I say this when I say with the deepest sincerity 'if you like rock music, buy this album'! Take my word for it, if you like rock music, treat yourself buy this album and you will not regret it! It's a superb addition to any rock music collection. The cover is stylish as well and the whole experience of owning and listening to this CD is superb. Flawlessly produced, this band is completely underrated and I want so many people to appreciate how good the album is!

Alter Bridge are a relatively new band who are made up of the old members of creed with a new singer. However the band are very different to creed in there music, much rockier (if that is a real word) and a more head - banging sound. Don't get me wrong I love creed but this sort of music is much more head bangingly foot tappingly better!

So before I tell you about the album let me tell you a bit about this band and what they are about, to start with their name 'Alter Bridge' is memorable and apparently the name of a bridge that Mark remembers from his childhood, significantly he was told by his parents never to step across that bridge. So it is clearly apparent why mark anyway would want the band to be called this as there is some forbidden rebellious nature behind it or doing something he shouldn't do. Perhaps this is what the band thought; maybe when they were in Creed they wanted to try all this crazy stuff which before Alter Bridge they were not allowed to do?

Alter Bridge are by no means a main stream band and the majority of rock fans you speak to may well never of heard of them. But I think there is something irresistibly appealing to having an album of a band which are up and coming and are the next big thing. It's great to be the first one in a group to own a legendary album and to say to them 'hey guys you should buy this'. Alter Bridge is definitely one I would recommend to absolutely anyone who likes rock music/guitar music/music in general. A friend got me into Alter Bridge when he lent me the CD and when I first heard it I was like OK its quite good and I wasn't overly-impressed but after a few listens I was loving every part of it.

Another good thing about Alter bridge's new album is that it is at present there only album so if you buy it you will have all their current songs, which is great if you are lucky to see them live because you know exactly which songs they are going to play. Last year I saw them play supported by 'the answer' another up and coming hard rock band and they totally rocked the show. It was at Astoria in London and a venue like that is perfect for such a band.

So this is the band:

Mark Tremonti (Backing vocals, guitar);
Myles Kennedy (vocals); (Only member not formerly in Creed)
Brian Marshall (bass instrument);
Scott Phillips (drums).

And now I am going to go through the album telling you what each track is called, what I think of it, a mark out of 10, a sample of the lyrics and a link to the full lyrics for that particular song. It might be a little over obsessive but as Alter bridge have only one album and it is a staggeringly good album they deserve lots of detail. I find it useful to look at the lyrics when listening to songs for the first time to appreciate what the songs are about which is why I have provided the links for the full lyrics. If you buy this album you will not be disappointed in the slightest it is one of the best hard rock albums to come out of 2004! Please anyone reading this review I know it is not necessary to put a lyric sample and a link to the full lyrics but I think the listening experience (if you have this CD) is definitely enhanced with the lyrics are available.

Track 1: (Find The Real)

The perfect song to start this epic album powerful drumming and a wicked riff. When the vocals enter there's an amazing mixture of sounds going on with expert instrumentation (down to all those years in Creed), with excellent singing. Myles' vocals shine through on much of the album and especially on this smashing track, his emphasis on the words 'find peace' are extremely relative to the world at the moment and his passionate singing does the song and the lyrics more than justice. There is a long build-up in the bridge with a great guitar solo which although a bit lengthy is great and gives the guitarist an opportunity to show of his musicianship. By the end of the album Alter bridge have clearly shown what they are about and leave the listeners wanting more, which they do indeed give!

Lyrics Sample:

'Well it seems I've finally
Thought of everything
I want to love
I want to feel
Find peace
Find the real'

Full lyrics found here: http://www.lyricsdomain.com/1/alter_bridge/find_the_real.html

10/10

Track 2: (One Day Remains)

There is an amazing 20second build-up to this track which has a fast tempo and amazing guitar riffs which are easily heard above the lyrics. This is one of my favourite songs from the album and it is clear why this song is the title for their debut album! The band really come alive in this song and the lyrics 'how it feels to be alive', reflects their enthusiasm and rigour with which they play. This is a really great song and if you have heard it you will know what I mean when I say how amazing it was to hear this band play this song live. The Solo is brilliant in this song and the drumming is stupendous!

Lyrics Sample:

'Cause I see in you
More than you'll ever know
And I ask you, "Would
You question the strength inside?"
And you need to know
How it feels to be alive...'

Full lyrics found here: http://www.lyricsdomain.com/1/alter_bridge/one_day_remains.html

10/10

Track 3: (Open Your Eyes)

Officially my favourite song from this album I cannot stress how good this song is. When you hear how amazing it is you will know how depressed I get when bands like the kooks who I admit do make good music get all these awards and world wide recognition and bands like Alter Bridge make songs like this with so much originality and passion behind them and don not get appreciated. The album is worth getting just for this song, but you will discover all the songs are good! The chorus is very cleverly done and is very easy to sing along to onece you have heard it a few times. I love this song so much it may well go in my top 10 songs of all time which considering how many songs I think are great is quite something. There is some excellent vocalisation on this track and the guitar solo's are great to 'air guitar' along to or just loose yourself in listening to! Fantastic song!

Lyrics Sample:

'It's hard to walk this path alone
Hard to know which way to go
Will I ever save this day
Will it ever change'

Full lyrics found here:
http://www.lyricsdomain.com/1/alter_bridge/open_your_eyes.html

11 /10

Track 4: (Burn It Down)

I didn't like this song much when I first heard it but it completely grew on me and now I love it, there is some beautiful acoustic guitaring on this album and a very epic feel to the whole album. The vocals are great in this song and were superb live, if you ever get the chance to see this band live I would heartily recommend that you do they don't disappoint!

