AB III

AB III was written throughout 2008 and 2009, but the songs were arranged generally quickly. Regarding the arrangement and recording process of the album, lead singer Myles Kennedy said that the creation of AB III was different from that of the band's previous album, Blackbird, because the band had about six weeks to put the music together before they started to work with their producer, Michael Baskette. Kennedy said, "I think it actually worked out well, because it's a very spontaneous record."{{YouTube|3BaHFKJTuBI|Myles Kennedy Talks About The New Alter Bridge Album}}

On June 21, 2010, the band announced that the recording, mixing, and mastering of the album was finished and all that was left was to decide on was the official title, song titles, track listing, and album art.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=7326114&blogId=536143074 |title=Entire Recording Process Finished on Third Alter Bridge Album |date=June 21, 2010 |work=Alter Bridge's blog |access-date=September 17, 2016}}{{Dead link|date=September 2016|fix-attempted=yes}} On August 9, 2010, the band announced that the working title of the album, AB III, would actually be the official title after all, stating they think it is "simple yet effective". On the same blog post, they announced each song on the record one by one throughout the day.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=7326114&blogId=538048801 |title=New Alter Bridge Album's Title and Tracklisting |author=Alter Bridge |date=August 9, 2010 |work=Alter Bridge's blog |access-date=September 17, 2016}}{{Dead link|date=September 2016|fix-attempted=yes}} Later that month it was confirmed that AB III would be released worldwide (excluding North America) on Roadrunner Records, making AB III Alter Bridge's third consecutive album to be released through a different record label. The same press release confirmed a European release date of October 11, 2010 for the new album. On October 6, the band announced that the album is scheduled for a North American release on November 9, 2010, on their own label, Alter Bridge Recordings, a subsidiary of Capitol Records. AB III was first released in Australia three years to the day after their previous album on October 8, 2010.

"Zero" and "Home" were included on the United States version of the album as bonus tracks. The Japanese version contains a bonus track called "Never Born to Follow".{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/AB-III-Alter-Bridge/dp/B0045ASBY8/ |title=AB III: Alter Bridge |publisher=Amazon |access-date=October 20, 2010}} Guitarist Mark Tremonti said that AB III could be the band's final studio album and that future Alter Bridge releases may be released digitally or in the form of EPs.{{cite video|url=http://listenin.org/search/SearchResults.aspx?q=mark+tremonti |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130718004616/http://listenin.org/search/SearchResults.aspx?q=mark+tremonti |url-status = dead|archive-date=July 18, 2013 |title=Mark Tremonti speaks about the potential end of full length albums |date=2010 |work=This Is Listening |access-date=October 22, 2010 }}

On October 25, 2011, the band released a special edition of the album titled AB III.5, which included the three bonus tracks plus an hour-long documentary titled One by One.{{cite news|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=163612 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120918034116/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=163612 |url-status = dead|archive-date=September 18, 2012 |title=ALTER BRIDGE: 'AB III.5' CD/DVD Special Edition Detailed |date=September 21, 2011 |work=Blabbermouth.net }}

AB III, initially described by the band as being very dark, heavy, and dynamic, is lyrically a very dark record and a radical departure from the band's first two albums, One Day Remains (2004) and Blackbird (2007), in terms of subject matter. It is a loose concept album, a first for Alter Bridge, about a character "desperately struggling to find their place in a world steeped in doubt and emptiness", whereas the other two Alter Bridge records primarily focus on themes of "hope and perseverance in the face of adversity". Kennedy has said that the album "touches on the thoughts and emotions of someone who has come to question everything that was once regarded as an absolute truth" and that it is about "the realization that everything you once believed in might not exist". However, on AB III, there are songs that touch on other emotions as well such as "Wonderful Life", a song that Kennedy claims was "an extremely emotional song to put together, it took a long time". He then adds, "The lyric was inspired by the idea that there will come a day when we all must say goodbye to the ones we love and hold dear in our hearts. Basically, I asked myself what would I want to say in that final moment, that last goodbye?".{{cite web|title=New Alter Bridge - AB III - Bio|url=http://www.alterbridge.com/html/2010/09/08/new-alter-bridge-ab-iii-bio/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100911025356/http://www.alterbridge.com/html/2010/09/08/new-alter-bridge-ab-iii-bio/|archive-date=September 11, 2010}}{{cite web|title=Alter Bridge - Meaning of Wonderful Life |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJQWEmEkbrs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140624184740/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJQWEmEkbrs |archive-date=2014-06-24 |url-status=dead}}

