One Day Remains

Original Creed members Mark Tremonti and Scott Phillips, in a bid to return to their pure rock 'n' roll roots without the dull fud that went along with super stardom, have brought back bass player Brian Marshall (from Creed’s better days) and adopted Mayfield Four frontman Myles Kennedy to form Alterbridge.

Their debut ‘One Day Remains’ is a melodic, highly energised album where each track pumps with new-found excitement, old school idealism and a simple, pure balance between Kennedy’s formidable vocals, Marshall’s constant, throbbing bass and some brilliant drumming and guitar riffs from Tremonti and Phillips.

“It’s a new road ahead of us, but the essence of this band is organic and honest rock 'n’ roll. The music is driven by melody and instrumentation,” says Tremonti.

Melodic this album certainly is, but it’s heavy too — elements of the Foo Fighters and Stone Temple Pilots spring to mind. This is a band whose love for undiluted rock 'n' roll blends perfectly with their understanding of the present state of play.

Tremonti keeps a tight leash on things — he is the lyricist and songwriter behind all of the tracks on the album — and it’s a courageous effort, a blending of aggressive metal with modern rock to create tracks that are both easy listening and foot-stomping, head-banging good tunes.

But what makes this album exceptional — and not just “Creed with a little variation” — are Kennedy’s incredibly versatile and emotionally charged vocals, and it’s when he lets them slide and soar that the tracks really hit deep. Tremonti also rises to the occasion, singing more harmonies than he has in the past.

“Myles brings an amazing vocal approach to the material he is able to deliver with an amazing ease, whether he is hitting the highest of the highs or the lowest of the lows. His natural projection is amazing,” says Tremonti.

The title track, ‘One Day Remains’, is straight, solid rock with the added extra of Tremonti’s lyricism which really comes into its own on this album: “Cause I see in you; more than you’ll ever know; and I ask you why; you question the strength inside; and you need to know; how it feels to be alive”.

On ‘Open Your Eyes’ the riffs get more melodic, and it’s here that Kennedy’s voice begins to fly.

The foursome tone it down a little with ‘Burn It Down’ and here the energy lags a bit. But it’s quickly recovered with ‘Metalingus’, where rapid-fire drumming opens but soon rolls into the background as the distorted guitars (no bowing to commercial interests here) of Tremonti and Kennedy take centre stage.

My favourites included ‘Broken Wings’ (where twin guitars crumble into the formidable chorus, “On broken wings I’m falling; it won’t be long; the skin on me is burning; by the fires of the sun”), ‘Down to my Last’ and ‘Shed My Skin’, where the energy of this brave new band is palpable, and Kennedy’s voice really comes into its own.

Indeed, Kennedy is an incredible talent, bringing depth and height to each track. In ‘Shed my Skin’ he sings: “Are you ready for me?” We most definitely are.