Since 2004, Alter Bridge has been one of the most consistent bands to successfully represent the rock and metal communities with their driving melodies, blazing guitar riffs, and topical lyrics that resonate with fans around the globe. Their seventh album, Pawns & Kings, continues that trend with 10 unforgettable new songs, all incredible additions to an already impressive catalog. Coming off the launch of what was shaping up to be one of the band’s pinnacle moments with Walk The Sky, everything came to a halt as the world would forever be changed due to the events of a global pandemic.

The time the members of Alter Bridge spent apart sparked a new fire and heaviness when the band reconvened for what would eventually become Pawns & Kings. Teaming with longtime producer and collaborator Michael “Elvis” Baskette, the album shines with massive, menacing arena-ready production while emerging as another sonic testament to the seasoned Miles Kennedy/Mark Tremonti songwriting dream team. The band deliver three epic anthems – the reflective and absolutely epic title track “Pawns & Kings,” the grim-riffed, prog influenced “Sin After Sin,” and the emotive eight-and-a-half minute journey “Fable Of The Silent Son.”

There’s also “Silver Tongue,” backed by a punishing intro riff that gives way to one of the band’s most infectious choruses as Myles Kennedy sings, “Truth of a crime. You can’t outrun. Under the spell of my silver tongue.” And tracks like “Holiday” and “Season Of Promise” ebb and flow within the trademark multi-faceted metallic rock attack that has enchanted Alter Bridge fans for a generation. Songs like “This Is War,” “Dead Among The Living” and “Last Man Standing” showcase the heavier side of a band firing on all cylinders, with soaring leads, hair-raising vocals and introspective lyricism abound. Mark Tremonti handles lead vocal duties on the uplifting track “Stay,” an interchanging of skills that first debuted on the band’s fourth album, Fortress, and continues to this day.