One of the most successful Hard Rock bands of the last 20 years, Alter Bridge boasts a lofty resume. Forming in the wake of Creed’s initial split in 2004, the band found friends/bandmates Mark Tremonti (guitars), Brian Marshall (bass), and Scott Phillips (drums) teaming with a new voice in former The Mayfield Four Vocalist Myles Kennedy. Truly a match made in heaven, the marriage of Alter Bridge’s more Heavy Metal leaning guitars with the dynamics of Kennedy’s vocals made them a completely unique entity compared to Creed.
A distinction that has been ever-present from the get-go with the 2004 debut album One Day Remains, it has been a steady march forward since, with one solid record after another. A career highlighted by 2007’s Blackbird, 2010’s AB III, and 2013’s Fortress, all of Alter Bridge’s albums have debuted in the Top 20 of the Billboard 200, while in total the band has amassed over 5 million in total record sales worldwide. Truly impressive in the modern era of Rock/Metal, they return in 2026 with their highly anticipated self-titled album.
An album Tremonti and Kennedy began working on in early 2025, its beginnings came amidst busy schedules, which included Tremonti’s sixth solo album release (The End Will Show Us), a Creed tour later on in the summer, and Kennedy’s own early-year solo tour in support of his 2024 album The Art of Letting Go. Officially announcing Alter Bridge in mid-July 2015, this was followed by the news that the band would embark on a massive world tour in 2026, and the release of the lead single “Silent Divide.”
With “Silent Divide” arriving in September 2025, it struck hard with classic Heavy Metal riffage and a groove-filled attack that you could not ignore. Just a month later, in October, the high-soaring single “What Lies Within” (where Kennedy’s operatic vocals really shine bright) followed, before the catchy third single “Playing Aces) came in December. Now, christening a new year, the full album emerges via Napalm Records on January 9, 2026. A total of 12 songs, it is over an hour of high-octane Heavy Rock that fans should enjoy from start to finish.
What is to be Alter Bridge’s eighth studio album, and first since 2022’s Pawns & Kings, the self-titled effort follows a trajectory of mixing Heavy Metal, Hard Rock, and even Progressive Rock elements into a sound that is highly distinctive. Still quite fresh, the energy is plausible throughout and this is evident on tracks not pre-released like “Rue the Day” (with its array of great guitars and combined vocals of Kennedy and Tremonti), “Trust Me” (which powerful chugging riffs), “Tested and Able” (which feels like a mix of Alternative Metal and Progressive Rock), and “Disregarded” (complemented by a dynamic of thrashy guitars and Kennedy’s dynamic vocal tones).
These songs are accented nicely by the mellower “Hang By A Thread,” dynamic “Scales Are Falling,” and extremely unexpected closer “Slave To Master.” Looking more closely at “Slave To Master,” this is a mammoth nine-plus-minute song that features some classic Thrash Metal stylings, followed by more melodic, melancholic textures, and some really passionate guitar solos. Overall, as the longest song Alter Bridge has ever recorded, it’s a hell of an epic ride.
In the end, Alter Bridge has turned out another high-quality record that really blurs the lines between Hard Rock and Classic Heavy Metal. An album that is aggressive, emotional, and quite energetic, Cryptic Rock gives the razor-sharp edge of Alter Bridge 5 out of 5 stars.
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