SPILL FEATURE: ARMED WITH OUR BEST IDEAS – A CONVERSATION WITH ALTER BRIDGE’S MYLES KENNEDY

ARMED WITH OUR BEST IDEAS

A CONVERSATION WITH ALTER BRIDGE’S MYLES KENNEDY

On January 9, Alter Bridge will releases their eighth studio album, Alter Bridge, and their first since the release of 2022’s Pawns & Kings. In that time, the band has toured before going their own ways as guitarist Mark Tremonti, bassist Brian Marshall, and drummer Scott Phillips reformed Creed. Beyond a massive reunion tour, Tremonti released his sixth solo album, The End Will Show Us How while Myles Kennedy dropped his third solo release, The Art of Letting Go. As the band found their way back together, at none other than Eddie Van Halen’s 5150 Studio of all places, Alter Bridge sounds revitalised on what may be one of their best albums yet. To discuss the making of the record, I sit down with Kennedy as he lifts the veil behind the making of Alter Bridge.

“A lot of times, as an artist, you make records, and you have an idea of what you want to lean into,” Kennedy tells me, reflecting on the eponymous title of their upcoming album. Continuing, he states, “With this one, as it was shaping up, this body of work really captured the essence of what we’ve done through all of the records—the sonic hallmarks—so why not lean into it? Instead of leaning left or leaning right, instead, you’re leaning forward into what you do. It seemed to fit to have it self-titled.” Naturally this begs the question, what is the Alter Bridge sound? According to Kennedy, there are key elements that the band remains conscious of, “To me, it’s really a certain approach. Building the songs on top of these riffs and having a certain melodic approach. It’s about making sure that the melody is as important as the riff is. Our expectation is always that the hooks have to be there with both the guitars and the melodies. From a content standpoint, the narratives of the songs—there is a certain depth to them. The subject matter deals with things, we aren’t writing about fast cars and chicks.” He laughs, adding, “It’s Just how we’re hardwired.”

To that, Alter Bridge succeeds in capturing and, more importantly, building upon what makes Alter Bridge a formidable presence among modern rock. As a result, it may also be the heaviest record from the band, with Kennedy expanding, “I think there’s a certain intensity to it. We always try to have heavy moments; we’re guitar guys, we like heavy riffs. This record seems like there is more of that flavour. I think we you put that with some of the lyrical content, it’s an intense record. It’s got a lot of piss and vinegar.” Reflecting on the making of the record, he continues, “Mark and I, as the primary writers, we like to be prepared going into the studio. . . We’re both very adamant about being armed with our best ideas.” However, the stakes were raised this time around, as Kennedy tells it, “Knowing we were going to start the preproduction process at 5150, that Wolfgang Van Halen was kind enough to let us use, that really elevated our own personal need to raise the bar because so much great music has been made in that studio. Knowing that really helped Mark and I, particularly as guitar players . . . think it made the record better. Mark and I knew that was the jumping off point. We had no choice but to show up and put our best foot forward.”

ALTER BRIDGE ALBUM REVIEW

Despite bringing a collection of refined ideas into the studio, the writing and recording process remains a collaborative affair, “With the ideas I brought in, I wanted there to be chemical reactions. You bring in the genesis of a song, but, when I was demoing stuff, I didn’t make it so everything was all ready to go. I wanted to get in the room and, like ‘here’s a verse and a chorus, let’s build a bridge.’” Continuing, Kennedy states, “What was really exciting for me was doing that in that room and looking around, thinking ‘are there ghosts literally helping the process along? Because I don’t know if the four of us knuckleheads could have come up with that part…’ ‘Playing Aces’ was one of those moments where I felt like what came to be was definitely elevated by that room.” The resulting album is a stroke of brilliance as Alter Bridge indulges in their darkest of inspirations yet, all the while maintaining the balance between hard rock and metal. The opening track, “Silent Divide,” is a great example of this and is the track Kennedy cites as among his favourites, “There’s something about it that really sets up what the record’s going to be. It’s one of those songs where I came in with the riff, the verse, and the chorus, Mark had a bridge, and the band came together and made it Alter Bridge.” Here, Kennedy also sought alternative inspiration, demonstrating a willingness to challenge himself creatively. Referring to the progression in the verse of “Silent Divide,” he highlights the harmonic passage, stating “It was one of those things where I thought ‘what could be the strangest thing I could do there? What would Miles Davis do?’ … It’s just trying to step out of what’s predictable. That’s what I love about jazz.” Another track he highlights, the lone ballad on the record, “Hanging By A Thread” has its roots in his solo work, “it came together, initially, when I was writing The Art of Letting Go, and I just felt that it would be better with Alter Bridge. I’m glad I held off on that one.”

True to form, Kennedy and the band continue to remain in a state of constant motion; however, no matter how spread out the band is with their various creative ventures, Alter Bridge demonstrates that the collective truly is the sum of its parts. This is Alter Bridge at their heaviest as they flex their voice as songwriters with a powerful performance that both pushes the boundaries for the band while remaining true to the Alter Bridge sound. In that, Alter Bridge very well may be among the best records to emerge from the band as they usher in a new and thrilling era.

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Photo Credits: Chuck Brueckmann