Music Database Fortress

Fortress is the fourth studio album by the rock band Alter Bridge, released by Roadrunner Records on September 25, 2013. Michael "Elvis" Baskette, who produced Alter Bridge's previous two albums, Blackbird and AB III, returns as producer. It will be released by Roadrunner Records worldwide except in the United States, where it will be self-released on October 8, 2013, through EMI. The lead single, "Addicted to Pain", was released on August 12, 2013. Fortress was recorded between April 26 and July 2, 2013 at Studio Barbarosa in Orlando, Florida. The album was written over the three previous years while the band toured, as well as during Alter Bridge's hiatus due to singer Myles Kennedy touring with Slash, guitarist Mark Tremonti releasing his debut solo album All I Was, and drummer Scott Phillips recording with his band Projected. Later in the month, Tremonti announced the band had approved the cover art and had mastered the new album.

In July, in an interview with MusicRadar.com Tremonti revealed that he would sing lead vocals on one track called "The Waters Rise", which appears on the album as "Waters Rising". The official track listing and cover art for Fortress was revealed on July 31, 2013 along with the track listing, consisting of 12 songs. The artwork was designed by Dan Tremonti.

On August 4, the cover art for the lead single "Addicted to Pain" was revealed, and a day later the band confirmed that the lead single "Addicted to Pain" would be released on August 12, in Europe, and on August 20, in the US. The single was made available for streaming a few days before release. On September 5, the official video for "Addicted to Pain" was released. The official video was shot by award-winning director Dan Catullo. On September 23, the band streamed the album in its entirety for a limited time on the Metal Hammer website as a UK exclusive.