Just a week into 2026, and it’s already promising to be a rad year with lots of new music! Alter Bridge is releasing their 8th full length album. The self titled Alter Bridge album is coming out January 9th!
Waiting two decades of leading the billboards to name an album after themselves makes a statement. Rather than an introduction, as a lot of bands do, this embodies the phrase “work hard until you don’t have to introduce yourself.” Twenty-one years of rocking out, breaking records, and leading charts-when you see the name Alter Bridge, there’s really no introduction needed, you know the album’s going to be sick. It’s a great moment in their career for a self-titled album. If they would only be remembered for one album, why not the one where they pour 2 decades into. This album “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.”
Kicking off the album with the first track, “Silent Divide,” this song is anything but silent. It opens up immediately with a rad guitar riff. There’s no easing into this album, it’s straight to business with heavy rock. Mark Tremonti’s signature licks are throughout this song and ending on a heavy note with a fantastic solo.
“Rue the Day” is quickly becoming my favorite track on this album. With the growling guitar, and the heavy rhythm, I could listen to this song without any vocals. It’s one of those songs that I can’t wait to see live with 20 foot speakers, to feel the rhythm rattle my bones. The lyrics add another level to the song that motivates to keep fighting and “stand your ground” and “live to rue the day.” With the changing tempos, and the pumped up lyrics, this is going to be on everyone’s gym mix, with the next track, “Power Down” as well with its speed guitar that pumps you up better than slinging iron can.
With “Hang by a Thread,” this song is dialed back almost to an acoustic level with a slower rhythm, a sweet melody, and softer and deeper vocals from Miles Kennedy. It allows the listener to really appreciate each member’s talents as it’s easier to pick out the harmonization, the drums, separate from lead and rhythm guitar. The softer instrumentation makes it easier to fully grasp the weight of the emotion behind the lyrics “once you’re betrayed, you never trust. And when it’s from the ones you love, nothing the same, not as it was…I can’t win.” There’s a tie-in lyric from “Rue the Day” of “standing my ground” and picking up dignity that makes me want to dive into the entire album to see how connected all the songs are to one another.
As mentioned earlier, Alter Bridge really needs no introduction. Their name’s on this album, it’s THE album, so you should already know it’s going to slap. But if you still don’t believe me, buy it and stream it on all platforms January 9. They’ll be kicking off their tour the following week, beginning with a European leg, with the States seeing them in the Spring. Visit alterbridge.com for their schedule, and follow sidestagemagazine.com for more music news, coverage and reviews.
