TReMONTI

PYRAMIDS CENTRE, PORTSMOUTH

It’s only been six years since Mark Tremonti ventured beyond his status as the near-silent axeman of Alter Bridge, transforming into a rock’n’roll frontman in his own right. But as his solo band bombard Portsmouth, you could easily assume that he’s been manning the lead singer slot for decades. Clearly brimming with confidence, Tremonti seizes the stage to the thrashing sound of

You Waste Your Time, setting an appropriate precedent as the almighty guitar dominates from the get-go. Six-string complexity is front and centre for the entire night, with Mark and coconspirator eric Friedman giddily trading face-melting solos. While slower cuts like Trust and The

Things I’ve Seen remind onlookers of Mark’s more melody-driven work in Creed and Alter Bridge early on, the set’s latter half only sees the adrenaline build. “Come fly with us, Portsmouth!” Mark bellows as he commences the powerful groove metal of Flying

Monkeys. By the time Wish You Well has closed proceedings in a thunderous flurry, tonight’s crowd is energised to the point of delirium.