The record is also much more intricate, progressive, and dynamic than their first two albums. It has even been described as progressive metal in some reviews.{{cite web |url=http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/alter_bridge/ab_iii/index.html|title=AB III Review |publisher=Ultimate Guitar Archive |access-date=October 8, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101011091209/http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/alter_bridge/ab_iii/index.html| archive-date= October 11, 2010 |url-status = live}}

Kennedy plays more lead guitar on this album than he does on Blackbird. He said that "[he's] definitely doing things [he hasn't] done in a long time as a guitar player."{{cite web|url=http://www.musicradar.com/guitarist/myles-kennedy-alter-bridge-slash-interview-260683 |title=Myles Kennedy (Alter Bridge, Slash) interview |author=Rob Laing |date=July 13, 2010 |work=MusicRadar |publisher=Future Publishing Limited |access-date=September 17, 2016}} Tremonti's vocals are also more prominent compared to the band's previous releases, singing co-lead vocals with Kennedy on "Words Darker Than Their Wings", the title of which is derived from a phrase in George R. R. Martin's novel A Game of Thrones.

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = 411Mania

| rev1score = 8.0/10{{cite web|url=http://www.411mania.com/music/album_reviews/158112|title=Alter Bridge – AB III Review|last=Shanbrom|first=Benjamin|access-date=February 25, 2010}}

| rev2 = Allmusic

| rev2score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=ab-iii-r2040537/review|pure_url=yes}} |title=AB III – Alter Bridge |author=Gregory Heaney |date=November 9, 2010 |website=AllMusic |access-date=November 9, 2010}}

| rev3 = Artistdirect

| rev3score = {{Rating|5|5}}

| rev4 = Hard Rock Hideout

| rev4score = {{Rating|8|10}}{{cite web|url=http://hardrockhideout.com/2010/11/15/alter-bridge-ab-iii-2010/|title=Alter Bridge – AB III (2010)|access-date=February 25, 2011|archive-date=December 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207125642/https://hardrockhideout.com/2010/11/15/alter-bridge-ab-iii-2010/|url-status=dead}}

| rev5 = Kerrang!

| rev5score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}}

| rev6 = Reflections of Darkness

| rev6Score = 9/10

| rev7 = Rock Sound

| rev7score = 7/10{{cite web|url=http://www.rocksound.tv/reviews/article/alter-bridge-ab-iii|title=Alter Bridge – 'AB III'|last=Moorhouse|first=Giles|access-date=October 25, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101019070304/http://www.rocksound.tv/reviews/article/alter-bridge-ab-iii| archive-date= October 19, 2010 |url-status = live}}

| rev8 = Total Guitar

| rev8score = {{Rating|5|5}} [#207, p.27]

