10. Farther Than The Sun
Remember Djent? Mark Tremonti does, or at least thats what hed like you to think following the fuzz-filled intro of Farther Than The Sun, a track that on sheer guitar tone, is the heaviest theyve ever done. Djent was a subgenre of metal that was named due to its association to being the phonetic version of that noise people do when describing the chug of a guitar; djun djun djun, and so on. Its still going, but for the most part is less a genre and more a guitar tone, as in this case Tremonti is busting out the de-tuned strings to create a riff that provides a great contrast to Myles tenor range, tapping into that back and forth dynamic that has come to define the band. With such a detuned guitar in his hands, and the band more than up for creating a companion-piece to Blackbirds White Knuckles in terms of sheer head-banging ferocity, theres everything from a mid-song breakdown to a crescendo-chasing solo-buildup, all of which are delivered by a bunch of guys having fun taking all their influences and stirring in some modern flair into potent mixture.
11. All Ends Well
The Rise Today of Fortress, and the most openly feelgood track the band have done. Whilst Creed made a career out of doing soppy saccharine ballads and God-fearing lyricisms, Alter are a resolutely different beast, going back to basics and singing the most essential life-lesson there is, If you believe in nothing else, just keep believing in yourself. Its a beautiful sentiment that is a great accompaniment to the song title, itself a phrase Myles mother would tell him when he was younger. From Tremontis In Loving Memory, a song written after his mothers passing, through to Blackbird that is dedicated to the memory of Mark Morse, the man who sold Myles his first guitar, Alter have always infused their songs with a tremendous amount of heart and weight. All Ends Well, whilst not as tissue-commanding as In Loving Memory, is still capable of summoning some moist eyes on its beautiful chorus, as anyone going through any of lifes hardships perfectly fits the sentiment behind this track.
12. Fortress
The other bookend to this spectacular titan of an album, clocking in this time at a monstrous nigh-eight minutes, Fortress is a kitchen-sink throwing exhibition of intent for the band going forward, capitalising on everything from melodic hard rock influences to Iron Maiden pace-changes and an extended duelling guitar solo thats surely inspired by the many improvised live showdowns the guys performed on the AB III tour near the close of their sets. Nothing short of spectacular, it still doesnt reach the messianic heights of Blackbird with its unmatched, alternately gorgeous and shredding solo. Yet a mid-point tempo change takes the latter of those two archetypes and lets Myles and Mark rip to their hearts content, as Marshall and Flip thunder away behind them. Its in songs like this where the overall feel of a guitarists playing takes over, that you start to hear the difference between Myles playing where he shakes every inch of emotion out of each note, providing almost Pink Floyd-sized compositions, as oppose to Tremonti who at this stage in his career is a blinding blur of searing-licks, pinched harmonics, pre-bends and powerhouse shredding. The two go together symbiotically, and the entire performance rounds off the album in spectacular fashion, however, there is just one more surprise...