Having pre-ordered two different bundles (CD boxset and 4 piece picture disc vinyl) via Napalm Records way back in June, it feels like I’ve waited forever for this live album to be releases.

”Forever” lasted until 8 September, the release date for Alter Bridge’s Live At The O2 Arena + Rarities album.

We’ll come back to the Rarities bit in a moment.

Live At The O2 Arena is Alter Bridge’s third live album, following on the heels of the highly acclaimed Live In Amsterdam and Live At Wembley.

Personally, I feel that live albums are aimed more at the existing die-hard fan market then at the “gathering new fans” market. This record deserves to excel in both arenas.

Spread over two CDs, Alter Bridge treat their fans to the full seventeen song set as performed on the evening of 24 November 2016 at London’s iconic O2 Arena. The set itself is fairly balanced with songs from all five of the band’s studio albums and includes all the firm fan favourites. It’s a mammoth listen! The quality of the recording and production leave you feeling as though you are right there on the rail watching as well as listening.

There’s no question about the calibre of Alter Bridge’s performance on the night ( or on any other night for that fact) They nailed it! All four member’s contributions can clearly be heard consistently throughout the record. From Brian Marshall’s thundering bass to Mark Tremonti’s expertly executed guitars; from the pounding rhythm of Scott Phillips’ drums to the soaring vocals of Myles Kennedy- each is balanced perfectly here and complimented by the passionate voices of the 20 000 Alter Bridge fans in the audience.

I’m not going to break this review down to track by track level. We’d be here all night! This live record is an eargasmic listening experience and captures the vibe of the live show for all to enjoy again and again.

Two wee minor criticisms ( and they are minor). I’d have liked to hear a little more of Myles’ interaction  with the crowd between songs. He’s not as “chatty” as some frontmen but he’s not as distant as this album implies by it’s lack of chat.  My second  minor gripe is that the two bonus live tracks, Poison In Your Veins and My Champion (both recorded at Manchester Arena the night before) feel “stuck on” at the end here. Yes, I know they are bonus tracks and that they may have not made the cut for the London set list and did feature throughout the rest of the UK arena tour, but they are out of place here. Every Alter Bridge fan knows that when you hear Rise Today that the end of the night is rapidly approaching. I feel it should have been the final track on the live CD with the bonus live tracks perhaps sitting better on the third CD in the set, B-sides and Rarities.

The B-sides and Rarities CD , the third and final disc in the boxset, delivers eleven tracks, two of which have never been  heard before now, Cruel Sun and Solace, both from the One Day Remains era. With a haunting start, Cruel Sun is reminiscent of Soundgarden with hints of Myles’ earlier band The Mayfield Four. It’s an immense song but I can see why it wasn’t a natural fit on One Day Remains. Solace on the other hand  is a true gem of a track. Why has this awesome song been kept hidden for thirteen years, boys? I love it! I truly hope that Solace finally get its chance and finds its own niche in the band’s set. ..perhaps at the upcoming Royal Albert Hall shows? The remaining nine tracks have all appeared on either US Best Buy special editions, UK deluxe editions or Japanese special editions. Die hard fans may have already sourced these but it is fantastic to finally have them all gathered together on one CD. A CD that doesn’t sound like it is made up of B-sides. This CD could hold its own as an album in its own right. Leaves you wondering what else these boys have hidden in their archives?…..

All in all, this is an immense  sonic journey from the opening track on the first CD, The Writing On The Wall, to the last track on the third CD, Symphony Of Agony ( this was incorrectly titled Last Of Our Kind by the record label on the UK special edition of The Last Hero). Play it loud! Your neighbours will thank you for it!

 

10/10

Set List ( cd 1 & 2)

The Writing On The Wall

Come To Life

Addicted To Pain

Ghost Of Days Gone By

Cry Of Achilles

The Other Side

Farther Than The Sun

Ties That Bind

Waters Rising

Crows On A Wire

Watch Over You

Isolation

Blackbird

Metalingus

Open Your Eyes

Show Me A Leader

Rise Today

 

Bonus Tracks

Poison In Your Veins

My Champion

 

B-sides + Rarities

 

Breathe

Cruel Sun

Solace

New Way To Live

The Damage Done

We Don’t Care At All

Zero

Home

Never Born To Follow

Never Say Die (Outright)

Symphony Of Agony (Last Of Our Kind)

(images sourced via Google- credits to their owners)