instrument so that they sound like a four piece in the studio, defy logic with aspiration with their iconic live show as a Duel-Drumming Duo. Vocalist Kayley “Hell Kitten” Davies takes the sticks and one half of a drum kit whilst original drummer Max “Leather Messiah” Newsome battles the electric guitar with the kick drum under his foot. No samples. No backing tracks. No click tracks. No one is playing rock and roll the ways these two do.
Sky Valley Mistress will be performing at a number of live in-store shows this month.
Good Day Noir Family,
A steady rhythm sets the pace in “Desert Flower,” and right away it brings to mind the driving pulse of R.E.M., yet Fiona Amaka’s voice shifts everything into a more personal and emotional territory.
Desert Flower is Fiona Amaka’s Single Out Now
The guitars move with that familiar alternative rock flow, and yet her vocal tone gives the track a deeper dimension.
It sounds lived-in, almost as if every note carries memories and quiet stories waiting to be shared. Because of that, the song never feels distant. It reaches out and pulls you into its world.
What truly defines this single is Fiona’s vocal delivery. She does not sing just to fill space. She sings with intention, and that intention becomes clear as each line unfolds. There is warmth in her tone, yet there is also a shadow of mystery that makes you lean in closer. Moreover, that combination allows the lyrics to land with greater weight, even when the arrangement remains relaxed and fluid.
The band supports her beautifully. The rhythm section keeps everything grounded, and yet it never feels rigid. At the same time, the guitars add subtle textures that recall classic alternative rock without copying it. Because of this balance, the track moves forward with ease, and it never drags or rushes. Instead, it glides like a long road stretching into the horizon.
Meanwhile, the chorus lifts the song into a more open and airy space. It does not explode with noise, yet it expands emotionally. That shift creates a sense of release, and it mirrors the idea of travel and discovery hinted at in the music. In addition, the melodic choices give the chorus a strong identity that stays with you long after the track ends.
There is also something cinematic about the way “Desert Flower” unfolds. You can imagine it playing during a drive at sunrise, when the world feels new and full of possibility. Even so, the song never turns into background music. It stays present and alive, always asking for your attention.
Fiona Amaka shows a refined artistic vision here. She blends alternative rock energy with a soulful approach that feels modern and timeless. “Desert Flower” is a thoughtful and inspiring piece of music that invites you to keep moving forward.
Desert Flower is Fiona Amaka’s Single Out Now!
Sublime!
Desert Flower is Fiona Amaka’s Single Out Now
Fiona Amaka, hailing from London, England, is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist known for her captivating “rock’n’soul” sound. With influences ranging from Stevie Nicks to Smashing Pumpkins, Fiona’s music blends bluesy vocals with driving rock guitar or chill folk vibes. Her 2025 singles, “No Daylight”, “Cowards and Shadows” showcase her signature soulful indie-rock sound, with some throwback vibes, taking listeners on a no-holds barred journey through surviving betrayals of trust and ghosting. Honesty (Psalm 139) throws a spiritual element into the mix while giving a nod to her folk-rock roots.
Good Day Noir Family,
A glossy curtain of strings opens “The Radio Host” and drops you straight into a late-1970s television universe, the kind filled with shiny studio lights and suave presenters.
The Radio Host is Grey & Purple Songbook’s Single Out Now
That retro mood arrives instantly. Grey & Purple Songbook use it as a stage, and then they let the music step forward with confidence.
As the vocals appear, the arrangement smartly pulls back. The rich strings thin out during the verse, which gives the singer room to lead the narrative. Then, when the chorus hits, the strings return with playful answers that push the groove higher.
The rhythm section keeps everything moving with purpose. The beat carries a slick funk pulse that invites you to walk with a swagger, very much like Tony Manero crossing a disco floor. The bass line has a modern clarity, and the drums hit with a crisp edge. Meanwhile, the guitars add subtle accents that support the groove without stealing focus. Because of that, the track stays balanced while still sounding energetic.
Around the 2:20 mark, the song drops into a brief open space. That pause creates tension and excitement at the same time. Then, the groove returns, and the voice jumps back in with rhythmic phrasing that almost acts like another instrument. This shift adds depth, and it also keeps the listener engaged from start to finish.
The vocal performance deserves special attention. The delivery is smooth, yet it carries just enough attitude to fit the funk-driven mood. There is a theatrical touch in the way each line is presented, which suits the idea of a “radio host” perfectly.
The strings deserve credit as well. They do not simply decorate the track. Instead, they interact with the vocals and the rhythm, sometimes leading and sometimes stepping aside. Because of this back-and-forth, the arrangement feels alive and always in motion. Also, that interplay keeps the listener curious about what might come next.
