Blackbird * by Alter Bridge Review

There was true potential shown on Alter Bridge's 2004 debut album One Day Remains.  It was the same potential that 3 of it's members had once shown with Creed, before Scott Stapp got in the way and ruined everything.  It wasn't a consistent album, but when the band hit, they really hit.  Songs like Metalingus and Find the Real gave rock fans reason to think this could be one of the more exciting rock bands to come along in quite a while, once they found themselves and their sound.  

Sadly, Alter Bridge found a sound on their recently released sophomore effort Blackbird.  Not only did they find a sound, they apparently liked it enough to use it over and over again on the record.  Despite the promise of the opening two tracks, Blackbird is a long, droning affair that too often feels like one big long song.  Guitarist Mark Tremonti lays out heavy hitting riffs, but unfortunately, most sound very similar to the last riff.  The rhythm section of Scott Phillips and Brian Marshall are solid as usual, but the vocals of Myles Kennedy are at times painful to listen to.  His squeaky, shaky pipes warble throughout, and it has become obvious the dude just doesn't have the pipes for a gig like this. 

Blackbird starts off promisingly enough.  Ties That Bind begins with a rolling guitar riff that is soon joined by a rumbling drum beat.  Soon, the song is a full on hard rock song, bordering on heavy metal.  Phillips lays down impressive fills throughout, while Kennedy for once stays on course with the music.  This is followed up with the riff heavy Come to Life, which features a vocal effect on Kennedy's voice that fits the song to a T. 

After this however, things begin coming off the rails.  Songs like Brand New Day and Rise Today come off like weak Creed outtakes, following that band's formula to a T (it's no surprise then that Rise Today is the first single). 

Nothing is a worse offender than the title track however.  At 8 minutes long, it is obviously the band's attempt at writing an epic rock song.  It moves from quiet to loud repeatedly, but lacks any soul or true emotion.  It is as pretentious as pretentious comes in rock today. 

The rest of the album treads in familiar but starkly unoriginal modern rock territory, using different variations of very similar riffs to drive the songs.  I was horribly bored by the time I got halfway through the record, and the second half was pure torture. 

For those curious as to this band's talent, their debut remains the way to go.  For those who liked the band's debut, I'm sorry to report that this doesn't really hold a candle to it.

2 stars.