With less than six weeks until the arrival of their eighth studio album on January 9th , 2026, Alter Bridge return with their brand-new single, ‘Playing Aces‘. The track bursts open with the band’s trademark dual-guitar firepower as Myles Kennedy (vocals/guitars), Mark Tremonti (guitars/vocals), Brian Marshall (bass), and Scott Phillips (drums) lock into the muscular groove that has defined their sound for more than two decades. The propulsive verses build into a soaring, unforgettable chorus, highlighted by Kennedy’s declaration: “If I risked it all, I hope you’ll understand that I had to play my hand…”
‘Playing Aces‘ is available now across all digital service providers. The accompanying music video—directed by J.T. Ibanez—is also out today and can be seen below.
Myles Kennedy explains:
“The term ‘Playing Aces’ ties in with the gambling analogy of risking everything regardless of how many times you’ve failed in life. It’s a last-ditch effort to come out on top.”
With over twenty years as one of rock’s most consistently acclaimed bands, Alter Bridge continue to push forward. Renowned for their towering riffs, infectious melodies, and masterful guitar interplay, the quartet will release their self-titled eighth studio album on January 9, 2026 via Napalm Records.
The forthcoming album features 12 brand-new tracks that capture some of the band’s most compelling work to date. Songs like ‘Rue The Day‘,’Disregarded‘, and ‘Scales Are Falling‘ stand tall alongside staples from the Alter Bridge catalog. ‘Trust In Me‘ showcases the powerful vocal chemistry between Kennedy and Tremonti, with Myles taking lead on the verses and Mark commanding the chorus—an approach they flip on ‘Tested and Able‘, one of the band’s heaviest introductions to date. ‘Hang By a Thread‘ is primed for the live stage, echoing the energy of fan-favorite anthems, while album closer ‘Slave to Master‘ delivers an epic finale and marks the longest track the band has ever recorded.
The first single, ‘Silent Divide‘,continues its ascent at Active Rock and has already surpassed 4 million views on YouTube. Longtime producer Michael “Elvis” Baskette once again joins the band for the project, recorded over two months this spring at both the legendary 5150 Studios in California and at Elvis’ studio in Florida.
Pre-order your copy of ‘Alter Bridge‘ – here
Tracklist:
- Silent Divide
- Rue The Day
- Power Down
- Trust In Me
- Disregarded
- Tested And Able
- What Lies Within
- Hang By A Thread
- Scales Are Falling
- Playing Aces
- What Are You Waiting For
- Slave To Master
‘Alter Bridge‘ is currently available for pre-order in the following formats:
-1-CD 6p Digisleeve, 12p Booklet
-2-LP Gatefold BLACK, Lyric Sheet
-2-LP Gatefold Translucent Verde – Vetri (Indie exclusive)
-2-LP Gatefold Translucent Verde – Vetri + autographed postcard (Newbury exclusive, limited to 50)
-1-CD 6p Digisleeve + autographed postcard (Newbury exclusive, limited to 250)
-2-LP Gatefold Splattered Black Smoke/ White Orange Black, 12p Booklet (Napalm mailorder exclusive)
-2-LP Black, White Label Edition + hand-numbered Covercard (Napalm mailorder international-only exclusive)
-2-LP Gatefold Marble Colorless Black & Red Black Old Purple, 12p Booklet (Napalm exclusive)
-LP Box incl. 2-LP Gatefold Split Black/Milk, 12p Booklet, 5-Tack Bonus Picture Vinyl in Plastic Sleeve, Artprint (Napalm mailorder international-only exclusive)
-1-CD 6p Digisleeve + “Hang By A Thread” Shirt Bundle (Napalm exclusive)
-2-LP Gatefold Splattered Crème Black, 12p Booklet (Band exclusive)
-2-LP Gatefold Marble Black Smoke, 12p Booklet (Band exclusive)
-2-LP Gatefold Cristallo Milk Glitter, Lyric Sheet (Band exclusive)
-1-CD Jewel Case (Ticket Bundle for Townsend exclusive) + Guitar Pick (Band exclusive)
To coincide with the announcement of the new album, Alter Bridge will be touring in support of the release. The band is heading out on the What Lies Within Tour. The 31-date tour of Europe will kick off on January 15th in Germany before it wraps on March 5th in Nottingham, UK. Joining the band on the tour will be Daughtry and Sevendust. Public on sale for all shows is July 18th More information on all tickets and VIP packages for the upcoming tour can be found here.
