AMERICAN rockers Alter Bridge play Cardiff Motorpoint Arena next Monday in support of their fifth album The Last Hero.

Recorded during the first half of 2016, the album came after a year’s break for the band working on individual projects before re-uniting and signing to a new record label, Napalm Records, earlier this summer.

The Last Hero is the band at their rawest and strongest in their twelve-year history, a result drummer Scott Phillips believes was down to the albums quick studio turnaround. “When the ideas fresh and its good and everybody’s into it, you don’t have to beat it with a dead horse,” drummer Scott Phillips tells Andy Howells, “you can overwork it and over analyse it, but sometimes your gut instinct is the best way to go and that seemed to be the case with this record.”

Fans got to hear Alter Bridge perform a few of the new album tracks live back in the summer when the band supported Disturbed on an American tour. However, the UK shows will be the live debut of much of The Last Hero material. “It’s easier for a fan to digest new material when they’ve already got the CD in their hands,” says Scott, “because they’ve been able to listen to it, process it and then we can play it live.”

Although The Last Hero is a strong release with new sounds, Alter Bridge still retain their core influences. “Classic rock is what we are as a band, “confirms Scott, “at the core we all draw influence from a lot of classic rock stuff. That naturally comes through on all the albums we make but this one especially.”

Scott, who along with fellow band members Mark Tremonti and Brian Marshall also played in Creed before forming Alter Bridge with Myles Kennedy, took up drums after playing both keys and guitar as a youngster. “Drums will always be my first and foremost passion, but my hobby away from the drums is getting out on the golf course,” he chuckles, “getting a round of eighteen is certainly a lot quieter.”

Catch Alter Bridge with Volbeat, Goira and Like A Storm at Cardiff Motorpoint Arena on November 28. For ticket details call 029 2022 4488.