ALBUM REVIEW: Tremonti - The End Will Show Us How


‘Marching In Time is a vibrant, powerful record which demonstrates not only the guitar excellence of Tremonti, or the power of his skilful band, but his ability to write a song that lingers long in the memory’. Words I wrote back in 2021 when the fifth album from the Grammy award winning guitarist arrived. 

It’s fair to say that I rarely listen to Mark Tremonti or his other bands, although I have a sneaking admiration for the first two Alter Bridge albums. However, whenever he releases new music, it’s always a joy to spend time with the release. In the main, that’s because his unstoppable drive isn’t blighted by a lack of quality. Live, the man and his team are a powerful proposition, and here, on album number six, we have another album that is sure to make further ripples in the hard rock pool. 

One of the things I always like about a Tremonti release is the riff heavy nature of the songs. Yes, he retains the glorious melodies that are a trademark of his entire career (19 albums now in total), but his desire to add a little heaviness to proceedings is always welcome. Across the 12-tracks on offer here is a high level of chunky riffs, exceptional guitar work and those clean, soaring melodious vocals that always work so well. Together with bandmates Eric Friedman [guitar], Ryan Bennett [drums], and Tanner Keegan [bass], The End Will Show Us How starts with a blistering duo of The Mother, The Earth and I and One More Time before hitting one of the heaviest riffs on the album during Just Too Much. 


Underpinning everything on this record is the radio-friendly nature of the songs. Whether that’s because of his vocals, the hooks or the gorgeous melodies that lurk within each of the compositions I’m not sure, but even at his heaviest, you wouldn’t be surprised if these songs arrived in the Planet Rock playlists. And that’s not to his detriment, for there’s a balance to be had which Tremonti as a band manage to work correctly. 

There is an exception. The blasting Nails explodes into a frenzied wall of riffs and more exceptional lead work. Even this might stress out the more fragile listeners of the nation’s number one classic rock station. For a man who did the Sings Sinatra album, it’s inevitable that there will be moments when things get a bit emotional, and the tempo slows. The heartfelt It’s Not Over hits this particular button, and it’s here that you are reminded that few can deliver this type of semi-ballad with such style and panache. 


For me, it is the variety that makes this album a must listen. Not only can he tell a story, but the cohesiveness of the songs works from all angles. The title track contains some clean instrumental work on the intro, before mushrooming into another anthemic track that will no doubt feature in the forthcoming tour. Tomorrow We Fail comes from another direction, another that builds in tension and dynamism. And then at the end, All the Wicked Things provides a completely different side, with a synth intro that echoes in a futuristic fashion before moving to a dramatic and convincing finale. 


With a production by longtime partner Michael ‘Elvis’ Baskette giving this album the expected gloss finish, The End Will Show Us How is another reminder of a musician whose restless spirit is to the advantage of all who like heavy, guitar driven music and finely crafted songs.

The End Will Show Us How is released on 10th January via Napalm Records.
Band photo by Chuck Brueckmann
Live photos by me.

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