For the past 15 years, guitarist Mark Tremonti has been cranking out hits for his bands Creed and Alter Bridge. Now, he steps up to the mic for his first solo effort, "All I Was". Fans of his other bands will find some familiarity with his past work, using "Metalingus" and "What If" as jumping off points. The music here is edgier and heavier, showing more sonic similarity to acts like Alice In Chains, Anthrax and Black Label Society. This is exactly the kind of metal album I always hope for - killer riffs and solos, clean passionate vocals, and clever lyrics. The first single, "You Waste Your Time", makes you want to drive too fast with the volume at full blast. This is definitely one of the best albums of the year.