American rock band ALTER BRIDGE has inked a deal with Roadrunner Records for all territories except North America. The group's third album, "AB III", will be released on October 8. The CD was produced by Michael "Elvis" Baskette, who has previously worked with CHEVELLE and RATT.

Mark Tremonti, songwriter/guitarist, commented "There is a real sense of excitement in the ALTER BRIDGE camp to be able to partner-up with Roadrunner. With their proven track record worldwide and the hard work we have put in touring internationally, it seems like the perfect combination." Wally van Middendorp, Roadrunner's Senior VP International, added, "I am extremely pleased that we have added ALTER BRIDGE to our international artist roster and I am confident the band will reach the next level with their upcoming record."

"AB III" track listing:

01. Slip To The Void
02. Isolation
03. Ghost Of Days Gone By
04. All Hope Is Gone
05. Still Remains
06. Make It Right
07. Wonderful Life
08. I Know It Hurts
09. Show Me A Sign
10. Fallout
11. Breathe Again
12. Coeur D'Alene
13. Life Must Go On
14. Words Darker Than Their Wings

Lead singer Myles Kennedy told The Pulse of Radio that the follow-up to 2007's "Blackbird" will be a "darker" effort. "There is certainly a common thread throughout the, almost the entire record," he said. "It's lyrically a pretty dark album, probably the darkest record I've been a part of. Just a lot of questions personally that I had over the last few years, just things I was struggling with, and it was a very cathartic record for me, just to kind of get that all out. I mean, that's generally the way I personally like to write lyrics, for things that are honest and from the heart."

Kennedy also spoke to The Pulse of Radio about how he and and his bandmates approached the new album from a songwriting perspective. "There's a certain spontaneity to this record basically because of the fact that we arranged it in a much shorter period of time and the way we tend to write, it's very part-oriented," he said. "Mark and I will basically stockpile musical ideas and melodic ideas. And then it's kind of like putting a puzzle together. So we get together with Brian [Marshall, bass] and Scott [Philips, drums/keyboards] and we get everything to gel together in the context of the arrangement. There is certainly a common thread throughout the, almost the entire record," he said. "It's lyrically a pretty dark album, probably the darkest record I've been a part of. Just a lot of questions personally that I had over the last few years, just things I was struggling with, and it was a very cathartic record for me, just to kind of get that all out. I mean, that's generally the way I personally like to write lyrics, for things that are honest and from the heart."

ALTER BRIDGE plans to hit the road in October after the album is out, starting with a European tour.

A spring 2011 supporting slot with GODSMACK is planned for next March.

Kennedy is currently touring with Slash as his live lead vocalist, after singing two numbers on the guitarist's debut solo album.

The instrumental members of ALTER BRIDGE are touring this summer in their other band, CREED. -blabbermouth.net