| rev9 = Type 3 Media

| rev9score = {{Rating|6|10}}

}}

AB III has received acclaim. Rob Laing from MusicRadar highly praised it and called it "one of the guitar albums of the year".{{cite web |url=http://www.musicradar.com/guitarist/alter-bridge-ab-iii-track-by-track-review-278474 |title=Alter Bridge – AB III: Track-by-track review |author=Rob Laing |date=September 17, 2010 |work=MusicRadar |publisher=Future Publishing Limited |access-date=October 4, 2010}} Claudia Falzone from Outune.net, an Italian music website, also praised AB III and said that it "reveals another unpredictable side" to Alter Bridge, but that because of that, "the earliest fan could not welcome this record immediately" and that the record "will require more than one or two listenings to be appreciated and understood at your best."{{cite web |url=http://www.outune.net/tunemag/rocktune/alter-bridge-ab-iii-premiere.html |title=Alter Bridge: AB III première [English Version] |author=Claudia Falzone |date=September 15, 2010 |publisher=Outune.net 4.0 |access-date=October 4, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101011171217/http://outune.net/tunemag/rocktune/alter-bridge-ab-iii-premiere.html |archive-date=October 11, 2010 |url-status = dead }} Petra Whiteley from Reflections of Darkness called AB III "impressive" and a "must-get", and stated that "the musicianship of this album is altogether honed to excellence." She also praised the band by saying that "they are more interested in making music and that authenticity of their art and integrity are more important to them than the commercial side of it." She later went on to say that Alter Bridge "will go far and shouldn't be missed out on."{{cite web |url=http://reflectionsofdarkness.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8293&Itemid=44 |title=Alter Bridge – AB III |author=Petra Whiteley |date=September 25, 2010 |publisher=Reflections of Darkness |access-date=October 4, 2010}} Rick Florino from Artistdirect gave the record an extremely positive review and a perfect 5 out of 5 score. He said that it is "one of the best rock records of 2010" and called it a "sprawling masterpiece that illuminates just how brilliant this band truly is" and "a juggernaut of an album that places the band firmly in the rock 'n' roll pantheon forever." He expanded on this in an interview with Myles Kennedy by calling the album "everything 21st century rock music should be" and saying that it will "establish this band among the most important in the genre."{{cite web |url=http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/myles-kennedy-of-alter-bridge-talks-ab-iii-slash-and-john-irving/7680874 |title=Myles Kennedy of Alter Bridge Talks "AB III," Slash and John Irving |author=Rick Florino |date=October 11, 2010 |work=Artistdirect |publisher=Rogue Digital, LLC |access-date=October 20, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101113085959/http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/myles-kennedy-of-alter-bridge-talks-ab-iii-slash-and-john-irving/7680874| archive-date= November 13, 2010 |url-status = live}} Entertainment Focus also reviewed the album positively, saying, "Overall this is a great album from the band that sees them all stepping up a notch." However, the reviewer noted that AB III will "test some listeners" and that "[f]ans of the previous two albums may find this one a bit more difficult to digest."{{cite web|url=http://www.entertainment-focus.com/music/articles/alter-bridge-ab-iii |title=Alter Bridge – AB III |author=Justin Ng |date=October 15, 2010 |work=Entertainment Focus |publisher=Pip |access-date=October 20, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101020161241/http://www.entertainment-focus.com/music/articles/alter-bridge-ab-iii |archive-date=October 20, 2010 |url-status = dead}} The Contrapuntist called AB III "a grand achievement and possibly the best hard rock album of the year."{{cite web |url=http://www.thecontrapuntist.com/2010/12/15/album-review-ab-iii-by-alter-bridge/ |title=Album Review: AB III by Alter Bridge |date=December 15, 2010 |publisher=The Contrapuntist}} Ultimate Guitar named AB III one of the best ten albums of the year 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/columns/features/ug_top_ten_albums_of_2010.html |title=UG Top Ten Albums Of 2010 |date=December 24, 2010 |publisher=Ultimate Guitar |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310072736/http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/columns/features/ug_top_ten_albums_of_2010.html |archive-date=March 10, 2011 }} However, not all reviews have been entirely positive. A reviewer from Type 3 Media said, "Overall AB III is a good effort, but it may not hold up to Alter Bridge's previous releases."{{cite web |url=http://type3media.com/2010/10/07/album-review-alter-bridge-abiii/ |title=Album Review: Alter Bridge – AB III |author=P. J. |date=October 7, 2010 |publisher=Type 3 Media |access-date=October 8, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101010130453/http://type3media.com/2010/10/07/album-review-alter-bridge-abiii/ |archive-date=October 10, 2010 |url-status = dead}}

