Walk the Sky is the sixth studio album by American rock band Alter Bridge, released on October 18, 2019 via Napalm Records. It was produced by the band's longtime collaborator Michael Baskette, 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; 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, Sevendust and the Raven Age towards the end of 2019.[11]
Walk the Sky | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 18, 2019 | |||
Recorded | March–May 2019 | |||
Studio | Studio Barbarosa, Orlando, Florida | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 60:20 | |||
Label | Napalm | |||
Producer | Michael Baskette | |||
Alter Bridge chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Walk the Sky | ||||
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Blabbermouth.net | 7.5/10[7] |
Classic Rock | [8] |
Kerrang! | [9] |
Ultimate Guitar Archive | 8.3/10[10] |
Time for Metal | 10/10[1] |
Sonic Perspectives | |
Distorted Sound | |
Q |
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.[12]
It was named one of the 50 best rock albums of 2019 by Loudwire.[13]
Background
editWalk 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 and guitarist Mark Tremonti sharing their own song ideas, which were then moulded into shape alongside bassist Brian Marshall and drummer Scott Phillips. On previous albums, Kennedy and Tremonti would combine ideas and riffs with producer Michael Baskette.[14]
"It's kinda like a John Carpenter movie — this old-school synth-wave kind of vibe," Tremonti explained in a 2019 interview with Kerrang! "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."[15]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Alter Bridge
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "One Life" | 1:23 |
2. | "Wouldn't You Rather" | 3:51 |
3. | "In the Deep" | 3:50 |
4. | "Godspeed" | 4:16 |
5. | "Native Son" | 4:15 |
6. | "Take the Crown" | 4:47 |
7. | "Indoctrination" | 4:40 |
8. | "The Bitter End" | 3:44 |
9. | "Pay No Mind" | 4:16 |
10. | "Forever Falling" | 5:10 |
11. | "Clear Horizon" | 4:56 |
12. | "Walking on the Sky" | 4:55 |
13. | "Tear Us Apart" | 4:31 |
14. | "Dying Light" | 5:46 |
Total length: | 60:20 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
15. | "Last Rites" | 4:07 |
16. | "Wouldn't You Rather" (Live) | 4:03 |
17. | "Pay No Mind" (Live) | 4:29 |
18. | "Native Son" (Live) | 4:27 |
19. | "Godspeed" (Live) | 4:28 |
20. | "In the Deep" (Live) | 4:03 |
21. | "Dying Light" (Live) | 5:58 |
Total length: | 91:15 |
Personnel
editAlter Bridge
- Myles Kennedy – lead vocals, rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals on "Forever Falling"
- Mark Tremonti – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Forever Falling", custom synths
- Brian Marshall – bass guitar
- Scott Phillips – drums, percussion, keyboards
Production
- Michael Baskette – producer, mixing
- Jef Moll – digital editing
- Brad Blackwood – mastering
Artwork
- Daniel Tremonti – cover art
- Dan Sturge – photos
- Janus Music Mgmt. - packaging and layout
Charts
editChart (2019) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA)[16] | 7 |
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[17] | 3 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[18] | 32 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[19] | 28 |
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[20] | 27 |
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI)[21] | 69 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[22] | 16 |
French Albums (SNEP)[23] | 74 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[24] | 5 |
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[25] | 14 |
Irish Albums (IRMA)[26] | 68 |
Italian Albums (FIMI)[27] | 18 |
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[28] | 98 |
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[29] | 21 |
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[30] | 46 |
Scottish Albums (OCC)[31] | 3 |
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[32] | 25 |
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[33] | 59 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[34] | 1 |
Swiss Albums (Romandie)[35] | 1 |
UK Albums (OCC)[36] | 4 |
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[37] | 1 |
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[38] | 1 |
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[39] | 1 |
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[40] | 1 |
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[41] | 1 |
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[42] | 1 |
US Billboard 200[43] | 16 |
References
edit- ^ a b H., Peter (October 15, 2019). "Alter Bridge – Walk The Sky". time-for-metal.eu.
- ^ "Alter Bridge: Wouldn't You Rather (Official Video)". YouTube. Alter Bridge. June 28, 2019. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
- ^ "Pay No Mind lyrics". Genius.com.
- ^ "Take the Crown lyrics". Genius.com.
- ^ "In the Deep lyrics". Genius.com.
- ^ "Dyling Light lyrics". Genius.com.
- ^ Lawson, Dom (October 18, 2019). "CD Reviews - Walk The Sky Alter Bridge". Blabbermouth.net.
- ^ Leivers, Danni (October 18, 2019). "Alter Bridge's Walk The Sky: a transformative shift in scope". loudersound.com.
- ^ "Album Review: Alter Bridge – Walk The Sky". Kerrang!. October 17, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
- ^ Lausch, Travis (October 20, 2019). "Walk the Sky review by Alter Bridge". ultimate-guitar.com.
- ^ "Alter Bridge Announce 'Walk the Sky' Album + 2019 European Tour". Loudwire. June 14, 2019.
- ^ "Alter Bridge Announce Walk the Sky 2.0 EP — Kerrang!".
- ^ "The 50 Best Rock Albums of 2019". Loudwire. December 5, 2019. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ "Alter Bridge announce new album Walk the Sky - and reveal 2019 tour dates". June 14, 2019.
- ^ "Mark Tremonti On Alter Bridge's New Album: 'We Challenge Ourselves To Not Repeat Ourselves'". Kerrang!. June 18, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – Alter Bridge – Walk the Sky". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Alter Bridge – Walk the Sky" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Alter Bridge – Walk the Sky" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Alter Bridge – Walk the Sky" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
- ^ "Alter Bridge Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
- ^ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 43.Týden 2019 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Alter Bridge – Walk the Sky" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – Alter Bridge – Walk the Sky". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Alter Bridge – Walk the Sky" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
- ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2019. 43. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
- ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Alter Bridge". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
- ^ "Italiancharts.com – Alter Bridge – Walk the Sky". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
- ^ "Alter Bridge". Oricon. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
- ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
- ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Alter Bridge – Walk the Sky". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
- ^ "Top 100 Albumes – Semana 43: del 18.10.2019 al 24.10.2019" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Alter Bridge – Walk the Sky". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Alter Bridge – Walk the Sky". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
- ^ "Lescharts.ch – Alter Bridge – Walk the Sky" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
- ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
- ^ "Alter Bridge Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
- ^ "Alter Bridge Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
- ^ "Alter Bridge Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
- ^ "Alter Bridge Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
- ^ "Alter Bridge Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 29, 2019.