 Alter Bridge Now Available for Pre-Order in First Formats HERE Band Announces 2026 European Headline “What Lies Within Tour” With Daughtry and Sevendust Only ALTER BRIDGE Performance in 2025 to Take Place in Nashville, TN on October 1 at Tremonti Family Charity Golf Outing  Alter Bridge L to R: Scott Phillips, Myles Kennedy, Brian Marshall, Mark Tremonti Photo Credit: Chuck Brueckmann With more than two decades performing together, acclaimed rockers ALTER BRIDGE show no signs of slowing down. Known for their memorable riffs, infectious vocal melodies and dueling guitar attack, the quartet comprised of Myles Kennedy on vocals/guitars, Mark Tremonti on guitars/vocals, Brian Marshall on bass and Scott Phillips on drums have garnered themselves massive critical and fan acclaim around the globe. The band looks to continue that trend when they release their self-titled, eighth studio album next year via Napalm Records. Alter Bridge will be released on January 9, 2026, and first physical formats are now available for pre-order. Alter Bridge is comprised of 12 all new tracks from the band and features some of their most iconic moments on record. Songs like “Rue The Day,” “Disregarded” and “Scales Are Falling” will fit alongside any of the classic songs from ALTER BRIDGE’s catalog. “Trust In Me” shows Myles and Mark sharing vocal duties as Myles handles the verse duties while Mark takes the chorus. That strategy is flipped on “Tested And Able” as Mark handles the verses and Myles takes on the choruses behind one of the band’s heaviest intros to date, giving way to an unforgettable melody. “Hang By A Thread” is sure to become a show favorite as it hints at some of the most popular songs in the band’s catalog. Album closer “Slave To Master” is an epic track that ALTER BRIDGE has come to be known for and is the longest song the quartet has recorded to date. The band worked with longtime collaborator and producer Michael “Elvis” Baskette on their eighth album. Alter Bridge was recorded over the course of two months this spring in the legendary 5150 studio in California and Elvis’ recording studio in Florida. Pre-Order the First Physical Formats of Alter Bridge HERE More Formats Coming Soon! Alter Bridge track listing: 1) Silent Divide (5:06) 2) Rue The Day (4:46) 3) Power Down (4:08) 4) Trust In Me (4:48) 5) Disregarded (3:55) 6) Tested And Able (4:36) 7) What Lies Within (5:07) 8) Hang By A Thread (4:11) 9) Scales Are Falling (5:54) 10) Playing Aces (4:05) 11) What Are You Waiting For (5:00) 12) Slave To Master (9:03) Alter Bridge is currently available for pre-order in the following formats: -1-CD 6p Digisleeve, 12p Booklet -2-LP Gatefold BLACK, Lyric Sheet -2-LP Gatefold TRANSLUCENT VERDE – VETRI (INDIE exclusive) -2-LP Gatefold TRANSLUCENT VERDE – VETRI + autographed postcard (NEWBURY exclusive, limited to 50) -1-CD 6p Digisleeve + autographed postcard (NEWBURY exclusive, limited to 250) -2-LP Gatefold SPLATTERED BLACK SMOKE/ WHITE ORANGE BLACK, 12p Booklet (Napalm mailorder exclusive) -2-LP BLACK, White Label Edition + hand-numbered Covercard (Napalm mailorder international-only exclusive) -2-LP Gatefold MARBLE COLORLESS BLACK & RED BLACK OLD PURPLE, 12p Booklet (Napalm exclusive) -LP Box incl. 2-LP Gatefold SPLIT BLACK/MILK, 12p Booklet, 5-Tack Bonus Picture Vinyl in Plastic Sleeve, Artprint (Napalm mailorder international-only exclusive) -1-CD 6p Digisleeve + “Hang By A Thread” Shirt Bundle (Napalm exclusive) -2-LP Gatefold SPLATTERED CRÈME BLACK, 12p Booklet (Band exclusive) -2-LP Gatefold MARBLE BLACK SMOKE, 12p Booklet (Band exclusive) -2-LP Gatefold CRISTALLO MILK GLITTER, Lyric Sheet (Band exclusive) -1-CD Jewel Case (Ticket Bundle for Townsend exclusive) + Guitar Pick (Band exclusive) To coincide with the announcement of the new album, ALTER BRIDGE will be touring in support of the release. The band is heading out on the What Lies Within Tour. The 31-date tour of Europe will kick off on January 15 in Germany before it wraps on March 5 in Nottingham, UK. Joining the band on the tour will be Daughtry and Sevendust. Public on sale for all shows is July 18. More information on all tickets and VIP packages for the upcoming tour can be found at http://www.alterbridge.com. European What Lies Within Tour 2026: Jan 15 – HAMBURG, GERMANY – Sporthalle Jan 17 – OSLO, NORWAY – Sentrum Scene Jan 18 – OSLO, NORWAY – Sentrum Scene Jan 20 – STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN – Annexet Jan 22 – HELSINKI, FINLAND – Ice Hall Black Box Jan 24 – COPENHAGEN, DENMARK – KB Hallen Jan 25 – BERLIN, GERMANY – Columbiahalle Jan 27 – GLIWICE, POLAND – Prezero Arena Gliwice Jan 28 – BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – Barba Negra Jan 30 – VIENNA, AUSTRIA – Gasometer Jan 31 – ZAGREB, CROATIA – Bocarski Dom Feb 02 – ROME, ITALY – Atlantico Feb 03 – BERGAMO, ITALY – ChorusLive Arena Feb 05 – ZURICH, SWITZERLAND – The Hall Feb 06 – LYON, FRANCE – Halle Tony Garnier Feb 08 – BARCELONA, SPAIN – Razzmatazz 1 Feb 10 – LISBON, PORTUGAL – Sagres Campo Pequeno Feb 12 – MADRID, SPAIN – Palacio Vistalegre Feb 13 – BORDEAUX, FRANCE – Arkea Arena Feb 15 – LUXEMBOURG, LUXEMBOURG – Rockhal Feb 17 – OBERHAUSEN, GERMANY – Oberhausen Turbinenhalle Feb 18 – PARIS, FRANCE – Zenith Feb 20 – MUNICH, GERMANY – Zenith Feb 22 – AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – Ziggo Dome Feb 23 – BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – Ancienne Belgique Feb 25 – NEWCASTLE, UNITED KINGDOM – Utilita Arena Feb 26 – MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM – AO Arena Feb 28 – DUBLIN, IRELAND – 3Arena Mar 02 – GLASGOW, UNITED KINGDOM – OVO Hydro Mar 04 – LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – The O2 Mar 05 – NOTTINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM – Motorpoint Arena  ALTER BRIDGE will be reuniting for one show in 2025. The band will be doing a rare acoustic show on October 1 in Nashville, TN to support the Tremonti Family Charity Golf Outing. The outing is a benefit started by guitarist Mark Tremonti to support the National Down Syndrome Society – an organization close to Mark after his daughter Stella was born with Down syndrome. The event will raise money for NDSS – an organization that engages grassroots advocates at the federal, state, and local levels and creates resources to support individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and caregivers across the lifespan on topics including education, employment, health and wellness, and aging. Tickets for the event can be purchased at: https://charity.pledgeit.org/rockforeDownsyndrome  About ALTER BRIDGE:Back in 2004, four lifelong musicians got together down in Florida. Even though they had traveled separate paths, similar lessons learned, wisdom earned, and dues paid united these gentlemen—Myles Kennedy [vocals, guitar], Mark Tremonti [guitar, vocals], Brian Marshall [bass], and Scott Phillips [drums]—as ALTER BRIDGE. Over the ensuing two decades, the band endured countless trials and tribulations, defied every odd, and rose to the head of the pack as a hard rock juggernaut, cementing a singular legacy by selling out arenas, gathering nearly one billion streams, inciting international acclaim, and quietly attracting a diehard audience. Beginning with the Top 5 entry of 2004’s gold certified One Day Remains, the band have scored six consecutive Top 20 debuts on the Billboard 200. Among a myriad of highlights, Guitarist Magazine applauded “Blackbird” for the “Greatest Guitar Solo of All Time,” the ABIII single “Isolation” vaulted to #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart, 2013’s Fortress received rare perfect scores from KERRANG! and Total Guitar, and Walk The Sky shook the Top Rock Albums Chart at #1. Beyond packing O2 Arena and Royal Albert Hall, Classic Rock hailed 2022’s Pawns & Kings as “the Rolls-Royce of ALTER BRIDGE records” in a 4.5-out-of-5-star review. Plus, the latter LP garnered praise from American Songwriter, Guitar World, and Loudwire, while Billboard christened them “one of America’s premiere hard rock quartets.” Channeling the same hunger, the band continue to push themselves on their self-titled eighth full-length offering, Alter Bridge [Napalm Records]. It embodies everything they’re known for such as the precise riffs, towering hooks, and solos that practically break guitar strings as they burst through the clouds. ALTER BRIDGE online: WEBSITE X TIK TOK NAPALM RECORDS |
american
Temperance Hermitage: Daruma’s Eyes Hermitage Part 2 Review 2023
Release date 10/20/2023