So far, AB III has performed better on the charts than any of the band's previous albums. On its first day, AB III reached the No. 1 rock album and No. 4 overall on the iTunes Store in Germany. In Australia, it reached the No. 2 rock album. On October 17, 2010, AB III reached No. 9 in the United Kingdom album charts and No. 1 in the rock album charts. AB III reached the No. 1 rock album, and No. 2 overall, on iTunes in the United States.{{Citation needed|date=November 2010}} For the week of November 27, 2010, the album reached No. 17 on the Billboard 200.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200#/charts/billboard-200|title=Billboard 200|magazine=Billboard.com|access-date=November 22, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101123200657/http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200| archive-date= November 23, 2010 |url-status = live}}

"Isolation" was released as the first single in September 2010.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}} It generally received very positive reviews from the critics.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}} It became the band's first ever song to top the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks, for 7 weeks.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}} It also topped the active rock charts.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}} It peaked No. 5 position in the Billboard Rock Songs, No. 20 in the Billboard Alternative Songs.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}} "I Know It Hurts" was released as the second single from the album for radio airplay worldwide except the U.S.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}} "Ghost of Days Gone By" was the second in U.S. and third overall single, which was released in April 2011.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}

{{Track listing

| headline =

| all_writing = Alter Bridge

| title1 = Slip to the Void

| length1 = 4:52

| title2 = Isolation

| length2 = 4:13

| title3 = Ghost of Days Gone By

| length3 = 4:25

| title4 = All Hope Is Gone

| length4 = 4:48

| title5 = Still Remains

| length5 = 4:45

| title6 = Make It Right

| length6 = 4:15

| title7 = Wonderful Life

| length7 = 5:19

| title8 = I Know It Hurts

| length8 = 3:55

| title9 = Show Me a Sign

| length9 = 5:57

| title10 = Fallout

| length10 = 4:21

| title11 = Breathe Again

| length11 = 4:22

| title12 = Coeur d'Alene

| length12 = 4:31

| title13 = Life Must Go On

| length13 = 4:32

| title14 = Words Darker Than Their Wings

| length14 = 5:24

| total_length = 65:39}}

{{Track listing

| writing_credits =

| headline = US edition

| title15 = Zero

| length15 = 4:39

| title16 = Home

| length16 = 3:29

| total_length = 73:48}}

{{Track listing

| writing_credits =

| headline = Japanese edition

| title15 = Never Born to Follow

| length15 = 4:06

| total_length = 70:13

}}

{{Track listing

| writing_credits =

| headline = AB III.5 (special edition)

| title15 = Zero

| length15 = 4:39

| title16 = Home

| length16 = 3:29

| title17 = Never Born to Follow

| length17 = 4:06

| total_length = 78:22

}}

Alter Bridge

• Myles Kennedy – vocals, rhythm and lead guitar
• Mark Tremonti – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals, co-lead vocals on "Words Darker Than Their Wings"
• Brian Marshall – bass
• Scott Phillips – drums, percussion

Additional musicians

• String arrangements by Michael Baskette and Dave Holdredge

Production

• Michael Baskette – producer
• Dave Holdredge – engineer
• Brian Sperber – mixing{{cite web|url=http://www.alterbridge.com/html/2010/05/11/alter-bridge-in-new-york-finalizing-mixing-of-third-album/ |title=Alter Bridge in New York – Finalizing Mixing of Third Album |author=Alter Bridge |date=May 11, 2010 |work=Alter Bridge's blog |access-date=September 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100521171859/http://www.alterbridge.com/html/2010/05/11/alter-bridge-in-new-york-finalizing-mixing-of-third-album |archive-date=May 21, 2010 }}
• Ted Jensen – mastering{{cite web|url=http://www.alterbridge.com/html/2010/06/03/short-update-from-mark-tremonti-about-ab-iii/ |title=Short Update from Mark Tremonti About AB III |author=Mark Tremonti |date=June 3, 2010 |work=Alter Bridge's blog |access-date= September 17, 2016 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2016|fix-attempted=yes}}
• Daniel Tremonti – cover art
• Jef Moll – digital editing
• Tony Adams – drum technician

• The song "Isolation" was featured in the video game Dirt 3 in 2011.

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.alterbridge.com Official band website]

{{Alter Bridge}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ab 3}}

Category:2010 albums

Category:Alter Bridge albums

Category:Roadrunner Records albums

Category:Albums produced by Michael Baskette