Grey & Purple Songbook show strong control over their musical vision here. They blend funk, retro television vibes, and modern production in a way that feels natural.
The Radio Host is Grey & Purple Songbook’s Single Out Now!
Groovy!
The Radio Host is Grey & Purple Songbook’s Single Out Now
Grey & Purple Songbook, hailing from Oslo, Norway, is a musical project under the label Grey & Purple Inc., known for producing harmonious and thought-provoking text-based music stories across various genres. With a blend of captivating melodies and heartfelt lyrics, Grey & Purple Songbook’s music resonates with both the mind and the heart, promising a soulful experience that transcends boundaries.
Selten hat die Szene einen solchen Durchmarsch wir von Powerwolf gesehen. Oder wie es Sänger Attila beim letzten Gig in Hamburg sagte: Wahnsinn: Vor ein paar Jahren spielten wir noch in der Freiheit und heute in dieser Barlaycard Arena.
Powerwolf bleiben auf Kurs. Erst rollen sie mit ihrer Hallentour durch Deutschland, danach folgt im Sommer der nächste Feldzug unter freiem Himmel. Eine neue Live-Veröffentlichung steht ebenfalls vor der Tür. Hier bekommst du den Überblick über Termine, Hintergründe und Ticketoptionen für die kommenden Shows.
Powerwolf auf Deutschlandtour
Powerwolf gehen erneut auf große Reise. Die aktuell laufende Hallentour führt die Saarbrücker Heavy-Metal-Institution durch zahlreiche deutsche Städte. Das Konzept bleibt vertraut: opulente Inszenierung, hymnischer Power Metal und ein Publikum, das jede Zeile mitträgt.
Die Band knüpft damit an ihre erfolgreiche Live-Serie der letzten Jahre an. Gleichzeitig bereiten sie den Boden für die anschließenden Sommer-Open-Air-Shows, bei denen sie wieder größere Bühnen und Festivalgelände bespielen.
Die Nachfrage zeigt sich bereits deutlich. Ticketpreise schwanken je nach Stadt und Hallenkapazität stark. In der Praxis bewegen sie sich meist im Rahmen zwischen rund 50 und über 80 Euro, abhängig von Platzkategorie und Veranstaltungsort.
Nach Abschluss der Hallenphase verlagert sich der Fokus auf die Open-Air-Saison. Powerwolf bleiben in Deutschland präsent und stehen auf mehreren Festival- und Einzelshow-Bühnen. Typische Stationen umfassen große Metal-Festivals sowie ausgewählte Outdoor-Headlinershows.
26.06.2026: Büren Open Air
29.07.-1.08.2026: Wacken Open Air
08.08.2026: ELBRIOT Hamburg
28.08.2026: Coburg – Schlossplatz
29.08.2026: St. Goarshausen – Loreley Freilichtbühne
Die Band setzt dabei auf ihr bewährtes Format mit Chören, Pyro-Effekten und dramaturgisch aufgebauten Sets. Erfahrungen aus vergangenen Tourneen zeigen, dass die Shows meist deutlich über 90 Minuten Spielzeit erreichen und mit Supportbands sowie Umbaupausen einen kompletten Konzertabend füllen.
Konkrete Sommertermine ergänzt du je nach Veröffentlichungslage laufend, da Festivals ihre Line-ups häufig gestaffelt bekannt geben.
Neue Livescheibe in Vorbereitung: Wildlive in München
Parallel zur Tour entsteht eine neue Liveveröffentlichung. Die Band hält damit an ihrer Tradition fest, große Bühnenmomente festzuhalten. Solche Produktionen dokumentieren Setlist, Bühnenbild und Publikumsreaktionen einer Tourphase und geben dir einen Eindruck der aktuellen Showdramaturgie.
Am 13. Februar 2026 erscheint das Live-Album WILDLIVE, das die Magie, Energie und theatralische Brillanz ihrer größten Arena-Headliner-Tournee bündelt. Hier erfährst du alles über die Entstehung, Highlights und besonderen Momente der Aufnahme.
WILDLIVE – ein Live-Erlebnis der Superlative
Aufgezeichnet beim Abschlusskonzert der Wolfsnächte-Tour 2024 in der ausverkauften Münchener Olympiahalle, ist WILDLIVE weit mehr als ein gewöhnliches Live-Album. Es fängt die volle Dramatik, Feuer und Emotion einer Show ein, die Metal-Konzerte neu definiert.
