Alter Bridge, Review - 'Walk the Sky 2.0' Captures Charisma of Live Shows

Alter Bridge, Review – ‘Walk the Sky 2.0’ Captures Charisma of Live Shows

2020-11-20

Alter Bridge, “Walk the Sky 2.0,” album cover – Review by Anne Erickson

Review: “Walk the Sky 2.0” is yet another solid release from Alter Bridge, and it brings some much-needed live action for fans who haven’t been able to see Alter Bridge on their “Walk the Sky” touring cycle

Some bands are best experienced live, and Alter Bridge is one of the bands. The group released their latest studio album, “Walk the Sky,” last year but weren’t able to properly tour on the record due to the coronavirus pandemic shutting down touring across the world. So, what’s a band to do?

With no live shows on the horizon for the foreseeable future, Alter Bridge has released a new live album, “Walk the Sky 2.0,” featuring songs off “Walk the Sky” performed live. These aren’t just any Alter Bridge performances- these are the freshest Alter Bridge shows out there, as the cuts hail from early 2020.

“Walk the Sky 2.0” kicks off with a new studio song from Alter Bridge, “Last Rites,” which vocalist Myles Kennedy, guitarist Mark Tremonti, drummer Scott Phillips and bass player Brian Marshall started writing during the original “Walk the Sky” recording sessions. The songs was shelved because it didn’t quite fit the vibe of that album, so when lockdown kicked in, band members thought it would be a good time to take the song out and finish it. “Last Rites” features chugging, meaty riffs with soaring, melodic melodies and Kennedy’s smooth tenor on top. It very much fits in the style and sound of Alter Bridge, with a heavy vibe but uplifting aura.

The rest of the EP consists of six live versions of tracks from “Walk The Sky” off the group’s most recent tour dates. While it’s difficult to capture the magic of a live show on tape, “Walk the Sky 2.0” does just that, packing the band’s electric live energy and excitement of an Alter Bridge live show and bringing it to life in a record form. As the band storms through tracks such as “Wouldn’t You Rather,” “Native Sun,” “In the Deep,” “Pay No Mind” and “Dying Light,” the album is brought to life and presented in a way to give listeners a feel for what it would be like to be at a live Alter Bridge show.

“Walk the Sky 2.0” is yet another solid release from Alter Bridge, and it brings some much-needed live action for fans who haven’t been able to see Alter Bridge on their “Walk the Sky” touring cycle. The new track, “Last Rites,” also sets the listener up for a new Alter Bridge studio album and gives a taste of what’s to come from this always-evolving band.

Ink rating: 10/10. Essential songs: “Last Rites,” “Wouldn’t You Rather,” “Native Sun.” For fans of: Soaring, big-sounding melodic hard rock with heart and soul.

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Anne Erickson

Meet the expert - Author, writer and editor Anne Erickson is a Detroit-based reporter and radio host. She has written for the USA Today Network, Consequence.net, Blabbermouth.net, and many more. Anne holds a master's degree from Michigan State University. Contact Anne at anne@audioinkradio.com.