''Walk the Sky'' is the sixth studio album by American rock band
Alter Bridge
Alter Bridge is an American rock band from Orlando, Florida. The band was formed in 2004 by vocalist and rhythm guitarist Myles Kennedy, lead guitarist Mark Tremonti, bassist Brian Marshall and drummer Scott Phillips. After their former band Cr ...
, released on October 18, 2019 via
Napalm Records
Napalm Records is an Austrian independent record label focused on heavy metal and hard rock. Originally, Napalm focused on black metal bands, such as Abigor and Summoning, and folk metal bands, such as Falkenbach and Vintersorg. The label later ...
. It was produced by the band's longtime collaborator
Michael Baskette
Michael "Elvis" Baskette is an American music producer who has worked with artists such as Sevendust, Alter Bridge, Projected, Tremonti, Chevelle, Falling in Reverse, Coldrain, The Classic Crime, Temple Agents, Clint Lowery and Slash
Slash ...
, who has produced all of the band's albums since 2007's ''
Blackbird''. The album's first single, "Wouldn't You Rather", was released on June 28, 2019. A second single, "Pay No Mind", was released on July 25, 2019, with four further singles, "Take the Crown", "In the Deep", "Dying Light", and "Godspeed" later released. The album's cover art was designed by Dan Tremonti, brother of guitarist
Mark Tremonti
Mark Thomas Tremonti (born April 18, 1974) is an American guitarist and singer, best known for his tenures with the rock bands Creed and Alter Bridge. He is a founding member of both bands, and has also collaborated with many other artists over ...
; its packaging was designed by Sturge Media and Janus Music Mgmt. Along with the announcement of the album's release, it was also revealed that the band would embark on a European tour with
Shinedown
Shinedown is an American rock band from Jacksonville, Florida, formed by singer Brent Smith in 2001 after the dissolution of Dreve, his previous band. Smith, still under contract with record label Atlantic Records, recruited the band's original l ...
,
Sevendust
Sevendust is an American rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 1994 by bassist Vince Hornsby, drummer Morgan Rose and rhythm guitarist John Connolly. After their first demo, lead vocalist Lajon Witherspoon and lead guitarist Clint Lowery ...
and
the Raven Age
The Raven Age are an English heavy metal band formed in London in 2009 by guitarists George Harris and Dan Wright. Harris is the son of Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris.
History
In 2014, the band recorded and released their self-titled EP be ...
towards the end of 2019.
A deluxe edition of the album, titled
''Walk the Sky 2.0'', was announced on September 15, 2020 and due out on November 6, 2020 via Napalm Records. The seven-track EP consists of a brand new song, "Last Rites", plus six live favourites from ''Walk the Sky''.
It was named one of the 50 best rock albums of 2019 by ''
Loudwire
''Loudwire'' is an American online media magazine that covers news of hard rock and heavy metal artists. It is owned by media and entertainment business Townsquare Media. Since its launch in August of 2011, ''Loudwire'' has secured exclusive ...
''.
Background
''Walk the Sky'' was recorded from the beginning of March through to May 2019. This album was recorded differently from the band's previous record due to scheduling constraints, with vocalist
Myles Kennedy
Myles Richard Bass (born November 27, 1969), known professionally as Myles Kennedy, is an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He is the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Alter Bridge and the lead vocalist in guitarist S ...
and guitarist
Mark Tremonti
Mark Thomas Tremonti (born April 18, 1974) is an American guitarist and singer, best known for his tenures with the rock bands Creed and Alter Bridge. He is a founding member of both bands, and has also collaborated with many other artists over ...
sharing their own song ideas, which were then moulded into shape alongside bassist
Brian Marshall
Brian Aubrey Marshall (born April 24, 1973) is an American musician and songwriter best known as the bassist and co-founder of the rock bands Creed and Alter Bridge.
Early life
Brian Aubrey Marshall was born April 24, 1973, in Jackson, Missi ...
and drummer
Scott Phillips. On previous albums, Kennedy and Tremonti would combine ideas and riffs with producer
Michael Baskette
Michael "Elvis" Baskette is an American music producer who has worked with artists such as Sevendust, Alter Bridge, Projected, Tremonti, Chevelle, Falling in Reverse, Coldrain, The Classic Crime, Temple Agents, Clint Lowery and Slash
Slash ...
.
"It's kinda like a
John Carpenter
John Howard Carpenter (born January 16, 1948) is an American filmmaker, actor, and composer. Although he worked in various film genres, he is most commonly associated with horror, action, and science fiction films of the 1970s and 1980s. He ...
movie — this old-school synth-wave kind of vibe," Tremonti explained in a 2019 interview with ''
Kerrang!
''Kerrang!'' is a British weekly magazine devoted to rock, punk and heavy metal music, currently published by Wasted Talent (the same company that owns electronic music publication ''Mixmag''). It was first published on 6 June 1981 as a one- ...
'' "Somebody might hear the record and have no idea that was intended, but for a batch of songs, I tapped into some old loops that I either created or found randomly online, and worked with them in the background to inspire me to go in a different direction. I loved working like that. We challenge ourselves to not repeat ourselves and find new inspiration to add a different layer to what we do. It's particularly challenging when you've had so many records, but when I showed Myles what I was thinking, he absolutely loved it and was on board right away."
Track listing
Personnel
Alter Bridge
*
Myles Kennedy
Myles Richard Bass (born November 27, 1969), known professionally as Myles Kennedy, is an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He is the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Alter Bridge and the lead vocalist in guitarist S ...
– lead vocals, rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals on "Forever Falling"
*
Mark Tremonti
Mark Thomas Tremonti (born April 18, 1974) is an American guitarist and singer, best known for his tenures with the rock bands Creed and Alter Bridge. He is a founding member of both bands, and has also collaborated with many other artists over ...
– lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Forever Falling", custom synths
*
Brian Marshall
Brian Aubrey Marshall (born April 24, 1973) is an American musician and songwriter best known as the bassist and co-founder of the rock bands Creed and Alter Bridge.
Early life
Brian Aubrey Marshall was born April 24, 1973, in Jackson, Missi ...
– bass guitar
*
Scott Phillips – drums, percussion, keyboards
Production
*
Michael Baskette
Michael "Elvis" Baskette is an American music producer who has worked with artists such as Sevendust, Alter Bridge, Projected, Tremonti, Chevelle, Falling in Reverse, Coldrain, The Classic Crime, Temple Agents, Clint Lowery and Slash
Slash ...
– producer, mixing
*Jef Moll – digital editing
*
Brad Blackwood Brad Blackwood is an American audio mastering audio engineer, engineer. He has mastered albums for artists such as Maroon 5, Against Me, Lamb of God (band), Lamb of God, Black Eyed Peas, Sara Bareilles, and is a 17 time Grammy nominee and 3-time win ...
– mastering
Artwork
*Daniel Tremonti – cover art
*Dan Sturge – photos
*Janus Music Mgmt. - packaging and layout
Charts
References
External links
Official band website
{{Authority control
2019 albums
Alter Bridge albums
Napalm Records albums
Albums produced by Michael Baskette