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CartTremonti "All I Was" Review — 5 out of 5 stars
Mon, 09 Jul 2012 07:08:07
Like James Hetfield, Dimebag Darrell, and Jerry Cantrell, Mark Tremonti is the rare talent who can not only rip, but also write an unforgettable song.
His solo debut, All I Was, perfectly tips the scales between all-out shredding and hypnotic hooks. In essence, it's everything that a classic metal record should be. This is the heavier side of Tremonti, which has always bubbled up in Creed and Alter Bridge. Now, it's unleashed and primed to destroy.
Album opener "Leave It Alone" roars with an infectious riff, tempered by pinch harmonics and unpredictable lead work. The refrain could bring an arena to its feet, and Tremonti's voice remains pristine, potent, and powerful. He's an impressive singer in his own right, and the first jam out the gate proves that.
"This time I'm leaving," he declares over a bombastic beat from drummer Garrett Whitlock and rhythm guitars and bass from Eric Friedman. A haunting ethereal bridge bleeds right into a bluesy solo from Tremonti, and the record commences with a proper bang worthy of reverence from casual rock fans and tastemakers alike.
"So You're Afraid" thrashes intensely like "Creeping Death" 2012 before slipping into a resounding vocal verse. Then, there's "Wish You Well" which brandishes both fret fireworks and a massive chanting chorus sending off an adversary. The psychedelic "Brains" echoes Alice In Chains before dropping into a Pantera-size stomp. On the other end of the spectrum "New Way Out" glides from clean six-string melodies into some truly impressive vocals from Tremonti. It's the kind of pensive anthem you never forget.
"Giving Up" and "Doesn't Matter" equally showcase how diverse and dynamic of a player Tremonti really is, while "Decay" provides a fitting heavy bookend to the album's rollercoaster. At the end of the day, All I Was stands out as perfect from top to bottom. Tremonti deserves to be hailed with the greats…
—Rick Florino
07.09.12
Will you be getting All I Was next Tuesday July 17?