A band I have been listening to for a decade is back in 2023 with half a new lineup and new sound that has utterly stunned me. With the departure of two key components of the band in early 2023, I thought Temperance were doomed. This Italian Symphonic Power Metal outfit that has been a dark horse for too long has pulled through the trials and reinvented themselves with the most powerful lineup I’ve heard in a long time. I am a huge Power Metal fan, and no stranger to the majority of the new characters in the band, and I can say this record will bring them to the top of the game. Original founder and bassist Luca Negro has leveled up with clinical powerful drummer Marco Sacchetto and the smooth vocals of Michele Guaitoli since 2018 (Visions of Atlantis) and guitarist and epic vocalist Marco Pastorino (Serenity). Though, the newest member was a complete surprise to me. Kristin Starkey, an American Professional Opera and Metal dual vocalist has redefined the female vocal role of the band. Her vocals have brought a smokey darkness and smooth contralto vocals with staggering Power Metal screams. Based upon the singles, I knew this might be my album of the year. Temperance has delivered amazing music over the years, but Daruma’s Eyes PT 2 is just exalted beyond all expectations. I am a sucker for concept albums, and this storytelling delight delivers. It is also narrated and features chuggy punching rhythm guitars by the Dutch Wizard of Prog, Arjen Lucassen of Ayreon and Star One.
Daruma’s Eyes PT 2 is a massive wall of sound with melodies swirling through and emotively telling the story. I’m honestly in disbelief of how much they have tastefully crammed into one record. Each vocalist plays a different part, but comes together perfectly and expertly. Daruma opener is an assault of range and operatic vocals the band is known for delivering, but this is just explosive on a whole other level. On slow song, In “Search of Gold”, the range of these vocalists really shines and delivers emotionally profound music. “Welcome to Hermitage” contains many vocalists with Celtic and glaringly high vocalist Fabienne Erni (Eluveitie, Illumishade) and Laura Fella of Faun who brings elvish smooth vocals and a classic folk sound. Fabienne fits the explosive talent so well and brings another octave of vocals that balances everything out so well. The ladies of Switzerland also feature on Join Me, which is just a beautiful melodic track with heavy instrumentation. Epic track after track continues with No Return, Into the Void, and Darkness is Just a Drawing. No Return brings a sea-shanty sing along beat that is excellently catchy and just solid group vocals on the choruses. “Where We Belong” is a piano, vocal, string ballad that has a Meatloaf Rock Opera sound of tear-jerk nature, and it’s simply brilliant. The orchestration on this record is flawless, expertly highlighting each theme of every track and easy on the ears providing melody and a epic vibe throughout. The attention to detail on this record is virtuoso quality. I just can’t find anything wrong with it. I put Power Metal under high scrutiny, and Daruma PT 2 is at the highest level you can go in the genre.
Daruma PT 2 album is one of those Power Metal albums that make you want to get up off your ass and get you working out or just achieving your goals. Temperance have always been about empowerment and self fulfillment, but following Viktor’s journey is a whole other level of beauty and awestruck emotion. I don’t want to spoil too much about the story for those who ordered the book, but it’s incredibly well done. This record is absolutely clinical from start to finish. Each instrument reflects that Italian Classical refinement and the talent is truly unbelievable. I think their sound has bloomed overall into something huge and incomparably. I think the addition of Starkey is a huge attribute to what makes this record a new cornerstone in Power Metal. Her gorgeous tone, her perfect delivery, and style is so unique and stand out through the entire album. I’m hard pressed to find a vocalist at this level and caliber of raw talent. She has brought this band new life and profoundness that it has so long deserved. She works so well with Michel and Marco, every singer really compliments each other and there’s not a single gap or weakness. 2023 is not over, but this is a huge contender for album of the year for me. I seriously cannot wait to see this band continue with Kristin and Marco, because if they continue on like this, Temperance will no longer be a dark horse and become legendary to the likes of Unleash the Archers, Nightwish, and Helloween.
Rating 10/10
https://www.temperanceband.com/
Metal Valkyrie 