Remembering 2020 – Tremonti // Hawxx // Live Review // The Limelight I // Belfast

The majestic Mark Tremonti makes his return to Belfast this evening – four years on since his last visit when supporting his last release ‘A Dying Machine’, his concept album and book release, tonight sees the long-awaited tour support of Tremonti’s latest album ‘Marching In Time’ belatedly, due to Covid delays. This show was to take place in January but we find ourselves in mid-June ready to rock, a packed out Limelight I tells me, Belfast is ready and up for it. 

I had the pleasure today of chatting with Mark about his latest adventures with the new album, Tremonti Sings Sinatra and of course, the highly anticipated New 100W PRS Signature Head for all you gearheads out there! Check out the interview here: 

Before we get to Tremonti with have four lovely London Based ladies supporting for us in the form of Hawxx. We met Hawxx last year at Bloodstock Open Air Festival 2021, when they played the New Blood Stage, so it is truly great to see the progression one year on, supporting an artist of Tremonti’s stature and gaining valuable exposure along the way to build up on their fanbase. Hawxx is a modern metal outfit, with Melodic Djent vibes with hefty riffs and huge breakdowns, all whilst maintaining a really addictive melodic quality to their songwriting. Front woman Anna has a real edgy vibe and handles slamming a seven-string guitar whilst keeping her vocals tight.  The band is just killing it and is fully enjoying their Belfast debut, These ladies have a gritty quality about them with songs of empowerment, daily struggles and mental health awareness they use their platform to share a powerful message and people are taking notice. Hawxx recently released their EP ‘You’re Only As Loud As You Shout Right Now’ so check that out to understand what these talented ladies are all about. 

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8:30 and the lights drop, the crowd erupts as the band members take the stage, and the guys open up with “Thrown Further” with Tremonti attacking the guitar with his pick before they rip their way through the track, Mark is the only one planted in one spot as guitarist Eric Freidman And bassist Tanner Keegan are having an absolute rager! the adrenaline clearly pumping through their veins after hours of waiting to take the stage, it just all pours out. The set is a brutal collection of tracks from their extensive catalogue that allows Tremonti to batter the Belfast crowd one track after another, a relentless barrage of sonic abuse that the Belfast crowd absorbs and calls for more! 

It has to be said the backline is a monstrous outfit with drummer Ryan Bennett hitting those skins as if his life depends on it, Tremonti’s solos cut through like a knife and that new PRS 100W sounds absolutely killer! The heavy pummelling choice of songs reverberates through the floor beneath and you can feel the air move in the room with every double bass drum and thrashing of the guitars, Tremont’s down-tuned PRS sounds like the roof is caving in on top of us, what’s not to love! The set is heavy with tracks from their latest album with ‘Thrown Further’, ‘If Not For You’ ‘Not Afraid To Lose’ ‘A World Away’ ‘Let That Be Us’ and od course the album’s title track ‘Marching In Time’ so you’ll get a taste of the latest Tremonti magic up close and personal. After speaking with Mark previously he had talked about his early influences and his love of old-school heavy thrash and death metal so it is no surprise that when playing live his sound is simply gargantuan, shaking the fillings out of your head and loud, and I remembered last time how loud it was and tonight is no exception! Thank god for earplugs! 

A majestic set by a true powerful band live, years of experience at the very top of their game makes for a highly energetic, polished performance, that is well worth the ticket price, a packed out Limelight I rocked its tight little ass off tonight appreciative of the efforts of guys like Tremonti making the effort to come from stateside to play Ireland North & South over and over again. 

Alter Bridge are back in Ireland and the UK later this year in support of their upcoming album Pawns & Kings so not long to wait, save those pennies, you’ll not regret it. 

TREMONTI released their 5th studio album Marching In Time on September 24th.

Mark Tremonti is no stranger to storytelling. Throughout his years with top-charting bands Alter Bridge and Creed, and most recently his solo band, Mark has never strayed from his love of writing memorable songs. With their fifth album, Marching In Time, the band continues this trend while exploring their love for heavy music, drawing from current events to form the basis of each song. While its predecessor, A Dying Machine, was an overall concept album seeped in darker sentiments and story, the vibe of Marching In Time is different – emerging as a charging rock/metal offering that takes the listener on 12 individual journeys. From the driving drum beat of opener “A World Away” to the epic closer “Marching In Time,” the new album is a reflective look at the world around us today. TREMONTI’s unmatched musicianship bleeds through the album, showcased on tracks like “Thrown Further,” “In One Piece” and the thought-provoking “Would You Kill.” Alternatively, the band displays their softer side on pensive tracks “The Last One Of Us” and “Not Afraid to Lose.” The debut single “If Not For You” shows the evolution of the band’s sound in 2021 and the accompanying video is a frenetic, high-energy performance that visually complements the single. The album closer “Marching In Time” clocks in at 7:34 and a music video for the epic can be seen here. Marching In Time was produced by longtime friend and collaborator Michael “Elvis” Baskette – the producer Mark has worked with exclusively since 2007. Check Out Rock ‘N’ Load ‘s Review Here: Marching In Time

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ALTER BRIDGE ANNOUNCE DUBLIN SHOW

8^TH DECEMBER 2022 – 3ARENA

WITH SPECIAL GUESTS HALESTORM

AND MAMMOTH WVH

Rock titans ALTER BRIDGE are pleased to confirm an extensive European tour this winter which will include a Dublin show at 3Arena on 8^th December.

