TREMONTI | INTERVIEW

After two decades at the forefront of all things guitar, 40 million-plus units sold between Alter Bridge, Creed, and Tremonti, plus countless other accolades, Mark Tremonti is once again climbing an uncharted creative peak in 2021. The Grammy Award-winning multiplatinum guitarist, singer—and one of the hardest working men in hard rock— chats exclusively with Guitar Interactive Magazine editor Jonathan Graham about the brand new Tremonti album 'Marching in Time' which is out now via Napalm records.

Throughout his time with massive bands like Alter Bridge and Creed—and most recently his solo band, Tremonti—he has never strayed from his love of writing memorable songs with strong inspiration at their core. With their upcoming fifth album, 'Marching In Time,' the eponymous Florida metal crew (featuring rhythm guitarist Eric Friedman, bassist Tanner Keegan and drummer Ryan Bennett) looks to build upon this trend while exploring their love for searing heavy music, drawing from current events throughout the last year to form the basis of each colossal track. While Tremonti's previous album—the critically acclaimed, worldwide-charting 'A Dying Machine' (2018)—was an overall concept album with darker sentiments and story, 'Marching In Time' carries a different vibe altogether.

Featuring his signature execution of blistering, laser-precision guitar-work and a reverberating, rhythmic metallic attack, the album emerges as an upbeat offering inviting the listener on 12 individual journeys. From the driving drum beat of opener "A World Away" to the epic closer "Marching In Time," the new album is a reflective look at the world around us today.

The band's unmatched musicianship permeates through the album – showcased on tracks like "Thrown Further," "In One Piece" and the thought-provoking "Would You Kill" – while the band displays their softer side on the pensive tracks "The Last One Of Us" and "Not Afraid to Lose." The title track, "Marching In Time," hits a personal note, telling the story of a father having a child during a global pandemic and how he prepares for life during that time – something Mark Tremonti recently experienced in his own life. Standout debut single, "If Not For You," displays the evolution of the Tremonti sound in 2021 and is guaranteed to become a favourite.

'Marching In time' is the record that will solidify Tremonti's place in the hearts of longtime fans as well as add masses to the band's legion of followers. The album is an exceptional auditory journey of memorable riffs, intriguing lyrics and the unmistakable sound that continues to earn the band prominent global acclaim.

Since emerging in 2012, Mark and his bandmates have continued to build on their solid foundations with each subsequent ambitious release. Their full-length debut, 'All I Was' sailed into the Top 5 of the Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums Chart and Top 30 of the Top 200 back in 2012. The 2015 follow-up 'Cauterize' then bested its predecessor by taking the #1 spot on the Top Rock Albums chart on iTunes upon its release.

2015 also saw the frontman take home "Best Guitarist" at the Loudwire Music Awards just a year removed from his 2014 "Riff Lord" win at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods.

In between sold-out headline gigs and festival appearances all across the globe, 2016's 'Dust' maintained that momentum; however, with 'Marching in Time,' Tremonti reaches heights like never before.

As if that wasn't enough, PRS Guitars and Mark Tremonti also just announced an extremely exclusive Mark Tremonti/Joe Fenton Limited Edition guitar. These exclusive guitars were hand-painted by English artist Joe Fenton, who met Tremonti in 2013 when the famed guitarist first asked about creating a custom-painted PRS, which Fenton made for Tremonti the following year. For this limited edition, only twenty guitars will be made, commemorating the 20th anniversary of Tremonti's first signature model with PRS, which was announced in January 2001. Each guitar is hand-signed by Mark Tremonti, Joe Fenton, and Paul Reed Smith and numbered as 1/20.

"Working with PRS for the last 20 years has been one of the great honours of my career, and we wanted to celebrate that partnership with something really distinctive. Joe's artistry was an immediate choice for me," said Mark Tremonti. "I love the guitar he painted for me – I play it all the time – and making more of these together is really special."

Each of the twenty instruments was hand-painted by Fenton with a unique design, drawing inspiration from that earlier one-of-a-kind piece. The guitars were painted with several thin washes of acrylic paints and other acrylic mediums and took 100+ hours each to complete. Once returned to PRS, the Private Stock team saw each guitar through to final assembly. Inspired by surrealist art, Fenton's designs are monochromatic, gothic depictions that brilliantly blend fantasy and nightmare with compelling precision.

"Creating a design for a guitar is really enjoyable. PRS guitars are a work of art in themselves. I approached designing each guitar as if I was embellishing a jewel with the shape of the guitar informing the final design," said Joe Fenton.

Under the artwork, Mark Tremonti's core specifications are all here, including a 22-fret, 25" scale length, Pattern Thin neck and adjustable stoptail bridge. Tremonti treble and bass pickups with individual volume and tone controls mean these guitars will sound as killer as they look.

Tremonti's 'Marching in Time' is out now via Napalm Records.

'Marching in Time' tracklist:

1. A World Away
2. Now And Forever
3. If Not For You
4. Thrown Further
5. Let That Be Us
6. The Last One Of Us
7. In One Piece
8. Under The Sun
9. Not Afraid To Lose
10. Bleak
11. Would You Kill
12. Marching In Time

Tremonti will also be embarking on a six-show UK tour in support of the new album, which will kick off in the new year and includes the following shows.

Tremonti - UK Tour Dates:

JANUARY 2022

Bristol O2 Academy - 15th

Leeds O2 Academy - 16th

Manchester O2 Ritz - 17th

Glasgow SWG3 Galvanizers - 19th

Birmingham O2 Institute - 24th

London O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire - 25th

For more info, please visit:

marktremonti.com