Loss is one of life’s harshest realities that will affect everyone in some way, shape or form. Whether it is family, loved ones, close friends; death is the cruelest of inevitabilities in this most unforgiving of worlds. The grieving process is unique to all of us, in both how we deal with the emotional scarring and in how long recovery takes if indeed, it ever truly does or even begins at all. For some, it can be quick, whilst for others, it may be much longer before acceptance truly takes place.
It is this deeply personal struggle and journey which is the subject matter for Alter Bridge frontman
Myles Kennedy’s début solo album, and thus in part the reason as to why it has been in development for so long. Initially being completed two years ago, a fresh perspective, as Kennedy describes it, saw him entirely scrap his completed work, finding the courage to write solely about the death of his father when Kennedy was only four. Inevitably this was going to be a departure from his main job as an arena rock frontman, and instead, Year Of The Tiger (Napalm) is a vastly rawer affair both lyrically and musically and undoubtedly his most candid work to date.
Stripped back almost completely from Alter Bridge, this is pure rhythm and blues which wears every pained sinew on its sleeve for the world to see. Kennedy’s instantly recognisable vocals, of course stand out, but whilst they are as powerful and dynamic as expected they never overpower proceedings, nor do they ever sound dishonest throughout.
Despite it’s clearly painful subject matter, Year Of The Tiger is not an entirely grave affair and flows through familiar emotional waves. For the likes of ‘Blind Faith’ express as much unquantifiable sadness as they do a sense of anger at the manner of his father’s death, a sense of hope and healing permeates through solemnity in ‘Love Can Only Heal’. There are subtleties throughout which feel intentional, from the album’s most unconventionally structured song ‘The Great Beyond’ appearing so early on (with its ever-changing pace feeling metaphoric to the wild reactions that death can present so early on), to the small imperfections in recording seeming to add to the overarching narrative.
Year Of The Tiger is clearly a deeply individual expression by Kennedy and perhaps (speculatively) a part of his own grieving process, but is one that is brimming with entirely relatable sentiments that undoubtedly most people will experience in their lifetimes. Filled with tragedy yet evoking some sense of light, Year Of The Tiger is Kennedy coming out of his comfort zone on several levels and delivering what will surely help others as much as it has hopefully helped himself.
8.5/10
CHRIS TIPPELL