Alter Bridge - The Last Hero (2 LP)

Floridian hard rockers Alter Bridge return for their fifth round of melodic hard-driving anthems on 2016's The Last Hero. A purportedly non-political roll call for future leaders in troubled times, it follows 2013's Fortress, a critical high-watermark for the veteran group. That Alter Bridge's members can remain as busy as they are -- with singer Myles Kennedy fronting Slash's group and guitarist Mark Tremonti delivering two new solo albums in just a year's time -- and still find the time to write and record quality material is an impressive feat, and yet they make a solid showing on this follow-up. Like all but their first release, The Last Hero was produced by longtime collaborator Michael "Elvis" Baskette and doesn't deviate far from the band's tried and true sonic signature. Opener "Show Me a Leader" begins with some massive and tuneful power leads from Tremonti before the tempo picks up and Kennedy dives headlong into a rousing harmonic performance. There are uplifting tracks like