Crumbso wrote:...the sheer sincerity, compassion of the subjects and all-round good dudeness of Myle's delivery is what makes the songs.
This. Exactly.
I realize my perspective on this band might be slightly atypical, but I'm the type of music fan in general who could not care less about technical details. I don't care about how something is recorded or produced or what was used to achieve this sound or that effect or what have you. The only thing that matters to me is the end result and the unconscious impact it has on me as a listener.
I think truly great music, that which is capable of reaching its listeners at a level below the superficial, can only be achieved when the musician deeply cares about what they're addressing. That element of pure honesty always finds a way to manifest itself through the music, and that makes all the difference. It doesn't even have to be a subject I care about at all myself; the passion of the writer directly feeds my appreciation of their work.
On the surface, Alter Bridge is not at all the type of band I would normally be a fan of. They're very much unlike the black metal that makes up the majority of my collection. In fact, I often even find myself in fundamental disagreement with a lot of their lyrical themes. But the thing that roped me in and keeps me hooked to this band is the magic in the performance and delivery. The sincerity, the vulnerability, the wholehearted commitment with which they put their souls into what they create. That is a rare gift, and it's just as present today as it ever has been.
"Senses speak of something grand just beyond the grasp of hand, a place within to which I wish to return; I stand on the threshold, focused and prepared to burn!" -Tribulation, Winds 2015