4. Lover
A potentially cringeworthy title depending on its execution, Lover manages to actually be one of the most dynamic and surprising on the album. Opening with Myles recently resurrected Mayfield Four-esque vocals he brought back for his Slash-collaboration Not For Me, Lover appears to be the tale of a former partner resorting to increasingly dark measures for the sake of closure. Its beautifully macabre stuff that takes the self-reflective tonality of AB III and marries it to Blackbirds epic scope, providing a mid-section where Myles curses out his conceptual former partner by switching back to his more standard delivery, before ending on some final lines that wrap up the sordid tale nicely. The triggers warm, the chamber is loaded, Lost in the moment, what went wrong? Theres nothing left, this house has been broken, But Im still holding, holding on.
5. The Uninvited
Back into world-slaying territory now, with a hammer-on riff that instantly brings to mind Tools unorthodox musicianship when the main riff kicks in. Its not the only time the guys are playing around with strange-sounding time signatures and inverted compositions, as Cry of Achilles and Cry a River also featuring some mind-boggling technicality in their execution. Here however The Uninvited is a total power showcase not only for Tremonti, but also for Flips drumming skills. As a guy whos always preferred to just feel a song more than spending hours rehearsing fills and advanced techniques, his double-bass sync-up with muted guitar notes provides a killer sound first put down on Tremontis solo album with the ferocious Garrett Whitlock.
6. Peace is Broken
Another contender for Best Song on the Album is Peace Is Broken; a track that is quintessential Alter Bridge through and through. With an incendiary pace that thoroughly smashes the doors in after a fan-rallying drum fill, Tremontis core riff for this track is neck-contortingly heavy, with his interconnecting speed-picking and melodic sections padding out the instrumental sections considerably. Myles and Mark deliver some of their finest harmonised vocal hooks in the run up a very memorable and melodious guitar solo that mimics the highs-and-lows of the chorus, wrapping the track up in a neat package that reads potential next single.