Tickets from €48 including booking fee go on sale this Friday at 10am via Ticketmaster.ie

The ‘Pawns & Kings’ tour will hit 25 cities over 18 countries, kicking off on November 1st in Hamburg, Germany and wrapping up on December 12th in London, England.

Bursting with riffs, Alter Bridge are currently hard at work recording their seventh studio album, the follow-up to the highly acclaimed, 2019-released ‘Walk The Sky’, which brought the group the #1 spot on over a dozen charts around the globe. The band have been sharing behind the scenes photos from the studio on their social media to whet fan’s appetites! With the as-yet-untitled album expected to be released later in 2022, those snapping up tickets for these dates will be the first in the world to hear the new songs live.

Joining them as special guests are Grammy-winning rockers HALESTORM. The esteemed  Pennsylvanian powerhouse will release their blistering new album ‘Back From The Dead’ on May 6th, which includes their latest single, ‘The Steeple’. Renowned as a spell-binding live music force, Halestorm’s set is sure to be an unmissable treat.

Getting the party started each night are none other than MAMMOTH WVH, visiting some countries for the first time in support of their much-lauded, self-titled debut record. Scooping a ‘Best Rock Song’ Grammy nomination this year for single ‘Distance’ and currently polishing those chops on the road with Guns N Roses, make sure you get in early to catch their set!

Dates line-up as follows:

Tue 1st Nov – GERMANY – HAMBURG Sporthalle

Wed 2nd Nov – DENMARK – COPENHAGEN Falconer

Fri 4th Nov – SWEDEN – GOTHENBURG Partille Arena

Sat 5th Nov – NORWAY – OSLO Sentrum Scene

Mon 7th Nov – POLAND – KATOWICE MCK

Wed 9th Nov – LUXEMBOURG – LUXEMBOURG Rockhal

Fri 11th Nov – GERMANY – BERLIN Columbiahalle

Sat 12th Nov – CZECH REPUBLIC – PRAGUE O2 Universum

Mon 14th Nov – HUNGARY – BUDAPEST Arena

Wed 16th Nov – FRANCE – PARIS Palais Des Sports

Fri 18th Nov – SPAIN – MADRID Vistalegre

Sun 20th Nov – SPAIN – BARCELONA Razzmataz1

Tue 22nd Nov – GERMANY – MUNICH Zenith

Wed 23rd Nov – SWITZERLAND – ZURICH Samsung Hall

Fri 25th Nov – ITALY – MILAN Mediolanum Forum

Sat 26th Nov – CROATIA – ZAGREB Dom Sportova

Mon 28th Nov – AUSTRIA – VIENNA Wiener Stadthalle

Wed 30th Nov – GERMANY – COLOGNE Palladium

Thu 1st Dec – NETHERLANDS – AMSTERDAM Ziggo Dome

Mon 5th Dec – ENGLAND – NOTTINGHAM Motorpoint Arena

Tue 6th Dec – SCOTLAND – GLASGOW SSE Hydro Arena

Thu 8th Dec – IRELAND – DUBLIN 3 Arena

Fri 9th Dec – ENGLAND – MANCHESTER AO Arena

Sun 11th Dec – ENGLAND – BIRMINGHAM Resorts World Arena

Mon 12th Dec – ENGLAND – LONDON O2 Arena

An artist and O2 presale for tickets begins Wednesday 27th April at 11am CEST (10am BST), with a Live Nation presale starting Thursday 28th April at 11am CEST. Tickets are then widely available from 11am CEST on Friday 29th April from all good box offices and online at www.AlterBridge.com. For fan VIP experiences, also visit www.AlterBridge.com.

Alter Bridge’s inimitable Myles Kennedy states, “Alter Bridge is returning to the EU/UK this winter with our friends from Halestorm and Mammoth. It’s going to be a delicious sonic smorgasbord of Earth-shaking Rock & Roll that goes to 11. Don’t miss it!”

Halestorm dynamo Lzzy Hale comments, “To all our European Freaks, we’ve missed you, and are so happy to announce that we are finally crossing the ocean to come and see you all again! This time around we are sharing the stage with all our friends in the legendary Alter Bridge and the one, the only Mammoth WVH! You do not want to miss this show! I can’t wait to experience the passion of you, the Euro Rock fans!!! See you front and centre!”