After all bar vocalist Myles Kennedy (who was rumoured to have jammed with Led Zep!) went out for a Creed tour and new album, Alter Bridge are back with their third album.

I love the band's second album but unlike many other fans of the band just can't enjoy the debut album as much. This new album sits between the two - there are some great songs like 'Isolation', not surprisingly the lead single given its big riff and instant hit on the listener's ears. But there are also a lot of songs that just wash over you despite repeated plays.

The slower songs don't hit home either - 'Wonderful Life' is very tepid. But the big rockers like 'Show Me A Sign' and 'I Know It Hurts' restore your faith in the album and band.

In football parlance this is an album of two halves - half are top draw Alter Bridge tunes but the other half are fine for other bands but not one with such a good track record and expectations as Alter Bridge.

****

Review by Jason Ritchie