Die Aufnahme zeigt Powerwolf auf dem Höhepunkt ihres Schaffens: feuerspeiende Kirchenorgeln, donnernde Pyrotechnik, Schnee auf brennenden Klavieren und dramatische Bühnenszenen machen jeden Song zu einem filmreifen Erlebnis. Klassiker wie „Army Of The Night“, „Amen & Attack“, „Armata Strigoi“ oder „Demons Are a Girl’s Best Friend“ werden in monumentalen Arrangements präsentiert, während Balladen wie „Alive or Undead“ die Fans emotional verbinden. Der Song „1589“ sorgt mit lodernden Scheiterhaufen für visuelle Highlights.
Die Show als Heavy-Metal-Musical
Powerwolf inszenieren jeden Song neu: wechselnde Bühnenbilder, perfekt getimte Effekte und theatralische Elemente wie Mönche mit Fackeln unterstreichen die epische Erzählung. Frontmann Attila Dorn und Organist Falk Maria Schlegel heizen die Stimmung zusätzlich an, sodass die Energie direkt auf das Publikum überspringt. Die Wolfsnächte-Tour zeigt, dass eine Powerwolf-Show weit mehr ist als ein Konzert – es ist ein Heavy-Metal-Musical in Reinform.
WILDLIVE – ein Kapitel im Aufstieg der Wölfe
Das Album dokumentiert den Aufstieg von Powerwolf, die seit 2004 zu einer der erfolgreichsten Heavy-Metal-Bands weltweit gehören. WILDLIVE ist kein Rückblick, sondern markiert den Beginn eines neuen Kapitels: Noch vor Veröffentlichung touren Powerwolf durch Europa und Nordamerika, inklusive dem ersten Auftritt in der legendären Wembley Arena in London.
Ob du Powerwolf bereits live erlebt hast oder noch nie eine Heavy-Metal-Messe besucht hast – WILDLIVE ist ein Muss. Die Band hat die Genregrenzen hinter sich gelassen und liefert ein zeitloses Entertainment-Erlebnis, das Metal und Emotion zugleich feiert. Mit WILDLIVE beweisen Powerwolf erneut: Das ist nicht nur Musik – das ist eine Religion.
Für Powerwolf passt das zur Strategie der letzten Jahre: Livealben dienen nicht nur als Rückblick, sondern als Teil des Gesamtzyklus aus Studioveröffentlichung, Tour und dokumentierter Livephase.
Bandhintergrund und Liveprofil
Powerwolf zählen seit Jahren zu den erfolgreichsten deutschen Metalexporten. Seit der Gründung baut die Gruppe ihre Mischung aus Power Metal, sakralen Chören und erzählerischer Bildsprache stetig aus. Alben wie „Bible of the Beast“, „Blessed & Possessed“ oder „Call of the Wild“ führten sie in die internationalen Charts und machten sie zu konstanten Headlinern.
Ihr Liveprofil basiert auf klaren Strukturen: gemeinschaftliche Mitsingmomente, visuelle Überhöhung und ein straff geführtes Set. Dieses Konzept funktioniert in Arenen ebenso wie auf Festivals, was die Band zu einem zuverlässigen Zugpferd für Veranstalter macht.
Tickets und Vorverkauf
Wenn du eine der Shows besuchen willst, geh direkt über offizielle Ticketportale. Du kaufst Karten online oder über bekannte Vorverkaufsstellen:
örtliche Vorverkaufsstellen der Veranstaltungsorte
Ticketpreise richten sich nach Kategorie, Stadt und Nachfrage. Plane aktuell etwa den genannten Rahmen zwischen rund 50 und über 80 Euro für die Hallen ein.
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Good Day Noir Family,
A dusty barroom appears in the mind as Ken Woods and the Old Blue Gang launch into Oh Denise, and suddenly the outside world fades into the background.
Oh Denise is Ken Woods and the Old Blue Gang’s Single Out Now
The groove kicks in with a confident swing, while the guitars lock into a blues pattern that feels lived-in rather than polished.
That is exactly where the magic lies. This band does not chase trends, and instead it leans into the kind of honest music that so many listeners have missed for years.
The rhythm section pushes the song forward with a relaxed but steady pulse. Meanwhile, the bass walks with a classic blues stride, and that movement keeps the track grounded. At the same time, the drums add subtle accents that make the groove breathe. Because of that balance, the song never feels stiff. It feels like it wants you to tap your foot, and then it dares you to move your hips.
Ken Woods’ voice enters with a rough edge that suits the story perfectly. It carries a sense of wear, yet it also holds warmth. The lyrics come across as real rather than acted. He does not oversell emotion, but he also does not hide it. He lets the melody guide his delivery, and that approach pulls the listener deeper into the song.
