Review by Paul sabin for MPM
US rocks Alter Bridge burst on to the scene twenty years ago with their debut album, `One Day Remains’.
The world has changed in many ways since then but the tracks contained on that release enhanced our world.
Now this celebratory deluxe version adds six extra tracks plus a live set of five songs recorded in Phase One Studios in Toronto in 2005.
The original release was an immediate hit, reaching number two in the Billboard top 200 and gained considerable chart success with both `Open Your Eyes’ and `Find The Real’. The world of wrestling has also been touched by the band’s music as Adam Copeland (Edge) used `Metalingus’ as his entry anthem giving them even more exposure and helped catapult them to where they are today.
So, in addition to the original track listing which have all been remastered to give a sharper, cleaner and meatier sound, we now get ‘Save Me’ which was originally a B side, and then also appeared on the soundtrack to the Marvel movie Elektra, followed by live studio renditions of ‘Burn it Down’, ‘Open Your Eyes’, ‘Broken Wings’, ‘One Day Remains’ and the anthemic best that is ‘Metalingus’. Few people in the rock fraternity won’t have heard of the vocal legend that is Myles Kennedy and of course the master of the fretboard, Mark Tremonti and hearing them on these live recordings, they leave no doubts as to why they are so well known as both give sparkling performances.
This release highlights and embellishes a key point in Alter Bridge’s history and have enhanced it enough to make it an attractive addition to an existing fans collection as well as serving as a great introduction for new fans who want to sample the enigma of Alter Bridge. To hear instant wall of sound as the drums, guitar, and bass all kick in at the same time on `Find The Real’ is an unforgettable moment.
With twenty years under their belts and many more to go, I’m sure there will many more high points to come on the Alter Bridge timeline.
