"Isolation" is a song written and performed by Alter Bridge, released as the first single from their third album, AB III, and is their most successful single to date. It was made available as a digital download on September 26, 2010 in the United Kingdom by Roadrunner Records and October 25, 2010 in the United States by Alter Bridge Recordings via Capitol Records. Musically, "Isolation" is heavy and aggressive, featuring the band's hard rock style while retaining a catchy, melodic chorus and incorporating elements of alternative metal and speed metal. The lyrics explore metaphorically isolating oneself from faith and belief, a common theme throughout the record. A music video for the song was released on December 6, 2010.
The song has been met with general acclaim. Though originally released only in Britain, "Isolation" debuted at #34 on Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks in October, and several active rock radio stations in the United States put the song in regular rotation several weeks before its U.S. release. In the U.S., it initially became the most-added song on active rock radio and the 21st most-played active rock radio single, with the fastest increase in rotations out of any rock song at the time. In January, 2011 the song reached #1 on active rock radio, where it remained for five consecutive weeks, and spent seven weeks at #1 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, making it the band's first #1 single.
