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Isolation (Alter Bridge song)

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"Isolation"
Song

"Isolation" is a song written and performed by Alter Bridge, released as the first single from their third album, AB III. It was made available as a digital download on September 26, 2010 in the United Kingdom by Roadrunner Records and October 25, 2010 in the United States by Alter Bridge Recordings, with Capitol Records handling distribution. Musically, "Isolation" is heavy and aggressive, featuring the band's usual hard rock style while retaining a catchy, melodic chorus and featuring elements of alternative metal and speed metal. The lyrics are about metaphorically isolating oneself from faith and belief, a common theme throughout the record. A music video for the song was released on December 6, 2010.

The song has been met with general acclaim. Though originally released only in Britain, "Isolation" debuted at #34 on Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks in October, and several active rock radio stations in the United States had the song in regular rotation several weeks before its U.S. release. In the U.S., it became the most added song on active rock radio and the 21st most-played active rock radio single, with the fastest rising increase in rotations out of any current rock song. It reached #1, where it remained for five consecutive weeks, on active rock radio. It has also spent seven weeks at #1 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, a first for the band. This makes "Isolation" Alter Bridge's most successful single on rock radio to date.

Background

Originally described by singer Myles Kennedy as a "real heavy track,"[1] the song was debuted after much anticipation by Roadrunner Records on their website on September 6, 2010 with the announcement that it would be released as the first single from AB III, the band's third album.[2] It was released as a single in the United Kingdom on September 26, 2010, followed by an October 25, 2010 release date in the United States by Alter Bridge Recordings via EMI.[3][4] After becoming the most added song on active rock radio stations, the song became the band's most successful single, reaching #1 on active rock radio stations and on Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, a first for Alter Bridge.[5] "Isolation" has the highest amount of radio plays in Salt Lake City, Utah, where the song is currently in regular rotation on three active rock radio stations (KHTB, KBER, and KZZQ).

Composition

"Isolation" is four minutes and thirteen seconds long on the record,[6] and was edited down to three minutes and fifty-two seconds for radio airplay. Unlike most Alter Bridge singles, it is very heavy and aggressive, musically and lyrically, and showcases the band's usual hard rock style, with elements of speed metal and a strong melody, which has been noted by critics.[4] Guitarist Mark Tremonti described the song as "a more upbeat tune, with some real metal in there – in fact it has a speed metal bridge," while emphasizing, "It has a melodic chorus, though: melody is still the most important thing for us."[7] Myles Kennedy said about the song:

"I remember Mark [Tremonti] playing me the riff and the overall music, and he had some great melodies for it as well. I was just sold, just like, 'That's amazing, it rocks.' So it was pretty early on, I think. When him and I got together and started putting ideas together, that was definitely one of my favorites from the get-go, and I think it was one of his as well just because it's so aggressive and so heavy."[8]

Lyrically, the song is a departure from the uplifting lyrics of most other Alter Bridge singles; it is about "the agony of feeling isolated" and how "the ability to love again can bring you out of it."[9] Kennedy said that the song is a continuation of the previous track on the album, "Slip to the Void." He said, "It's the idea that now you're isolated. You're in this new, dark place and [it is about] how you deal with that and the repercussions of that."[8] The rest of the album is also a radical departure from the band's first two albums in terms of subject matter.[7] The song is also unique in that the guitar solo is performed by Kennedy instead of Tremonti.[10]

Critical reception

The song has received positive feedback from several professional reviewers, including Rob Laing from MusicRadar, who praised it for its speed metal influence. He also praised the guitar work and the anthemic approach that the band took towards the dark lyrics.[10] Rick Florino from Artistdirect said that the song "rolls from a thrash breakdown into one of the catchiest refrains that the band has committed to tape."[11] It has received an average of five stars from users on the iTunes Store.[3]

Chart performance

Chart (2010) Peak
position
Billboard Rock Songs 5
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks 1
Alternative Songs 20
Active Rock 1
Canadian Active Rock 16

Music video

The music video, directed by Daniel Catullo, premiered on Noisecreep on December 6, 2010. It features video clips of the band's AB III tour as well as cutscenes from their 2009 live DVD Live from Amsterdam. It also shows some rehearsal footage and candid shots of the band interacting with fans. Instead of matching the video with the theme of the song, the band decided to create a "tribute to the fans" for the music video, of which Tremonti said:

"It's a look into the real life of this band and not some put together story. It's a tribute to the fans. It's a look into the tour. We just wanted to show how it is out on tour with us and our interaction with the fans by including them in the video."[12]

Track listing

  1. "Isolation" (Album Version) – 4:13

Personnel

Musicians
Production

References

  1. ^ Rob Laing (July 13, 2010). "Myles Kennedy (Alter Bridge, Slash) interview". MusicRadar.
  2. ^ "Hear a Brand New Track from Alter Bridge". Roadrunner Records. September 6, 2010. Retrieved September 6, 2010.
  3. ^ a b Isolation - Single by Alter Bridge - Download Isolation - Single on iTunes
  4. ^ a b "AB III to Hit Stores in USA November 9th Featuring Hit Single "Isolation"". Alter Bridge's blog. October 6, 2010. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  5. ^ Alter Bridge (December 18, 2011). "Alter Bridge Press Release - Isolation Goes #1 on Rock Radio". Alter Bridge.
  6. ^ Isolation - Single by Alter Bridge - Download Isolation - Single on iTunes
  7. ^ a b "New Alter Bridge - AB III - Bio". Alter Bridge's blog. September 8, 2010. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  8. ^ a b "ALTER BRIDGE'S AB III- OUT NOW! WE KICK OFF A TRACK BY TRACK ANALYSIS WITH MYLES KENNEDY". Roadrunner Records. {{cite web}}: Text "October 11, 2010" ignored (help)
  9. ^ Alter Bridge, 'Isolation' -- New Song
  10. ^ a b Rob Laing (September 17, 2010). "Alter Bridge – AB III: Track-by-track review". MusicRadar. Future Publishing Limited. Retrieved September 17, 2010.
  11. ^ Rick Florino (October 11, 2010). "Myles Kennedy of Alter Bridge Talks "AB III," Slash and John Irving". Artistdirect. Rogue Digital, LLC. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
  12. ^ "Alter Bridge Focus on Fans for 'Isolation' -- Video Premiere". Noisecreep. December 6, 2010.
  13. ^ Alter Bridge (May 11, 2010). "Alter Bridge in New York - Finalizing Mixing of Third Album". Alter Bridge's blog. Retrieved 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  14. ^ Mark Tremonti (June 3, 2010). "Short Update from Mark Tremonti About AB III". Alter Bridge's blog. Retrieved 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
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