Alter Bridge - Fortress (2013)

I'll readily admit that I have a huge soft spot for hard rock and boy does this band/album fill it. It's just a no frills, rocking album with excellent riffs and vocals that will keep you coming back for more. There's no shortage of memorable moments on this album such as the epic chorus of "Addicted to Pain" or the monumental riff in "Peace is Broken." There's so much potential for headbanging throughout "Fortress" that I doubt even the "truest" metalheads out there will be able to resist this album's charm. I'd put this one about on par with "Blackbird" as Alter Bridge's best to date as well as one of the best hard rock/alt. metal albums of all time.

9/10