Grammy Award-winning guitarist Mark Tremonti has let loose with his first solo release, All I Was. Known primarily for his work in Creed and AlterBridge, and with over 40 million records sold worldwide, Tremonti's fans are about to see another side of the guitarist's work. Taking on both vocal and six-string duties on his long-awaited solo debut, Tremonti thrashes with a fierce intensity that's remarkably heavy and instantly infectious. Flanked by rhythm guitarist Eric Friedman and drummer Garrett Whitlock, Tremonti engages an incendiary metallic assault that's relentless from the first moment until the last, burning down all expectations in its path.

In many ways, Tremonti returned to his roots for All I Was. Growing up on the likes of Pantera and Metallica, heavy metal has always had a very special place in his heart. However, he never had the avenue to truly follow those impulses to the fullest until now. "From day one in Creed, I'd pull out metal riffs and the guys would remind me that we weren't Slayer," he laughs. "Over the years, our sound got heavier. Then, Alter Bridge became even heavier than Creed. That's my foundation. It's a style that I'm really comfortable with. Now, there are no holds barred. I figured the solo album was my opportunity to get that part of myself out there without losing the sense of melody I've worked so hard to achieve."

While Alter Bridge front man Myles Kennedy was on the road with Slash in early 2011, Tremonti hunkered down in his home studio and began assembling what would become the album. As he continued to rehearse with Friedman and Whitlock, the shredder came into his own as a vocalist. Of course, he'd always sung melodies in both of his other bands, but this was a whole new challenge. "When you're singing backup, you can't really let loose and put too much character into the vocal line," he reveals. "I spent a lot of time practicing with the guys and rehearsing, and I finally developed the confidence to go in and do this."

Ultimately, the album remains as pure as Tremonti's love for music. "I hope people have fun listening to All I Was and want to see it live," he concludes. "This record is heavier than anything I've done, but it's still a fun record. I hope it makes people want to go out, face the world."

Inside Mark Tremonti: All I Was features Mark Tremonti in a conversation with WMMR's Pierre Robert. During the program they take a trip through select tracks on All I Was, along with some of Mark's work in Creed and AlterBridge.