Label: Napalm Records
Release Date: January 9, 2026
Genre: Hard Rock
Line Up:
Myles Kennedy – Vocals, Guitar
Mark Tremonti – Guitar, Vocals
Brian Marshall – Bass
Scott Phillips – Drums
Tracklist:
Silent Divide
Rue The Day
Power Down
Trust In Me
Disregarded
Tested and Able
What Lies Within
Hang By A Thread
Scales Are Falling
Playing Aces
What Are You Waiting For
Slave To Master
Alter Bridge joins the list of bands celebrating milestones, marking two decades in their career. The decision to release a self-titled album feels appropriate for commemorating this particular achievement… (yeah, I know, that pun was terrible).
Similar to Beyond the Black’s recent release, ‘Alter Bridge’ examines modern society, daily discourse, and strategies for navigating it all. Tracks such as ‘Silent Divide’, ‘Rue The Day’, and ‘What Lies Within’ explore powerful themes including betrayal, deception, and standing up to toxic behavior. The way people handle confronting toxicity varies, and Myles explores both staying quiet and actively choosing to walk away from conflict—often preventing escalation in the process.
Photo Credit: Adrian Hextall
These messages aren’t delivered through vocals alone—they’re supported by world-class musicianship. In my view, Alter Bridge consistently comes back stronger with each release. Every new album makes you think “there’s no way this tops the previous one!” but somehow it does, and this self-titled effort follows that pattern. Kennedy and Tremonti’s guitar interplay is unmatched, blurring the lines of who’s leading at any given moment with their instruments. Fittingly, they share a duelling-banjos-style moment on ‘Slave To Master,’ the album closer featuring a three-minute dual solo—their longest track ever—addressing AI’s emergence.
On ‘Disregarded,’ the narrative covers betrayal and being “left on my own in the dark,” yet concludes with defiant hope: “somehow still I’m standing / And the best is yet to come.” This resilience runs throughout. While the topics may be heavy, perseverance ultimately shines through, with tracks like ‘Power Down’ serving as a stark reminder about burnout, encouraging listeners to “Stop for a minute” and recognize that “life that is so beautiful / Was right there all the while.”
That message resonates deeply. As I write this with tasks piling up around me, perhaps it’s time to pause, relax, and simply enjoy the music. I believe I will.
Ratings: 9/10
Reviewed by Adrian Hextall
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