Alter Bridge return with latest single ‘Playing Aces’

With less than six weeks until the arrival of their eighth studio album on January 9, 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.

To coincide with the new album, ALTER BRIDGE will hit the road in support of the release on the What Lies Within Tour. The 31-date European run kicks off January 15 in Germany and wraps March 5 in Nottingham, UK, with Daughtry and Sevendust joining as special guests. The band has also announced a headlining U.S. tour featuring Filter or Sevendust and Tim Montana on select dates. The trek begins April 25 in Orlando, FL and concludes May 24 in Tampa, FL. Full ticketing information and VIP package details can be found at www.alterbridge.com.

European What Lies Within Tour 2026:

Jun 27 – CARDIFF, WALES – Blackbird Festival @ Cardiff Castle

What Lies Within U.S. Tour:

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 1 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 relentless drive, the band continues to expand their legacy with their forthcoming self-titled eighth album—an embodiment of the precision, power, and soaring musicality fans have come to expect.