The guitar work does not show off for the sake of flash, yet it speaks with clarity. Short solos rise and fall at just the right moments, and they add color without breaking the flow. Furthermore, the interplay between guitar and bass shows that this group understands how to play together, not just next to each other.
Another strong point lies in the way the band creates atmosphere. You almost feel like you are standing in a small club, watching them trade smiles while they play. That sense of place gives the track a social energy. Yet, it also leaves space for personal connection. So, while you can imagine dancing with others, you can also enjoy it alone with a drink in hand.
Oh Denise stands as a reminder that blues still has plenty to say. It does not shout, but it speaks clearly. Through a tight band performance and a heartfelt vocal, Ken Woods and the Old Blue Gang offer something genuine. In a crowded musical world, that honesty makes this single shine.
Oh Denise is Ken Woods and the Old Blue Gang’s Single Out Now!
Pure Blues!
Ken is a guitarist with a fiery temperament and a blazing technique, whose playing embraces the lessons of the masters from the great traditions of blues, rock, jazz, country and folk music. He’s also a songwriter whose language spans the full breadth of American music and whose technique is underpinned by his classical training. His lyrics reflect his passions for word play, history, justice and humor.
MTV’s last real music-only corners outside the U.S. went dark recently. On New Year’s Eve, MTV’s parent company shut down the remaining music-only channels in the U.K., Ireland, and Australia — MTV Music, MTV ’80s, MTV Live, Club MTV, MTV ’90s, and more — rolled into a $500 million cost-cutting push. Fans took it as another nail in the coffin for the version of MTV that mattered: the one that lived on loud guitars, big hooks, and the kind of constant rotation that could turn a band into a household name.
A lot of people heard the news and assumed it meant MTV as a brand was getting wiped out entirely. That part got messy fast, but the bigger point landed anyway: the “music-first” MTV experience keeps shrinking. For rock and metal fans, it’s hard not to think about what that channel used to be, especially if your gateway was late-night programming and the heavier blocks that actually fed scenes instead of flattening them.
That’s where a new fan-built project started making noise. Billboard reported that a superfan launched MTV Rewind, a deep archive-style site with more than 35,000 videos spanning the 1970s through the 2020s. It’s built to feel like turning on the TV and letting it rip, not like scrolling an algorithm until you’re bored. The landing page even leans into MTV mythology, looping the early broadcast vibe from Aug. 1, 1981, including audio from the first video: The Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star.”
If you grew up with MTV as background radiation, logging into the site is a quick time warp back to the years when the channel actually ran on music. Back then, MTV pushed artists into the mainstream with repetition and timing, and it made larger-than-life icons out of Prince, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, and plenty more. For rock heads, the memory feels like stumbling onto the good stuff while channel-surfing and getting pulled into a band you didn’t know you needed.
MTV Rewind plays into that same lean-back feel. You can’t hand-pick the exact next clip like you would on a typical video platform, but you can scrub through what’s playing, fast-forward, rewind, and keep the stream moving. There are multiple channels inside the site, plus extras that add to the era-correct vibe; old commercials mixed in with the videos, the kind of stuff you’d half-watch while waiting for the next song to hit.
The big draw is that the site doesn’t treat heavier music like an afterthought. Alongside general rotations and decade collections, it pulls in programming-specific buckets that include Yo! MTV Raps and the hard rock-focused Headbangers Ball. There’s also a “shuffle all” option if you want pure roulette, like leaving the TV on and letting fate decide whether you land on Pat Benatar, Rod Stewart, The Pretenders, Reo Speedwagon, or The Cars.
The site also highlights MTV’s alternative side: more than 6,000 clips from 120 Minutes, a major pipeline for bands that lived outside the center lane. If your taste runs from college rock into heavier alternative and back again, that archive matters. Think R.E.M., The White Stripes, Radiohead, and The Flaming Lips, all parked in a format that feels closer to TV programming than a personalized feed. There’s also an acoustic corner with MTV Unplugged clips for when you want the stripped-down versions without digging through a million unrelated recommendations.
Under the hood, the database runs on IMVDb (The Internet Music Video Database). The founder — who uses the handle “FlexasaurusRex La Creme” on X — frames MTV Rewind as an independent, non-commercial archive project that isn’t tied to MTV, Viacom, or Paramount Global, and notes that the videos are hosted on YouTube.
The most telling part is why the project exists at all. The creator’s post reads like a mix of grief, stubbornness, and adrenaline; pretty familiar ingredients if you’ve ever watched a scene keep itself alive when the larger industry moves on.
