After a tumultuous couple of years that included a change in record labels, Alter Bridge [ tickets ] is back with its sophomore album and a US tour.

The rock band, which has kept a low profile on the US touring scene since 2005, will step it up beginning Sept. 14 in Orlando, FL. Alter Bridge will then head across the Pond for a Sept. 18 date in London but will return to the States in early October for a month's worth of shows in the South and East.

The group--comprised of former Creed members Mark Tremonti (guitar), Scott Phillips (drums) and Brian Marshall (bass), along with ex-Mayfield Four frontman Myles Kennedy--is scheduled to release its new set, "Blackbird," Oct. 9. The record, produced by Michael "Elvis" Baskette (Incubus, Three Days Grace), follows 2004's Gold-certified "One Day Remains."

One main difference between the new album and Alter Bridge's first effort is the full integration of Kennedy as a guitarist and songwriter. "One Day Remains" was largely written before the singer came on board, while "Blackbird" was a collaborative effort with Tremonti and Kennedy sharing the songwriting duties and all four bandmates working on the arrangements, according to the group's bio.

"It's a natural evolution after three years of working together," Tremonti said in a statement. "We knew Myles was an amazing singer; that's why we hired him. What we found out when we toured the first record was that he's also an incredibly gifted guitar player and songwriter, as well as a vocalist. It would have been a crime not to utilize all that talent. We wanted to use every weapon we had in our arsenal for this album."

Despite the success of Alter Bridge's debut, the band began butting heads with its label, "Wind-Up Records," and ended up using personal funds to buy its way out of the contract, according to its bio. After writing new material and searching for another label, the band got tired of waiting and again dipped into personal funds to record "Blackbird" earlier this year. In June, Alter Bridge finally signed a deal with Universal Republic.

The forthcoming record's lead single, "Rise Today," has been chosen by CBS-TV to promote the new season of "CSI: Miami" and will also be the theme for World Wrestling Entertainment's pay-per-view special "Unforgiven," which is set to air Sept. 16, according to a blog entry at Alter Bridge's MySpace page.