European What Lies Within Tour 2026:
Jan 15th – Hamburg, Germany – Sporthalle
Jan 17th – Oslo, Norway – Sentrum Scene
Jan 18th – Oslo, Norway – Sentrum Scene
Jan 20th – Stockholm, Sweden – Annexet
Jan 22nd – Helsinki, Finland – Ice Hall Black Box
Jan 24th – Copenhagen, Denmark – Kb Hallen
Jan 25th – Berlin, Germany – Columbiahalle
Jan 27th – Gliwice, Poland – Prezero Arena Gliwice
Jan 28th – Budapest, Hungary – Barba Negra
Jan 30th – Vienna, Austria – Gasometer
Jan 31st – Zagreb, Croatia – Bocarski Dom
Feb 2nd – Rome, Italy – Atlantico
Feb 3rd – Bergamo, Italy – Choruslive Arena
Feb 5th – Zurich, Switzerland – The Hall
Feb 6th – Lyon, France – Halle Tony Garnier
Feb 8th – Barcelona, Spain – Razzmatazz 1
Feb 10th – Lisbon, Portugal – Sagres Campo Pequeno
Feb 12th – Madrid, Spain – Palacio Vistalegre
Feb 13th – Bordeaux, France – Arkea Arena
Feb 15th – Luxembourg, Luxembourg – Rockhal
Feb 17th – Oberhausen, Germany – Oberhausen Turbinenhalle
Feb 18th – Paris, France – Zenith
Feb 20th – Munich, Germany – Zenith
Feb 22nd – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
Feb 23rd – Brussels, Belgium – Ancienne Belgique
Feb 25th – Newcastle, United Kingdom – Utilita Arena
Feb 26th – Manchester, United Kingdom – Ao Arena
Feb 28th – Dublin, Ireland – 3arena
Mar 2nd – Glasgow, United Kingdom – Ovo Hydro
Mar 4th – London, United Kingdom – The O2
Mar 5th – Nottingham, United Kingdom – Motorpoint Arena
About Alter Bridge:
Back in 2004, four lifelong musicians got together down in Florida. Even though they had traveled separate paths, similar lessons learned, wisdom earned, and dues paid united these gentlemen—Myles Kennedy (vocals, guitar), Mark Tremonti (guitar, vocals), Brian Marshall (bass), and Scott Phillips (drums)—as Alter Bridge. Over the ensuing two decades, the band endured countless trials and tribulations, defied every odd, and rose to the head of the pack as a hard rock juggernaut, cementing a singular legacy by selling out arenas, gathering nearly one billion streams, inciting international acclaim, and quietly attracting a diehard audience.
Beginning with the Top 5 entry of 2004’s gold certified ‘One Day Remains‘, the band have scored six consecutive Top 20 debuts on the Billboard 200. Among a myriad of highlights, Guitarist Magazine applauded ‘Blackbird‘ for the “Greatest Guitar Solo of All Time”, the ‘ABIII‘ single ‘Isolation‘ vaulted to #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart, 2013’s ‘Fortress‘ received rare perfect scores from KERRANG! and Total Guitar, and ‘Walk The Sky‘ shook the Top Rock Albums Chart at #1. Beyond packing O2 Arena and Royal Albert Hall, Classic Rock hailed 2022’s ‘Pawns & Kings‘ as “the Rolls-Royce of Alter Bridge records” in a 4.5-out-of-5-star review. Plus, the latter LP garnered praise from American Songwriter, Guitar World, and Loudwire, while Billboard christened them “one of America’s premiere hard rock quartets”. Channeling the same hunger, the band continue to push themselves on their self-titled eighth full-length offering, ‘Alter Bridge‘ (Napalm Records). It embodies everything they’re known for such as the precise riffs, towering hooks, and solos that practically break guitar strings as they burst through the clouds.
(Photo Credit: Chuck Brueckmann)