“MTV was a cultural institution that changed music, fashion, and youth culture. Then they stopped showing music videos and became reality TV. I felt a wave of sadness when the announcement hit. Nothing felt like it could fill that void. So I started coding. Built it in 48 hours: MTV Rewind… no ads, no algorithm, completely free. Reddit killed my viral posts (1.1K upvotes) because of auto-mod BS. I’m broke, exhausted, and honestly feeling like s–t, but thousands are using it, and that’s what matters,” he wrote.
There’s an irony baked into all of this. Video platforms made it easier than ever to watch exactly what you want, exactly when you want it. That same convenience helped bury the old 24-hour music-channel model that MTV used to own. But what a lot of fans miss was the programming: the feeling that you were sharing a culture stream with everyone else watching at the same time, and that you could get blindsided by something new because the channel decided it belonged in the rotation.
Alter Bridge is a name that needs no introduction. Forming in 2004, Myles, Mark, Flip, and Brian have been traveling the globe, selling out arenas, creating amazing music, and maintaining their legacy. Well, their legacy is not slowing down with the band’s latest album, simply titled Alter Bridge. The band chose to make this a self-titled release because the material feels like a true distillation of everything Alter Bridge does best. Nothing here feels rushed; each song is thoughtfully written, carefully structured, and expertly produced from start to finish.
From the very beginning, as the guitar of “Silent Divide” crushes intensely, it becomes apparent that this album is a monster. The identity of Alter Bridge is there, but the identity shapes anew. “Disregarded” is a perfect example of this, as the verses are complemented by this haunting melody and a very low vocal performance leading into a powerful chorus. “Tested and Able” highlights the vocal and musical collaborations between Mark and Myles, with a very heavy riff accompanied by Mark leading us in vocally for the first verse, which leads to a very fun and bouncy chorus. “What Are You Waiting For” is another notable track as it comes in with a headbanging riff but then goes into a darker verse, leading to a confrontation in the chorus. “Hang by a Thread” seems to be the standout ballad on the album. For a bit, the tempo is slowed, but is complemented well by a moving song and seems to peel back the emotional layers of the band. “Slave to Master” is the outro of the album. This song is a great way to put a bow on the album and to wrap it up. Clocking in at just a little over nine minutes, the song never gets stale and continues to keep the listener surprised. Every member of the band is showcased on this one, and it musically summarizes the entire album.
Lyrically, the album can seem dark at times, but the overall theme seems to be about overcoming that darkness in many ways. There may be people in life that we have to confront, or it may be within ourselves. We can’t allow ourselves to get dragged down, whether it be within ourselves or speaking up to those around us. Most songs on the album start out with a bit of darkness, but by the end of the songs, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Alter Bridge wanted us to receive that message loud and clear. They successfully did so.
Overall, this is their best body of work. There is a lot of emotional darkness being touched on, but there is also a lot of light here. The band’s amazing collaborations are on full display from beginning to end. This album was rightfully self-titled, because the band is really able to proudly showcase who Alter Bridge are and not be afraid to peel back the layers and be vulnerable.
Bush will hit the road for a spring U.S. tour, kicking off April 7 in Pittsburgh. They’ll be joined by Mammoth and James And The Cold Gun as support.
Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, January 16, at 10 a.m. local time, and a limited number of VIP packages will also be offered. Visit the band’s website to sign up for presale access.
The full itinerary is as follows:
4/07 – Pittsburgh, PA – UPMC Events Center
4/09 – Washington, DC – The Anthem
4/10 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount
4/12 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
4/14 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater
4/15 – Charlotte, NC – Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre
4/17 – Biloxi, MS – Crawfish Music Festival (Mississippi Coast Coliseum)
4/18 – Brandon, MS – Brandon Amphitheater
4/21 – Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
4/22 – San Antonio, TX – Freeman Coliseum
4/25 – Indio, CA – Stagecoach (Empire Polo Field)*
4/28 – Portland, OR – Theater of the Clouds
4/29 – Seattle, WA – WAMU Theater
5/01 – West Valley City, UT – Maverik Center
5/03 – Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium
5/05 – Moline, IL – Vibrant Arena at The MARK
5/06 – Oshkosh, WI – Oshkosh Arena
5/08 – Bonner Springs, KS – Azura Amphitheater
5/09 – Camdenton, MO – Ozarks Amphitheater
5/12 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live
5/13 – Clearwater, FL – The Sound
5/15 – Franklin, TN – FirstBank Amphitheater
5/16 – Columbus, OH – Sonic Temple Festival (Historic Crew Stadium)*
