Fortress

Back in 2004, Myles Kennedy stepped into the void left by Scott Stapp. Creed were done. Enter Kennedy, and the creation of Alter Bridge. Back then, Myles Kennedy thought he was stepping into something that was so established in the US, he worried fans would hate him.

Fast forward to 2013, Alter Bridge have released their fourth album, lost that Creed sound and Myles Kennedy is an absolute hero in his own right.

'Fortress' is going to be the moment Alter Bridge lose all the Creed connotations for good. It's so far removed from 2004's 'One Day Remains', it's unbelievable. They aren't as big in the US, of course, but in the UK and Europe, they are a huge deal. 'Fortress' is only going to cement that fact even further.

Opening song, in true AB fashion is like a punch in the face in the best possible way. The Spanish, flamenco sound introduces us to 'Cry of Achilles' a thunderous song, filled with lyrics of doubt and a slight hint towards some positivity. Lead single 'Addicted to Pain' follows, the story of an abusive relationship an individual doesn't want to leave. It's heavier than previous singles, and with that leading the way, it's clear the remainder of the album is going to be much darker than the likes of older albums.

'Bleed It Dry' touches on the environmental and the political, it won't suit everyone's tastes. If that track has you wanting to turn off, wait until you hear the bitter and scathing 'Lover'. This song shows off Kennedy's true talent, it's emotional and angry.

The mid section of the album melts into one, the songs sounding fairly similar, those are the ones that take a few listens to tell them apart. Guitarist Mark Tremonti takes the lead on 'Waters Rising', a bold step for him as on previous albums he's remained fairly silent when it comes to vocals. He took a tiny step into the spotlight on 'AB III' singing duet 'Words Darker Than Their Wings' with Myles Kennedy. Since the release of his solo album in 2012, it seems Tremonti is more willing to take on vocal leads.

'Cry a River' is a personal favourite, it's bitter and twisted lyrics are masked by the upbeat guitar work and fast pace. Ballad of the album comes in the form of 'All Ends Well' a song that will no doubt speak volumes to fans across the globe. It's not quite as lighters in the air as past ballads 'Wonderful Life' (from AB III) and 'Watch Over You' (Blackbird) and it might not be as much of a crowd pleaser, but it's still emotionally charged and has the words that will mean something to someone. Closer 'Fortress' is a huge wave of a song, a perfect finish to what is without a doubt one of the albums of 2013.

On a personal note, I only fully took to Alter Bridge upon the release of AB III. They are a good, solid band, and the more material they've released, the more they've shaken that slight hint towards Creed. They've been through a lot, with record label battles and fighting to get their songs out there. In the UK they've gone from playing student unions to a dozen people to headlining major arenas up and down the country. Their music has pulled on the heart strings of so many individuals and will more than likely continue to do so.