Fresh off the acclaim of 2019’s Billboard-charting album “Walk The Sky,” hard rock mainstays Alter Bridge were set for the third leg of their US tour and a slate of fast-selling European rock festivals later in the year.
And then? 2020.
Never a band to rest on their laurels, Alter Bridge is a band known for their intense work ethic, and just the type of band built to not only survive 2020, but perhaps even grown stronger in its face.
Enter Alter Bridge’s latest release, Walk The Sky 2.0, an assembly of 6 live tracks and one new track custom-built for riding out the pandemic with rock fists raised high.
A follow-up to 2019 studio recording, Walk The Sky, the 2.0 version was compiled by the band earlier this year after an abrupt halt to the entire concert industry.
And Walk The Sky 2.0 truly takes flight in grand fashion, with the band’s new single, Last Rites, both a resounding—and fitting opener.
Myles sings, “See me laughing now, as embers fall like snow,” a searing rebuke to those unwilling to change—or far worse: unwilling to at the very least, pay attention to change.
With its grinding Alice In Chains undertones, thought provoking lyrics and flat-out brilliant timing for a release in 2020, Alter Bridge took a song any hard rock band would have settled for as a b-side—and, by waiting until just the right moment—made it one of their most monumental tracks for years to come.
WTS 2.0 then settles into a grove of 6 unreleased live recordings. Unlike the grandiose-sounding Live At Royal Albert Hall—the recordings were taken from a string of dates played to three, smaller (~2,000 capacity) venues in the United States—the first such Alter Bridge tracks to be recorded and released in the US.
The result? Clean, well-balanced, muscular recordings that will tide over fans until they can Walk The Sky again.
“Wouldn’t You Rather” leads off the set, much like any show from the 2019-20 WTS tour. Wickedly thunderous drums set fourth by Scott Phillips part ways only for the legendary rock voice of Myles Kennedy. And just like any AB show, you can feel that Myles is only warming up his voice as the song progresses, lending itself to a highly sincere listening experience as you realize that Myles—the (super?) human, and not an some auto-tuned soundboard, is going to carry your adrenaline over the next two hours.
“Pay No Mind” does anything but that, with the opening, synth wave trickle drawing instant intrigue and hollers from a crowd excited to take in this new and diverse song from Alter Bridge. Crunchy guitar riffs, Brian Marshall’s growling bass throughout and the singalong bridge of “Still we hear you screaming give me more, give me more” escalate into a hand clapping that is all-at-once infectious and overflowing.
“Native Son” is of course superb, with Mark Tremonti’s backing vocals during “I’m a Native Son in a foreign land” seeming to take center stage, akin to live versions of “Crows On A Wire.”
“Godspeed” also showcases Mark’s brilliance, only this time as a rhythm guitar player, of course. Known widely as guitar soloing-virtuoso, this live version provides a listening perspective where you feel like you can literally hear Mark’s fingers on each and every string, driving the very melody of the song at every turn—a vantage point not always gleaned from the studio version.
“In The Deep” is a colorful rendition, and a breath of fresh air, as Myles’ live lead guitar is amped up, parlaying itself into this fresh, Satriani-esque “Summer Song” vibe you can hear swooning (and building) in the crowd throughout the opening verse, until Myles launches into the pre-chorus of “Every breath leads the way, my escape, it is never far…”
“Dying Light,” may be the best of the live versions, though. Seemingly stripped away from this live rendition were the swirling harmonics found in the studio version, leaving nothing to the imagination in this live version—and everything to the heart.
In fact, the live version of “Dying Light” feels like it has much more immediacy in this regard, something Alter Bridge has always prided themselves on. And something their fans have and always will take pride in Alter Bridge for, no matter when live shows resume.
Until then, we were given 2.0 in 2020.
And the timing could not have been any better.
5/5 stars
MavStar 