Mark Tremonti is not a household name, but that’s simply because his music is not really for the masses. It’s maybe somewhat acquired taste, but once you discover it, you cannot help but wonder, is he one of the most underrated musicians on the current metal scene, or perhaps being a household name is just a lottery that some fantastic musicians never get to win?

Declared Guitarist of the Decade by Guitar World in 2019, and his “Blackbird” solo – the greatest guitar solo of all time, his name is well known and respected not only in professional circles. As close to a household name as his career goes is probably Creed, his original band, replaced 20 years ago by Alter Bridge, which has been his active band ever since. Mark has now released the sixth solo album with his own band, Tremonti: The End WIll Show Us How.

To summarise the new release in one word: it is phenomenal. From start to finish, this is fierce, dark, apocalyptic, extremely smart, and deep. The opening riff sets the pace and stylistics for the entire album. This is heavy metal that dabs into trash here and there, and, most prominently, into industrial and alternative. It’s not surprising that fans find similarities with Sevendust: the energy is that raw and explosive.

Another member of Alter Bridge released a new album a few months ago, Myles Kennedy, so for those following his career as well, it is interesting to draw parallels between him and Tremonti. As much as their music is miles apart, they are also peas of the same pod. The messages Tremonti delivers in his new album are sung from the same hymn sheet as Kennedy’s The Art of Letting Go. Both albums talk about taking responsibility for your actions, finding your true calling, fighting against toxicity and narcissism, facing adversity and moving forwards despite it, about “being more” and rising above things (in Kennedy’s terminology: letting go). Where they differ is that Myles’ music is lighter and much more melodically relaxed, while Tremonti’s path is darker and way more intense.

Musically, this is a mixture of industrial and alternative metal, with a bit of Rage Against The Machine vibe and energy (“Just Too Much”), a bit of Foo Fighters tempo (“The Bottom”), some serious trash shredding (“All The Wicked Things”) and some Myles Kennedy episodes (with a brief moment in “One More Time” just as if out of a Kennedy’s record, and the starting solo in “It’s Not Over” drawing direct parallels to the iconic “Love Can Only Heal”). “Now That I’ve Made It” starts with this raw solo borderlining with discordance (no doubt intentional), just to keep us on our toes. In “All The Wicked Things” and “I’ll Take My Chances”, there are some nearly surreal and cosmic elements which will give you goosebumps.

There are also a couple of tracks that are more easy going and commercial, with the heartfelt ballad “It’s Not Over” having top of the charts potential. The title track is brilliant, with nice lyrical elements and a fantastic guitar solo, the gentle pinching of the strings at the start making your hair stand on end.

It goes without saying that the guitar work is second to none, and the vocal work is fairly fascinating, too. Tremonti’s voice is generally fairly mellow and clear (I want to really say sweet and cute, as funny as that may sound), which contrasts the style of his music, so making it sound raw and aggressive is something that takes some skill. I can’t help but draw comparisons here with Sheen Greenhall (Those Damn Crows) whose sweet angelic voice makes such a contrast from their music that somehow it all falls into this weird unison of mellowness blended with heavy rock. It’s not surprising that one of Tremonti’s side projects is Frank Sinatra covers: his voice is that classical.

“All The Wicked Things” is a great finale to the album, with positive, yet fierce, energy.

Tremonti is setting out to tour the UK next month, so catch his new release before you see him live.

• Reviewed by Angelina Pelova.
• The End Will Show Us How is available now via Napalm Records
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Track List:

1. The Mother, The Earth and I

2. One More Time

3. Just Too Much

4. Nails

5. It’s Not Over

6. The End Will Show Us How

7. Tomorrow We Will Fail

8. I’ll Take My Chances

9. The Bottom

10. Live In Fear

11. Now That I’ve Made It

12. All The Wicked Things