Alter Bridge
Those Creed paycheques must feature numerous zeroes if three-quarters of its membership seem willing to continue peddling grunge-lite tripe there, while their musical (ahem) alter-ego craft increasingly potent, searing hard rock. Boasting pure songwriting chemistry with Myles Kennedy and his golden pipes, virtuoso guitarist Mark Tremonti plays a key role in their hardest-hitting, most metallic effort (see The Uninvited). Highly accessible but soulful, Addicted To Pain's anthemic hooks, All Ends Well's uplifting refrain and mini-epic title track fit snugly alongside the groovy, syncopated riffs of Cry A River and Bleed It Dry's startling Tremonti solo.
