Alter Bridge’s Mark Tremonti shares special admiration for Metallica’s James Hetfield: ‘My biggest rock god’

In a recent interview on Speak N’ Destrоy, Alter Bridge’s guitar virtuoso Mark Tremonti delved into his deep connection with Metallica, recounting pivotal moments from encountering the band to reflecting on their musical impact.

With Alter Bridge’s latest album “Walk the Sky” making waves, Tremonti revisited his early days exploring Metallica’s catalog. When prompted about his first foray into Metallica’s riffs, he reminisced about tackling classics like “Welcome Home (Sanitarium)” and “Fade to Black,” each chord resonating with his musical journey. Despite his proficiency, Tremonti confessed to the challenge of playing entire songs in his youth, a testament to the technical prowess demanded by Metallica’s compositions.

While discussing his favorite Metallica album, Tremonti’s admiration for “Master of Puppets” shone through. He shared a nostalgic anecdote about the profound impact of “Orion,” evoking vivid memories of his childhood. However, his enthusiasm took a slight dip when reflecting on Metallica’s “Black Album” release in 1991. Expressing disappointment at the absence of an instrumental track, he revealed his frustration upon reaching the album’s conclusion without the signature instrumental piece he had come to expect from the band.

Despite his momentary vexation, Tremonti’s admiration for Metallica’s instrumental prowess remained unwavering. He expressed a longing for future instrumental tracks akin to the transcendent experience offered by classics like “To Live Is to Ԁie.” Reflecting on “Deаth Magnetic’s” lone instrumental track, he underscored the significance of Metallica’s ability to craft immersive sonic landscapes purely through instrumentation, a feat he aspired to emulate in his own musical endeavors.