Lyrics Sample:

'So burn it down
Discover the dusk of your day
Has reached its dawn
So burn it down
Remember to find a new way to carry on'

Full lyrics found here:
http://www.lyricsdomain.com/1/alter_bridge/burn_it_down.html

9/10

Track 5: (Metalingus)

Awesome drum opening then the heavy guitar riffs enter, this is probably one of the more heavy tracks on the albums but its still is spooky how you find yourself automatically liking every song on this album.

Lyrics Sample:

'On this day I see clearly everything has come to life
A bitter place and a broken dream
And we'll leave it all, leave it all behind'

Full lyrics found here: http://www.lyricsdomain.com/1/alter_bridge/metalingus.html

8/10

Tra ck 6: (Broken Wings)

Broken Winds is a very emotional song and is passionately played. It is the only song which is truly tear jerking, not in a kind of titanic way but in a pink floyd way. The song is nothing like Floyd but its chorus is very epic and moving. If you buy this album please let me know what you think of this song as I love it a lot! I wish I knew what this song was about as it is very powerful and its lyrics of broken wings must have some symbolism to do with the band.

Lyrics Sample:

'On skinned knees
I'm bleeding
And it won't be long
I've got to find that meaning
I'll search for so long'

Full lyrics found here: http://www.lyricsdomain.com/1/alter_bridge/broken_wings.html

11/10

Track 7: (In Loving Memory)

This song is similar to broken wings in many respects, but its tempo is slower, the texture is less and the vocals are more delicate. It is clear what this song is about, the memories of a loved one and the lead singer portrays a lot of emotion in his voice. The guitar chords are perfectly in time and it overall is a song you can't really fault. Live this song was totally electrifying and draining to watch as it is over come with emotion and brilliance. I am glad I discovered this album to own this sort of music, it doesn't come around often.

Lyrics Sample:

'And I know, you're a part of me
And it's your song that sets me free
I sing it while I feel I can't hold on
I sing tonight cause it comforts me'

Full lyrics found here: http://www.lyricsdomain.com/1/alter_bridge/in_loving_memory.html

9/10

Track 8: (Down To My Last)

This song picks up the tempo a bit but doesn't loose the emotion built up in the previous two songs. Ther verse builds up to the chorus and it is clear to the listener that this song incorporates completely the Alter Bridge dream and ideology. This is what the band is about making new songs like this. Although I loved creed I am glad they split up and joined to make this new band, Alter Bridge have discovered a special sound which I think the world should know about. Immaculate timing in the drum fills and wowifying vocals at the climax of the song, this song winds the excitement of the song up again and is one of my favourite songs on this album.

Lyrics Sample:

'And to the world to which we sing,
Want to try to do us in
I remember your name and I know your face
Can't forgive and can't erase'

Full lyrics found here: http://www.lyricsdomain.com/1/alter_bridge/down_to_my_last.html

10/10

Track 9: (Watch Your Words)

I personally didn't like this song when I first heard it and it still isn't one of my favourites. It's not that its song is rubbish or that I haven't listened to it, it just didn't live up to the exceptionally high listener standard I experienced on all the other tracks. No albums are absolutely perfect; this song in my opinion is the weak link although I'm sure a lot of Alter bridge fans love this song. Its still pretty good compared to Mc Fly (in my opinion), but it's not my favourite Alter Bridge song!

Lyrics Sample:

'Watch your words
Or your words might drown you
And cure my wounds
And the light will blind you'

Full lyrics found here: http://www.lyricsdomain.com/1/alter_bridge/watch_your_words.html

9/10

Track 10: (Shed My Skin)

This song starts with just guitar, then gently vocals enter and it is clear by the way they are playing that this song is leading somewhere great and special and indeed it is. The chorus is incredible in its mucial complexity. The music is almost allegorical with all its mixture of symbolic lyrics with difficult drumming, intricate guitar riffs and a almost spiritual sense!

Lyrics Sample:

'Are you ready for me
Or purge my love
Are you ready for me
A bitter sinking feeling'

Full lyrics found here: http://www.lyricsdomain.com/1/alter_bridge/shed_my_skin.html

10/10

Track 11: (The End Is Here)

The end is here is appropriately the last song in the Alter bridge epic album that is 'One Day Remains', but it is almost as if Alter Bridge by the end of the album have set up their own style which will last for long time. It seems listening to this album all the way through that in my opinion they may have been around for ages as a band, but the fact they are so new yet so determined to produce something original and classic is brilliant!

Lyrics Sample:

'For the rest of my life
I will find the answers
That were always here
I will find the meaning this time
I will fight the end
Till the end is here'

Full lyrics found here: http://www.lyricsdomain.com/1/alter_bridge/the_end_is_here.html

9/10

Overall album rate 10/10!

Some people may have concerns that Alter bridge are just creed with a new singer. They are so wrong! This band are really wicked and have completely corrected people who predicted this creed-reborn band. This album is wicked and I would really recommend anyone to buy it!

Apparently some time in Spring 2007 Alter Bridge are releasing there second album which I am tremendously excited about as if it is anything as epic as 'One day remains' it will undoubtedly be an album worth getting. Alter Bridge are one of those innovative bands who create there own distinguished style. Admittedly you can hear elements of their influences in their music but their style is their own and that I think is something that nowadays a lot of music is without!