imawesome1124

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Fleetwood Mac - "The Chain"

Alter Bridge - "Peace Is Broken"

Dream Theater - "On The Backs Of Angels"

Dream Theater - "Along For The Ride"

I'm going to give a track-by-track review of Alter Bridge's new album, Fortress.  Not only my favorite album of 2013, but probably my favorite album of all time.

1. Cry Of Achilles:  The song starts with a Flamenco-like acoustic guitar intro from Myles Kennedy, grabbing the listener's attention immediately before smacking them over the head with a 2x4 when the rest of the band kicks in.  This song is a standout in every aspect, the guitar, the bass, the drumming, and of course Myles's singing all shine in this song.  With an opening track like this, the album is bound to be an epic journey.

2. Addicted To Pain:  It may be the weakest track on the album, but it's still better than many other rock bands put out.  It has a massive intro and bridge riff which Myles Kennedy compared to "dump-trucks falling from the heavens."  The bridge leads into a typical Tremonti shredtastic guitar solo before closing the song with the same massive riff.

3. Bleed It Dry:  Who needs screaming to make a heavy song?  This song has one of the heaviest riffs Alter Bridge has ever done.  The bridge features jazzy Opeth-like guitar work from Myles into a traditional blues solo from Tremonti, the first blues solo he's ever done in a song.  Incorporating straight blues into a hard rock song is a bold and brilliant move.

4. Lover:  Don't let the title fool you, this is NOT a love song.  It is actually quite the opposite.  The lyrics are dark and deal with the theme of betrayal by someone you used to love.  The slowest song on the album, it's a welcome change of pace from the first three songs on the album, and probably the best ballad from Alter Bridge.

5. The Uninvited:  A song that was nearly dropped from the album turned out to be one of the highlights.  There is a distinct Tool feel, with hammer-on guitar riffs reminiscent of Tool's famous song Schism.  The drumming in this song is superb, and Flip does tremendously with the odd time signature.

6. Peace Is Broken:  Dat riff doe!  This song is Tremonti's best riff from either Creed, Alter Bridge, or his solo project.  This is the heaviest song on the album, and maybe the heaviest song AB has ever done.  Mark takes the lead on vocals in the bridge and nails it, as is to be expected after singing lead on every song on his solo record.

7. Calm The Fire:  The best Alter Bridge song since Blackbird.  The largeness and stadium-like sound of this song is reminiscent of early Muse and even Queen.  Myles's voice has never been better, showing off his 4-octave range and proving why he's one of the all-time greatest singers in rock.

8. Waters Rising: Not to be outdone, Mark Tremonti takes lead vocal duty on this song and hands the lead guitar off to Myles.  Few bands have ever had two people capable of doing both lead guitar and lead vocals.  Okay, Mark was definitely outdone by Myles as far as vocals go, but he shows that he is definitely more than capable of singing lead.

9. Farther Than The Sun: This is a very different sound for Alter Bridge.  The swing in the main riff and chorus just make you want to move.  It's Michael Buble meets hard rock, and unlikely combination that works out tremendously well.

10. Cry A River: From a lyrical standpoint, this is the most aggressive and angry songs on the album, talking about confronting someone who has betrayed you.  This is a faster song, and the bass playing from Brian Marshall stands out on this song.

11. All Ends Well:  Myles wrote this song about something his mother told him as a kid: "If you believe in yourself, all will end well."  With a message like that, this song is the most uplifting on the album.  It's lighthearted, and really picks you up after a generally dark record.

12. Fortress: After All Ends Well gives the listener hope in the end, the title track pulls them right back down.  The song is about how everything we once believed to be steadfast and here to stay, whether it be government, religion, or even marriage, will eventually come crumbling down.  The dueling guitar solo from Mark and Myles is a highlight of the album.