RAY ALDER
RAY ALDER – “II”
By Colonel Angus
I have been awaiting the release of this record since it was announced a couple of months back. RAY ALDER’s previous release 2019’s “What the Water Wants” was such a great release that deep down I was hoping that it was not a one-off. The following year, FATES WARNING release what seems to be their final record “Long Day Good Night” so my fear was that it might be the last we hear from RAY ALDER, especially since he is no longer in REDEMPTION. Thank God my fears didn’t materialize and here is the follow up to his first solo effort. On this new album, ALDER is accompanied by the same group of musicians that crafted the last one. Guitar and bass duties are handled by Tony Hernando (LORD OF BLACK) and Michael Abdow (FATES WARNING) who shine throughout this latest record (as they did on “What the Water Wants”). Drums are handled Craig Anderson who also puts in a solid performance over these releases.
One of the things that really like about this disk is that it does hint at the prog metal genre and shows a little FATES WARNING influence but by and large, this is just a collection of melodic metal tunes. Some are heavier like “Silence the Enemy” which has a great start/stop chugging guitar riff and “Waiting For Some Sun” which starts off very slow and subtle but quickly launches into another heavy rocker. The chorus on the latter is very infectious and definitely an earworm. Don’t be surprised if you are humming the chorus for days. “Hands of Time” also has that start/stop heavy riffing on the verses but on the chorus, the song shifts to straight-ahead melodic metal.
The last track “Changes” is where I get the most FATES WARNING type of vibe with its prog metal leanings. The track is almost eight minutes long and it really takes the listener on a musical journey that incorporates mellow sections alongside heavy moments giving it an epic feel. Elsewhere on the disk, there are plenty of tracks to really sink your teeth into. Opener “The Hollow Shell” sets the tone for most of the material as this record is moodier and darker than “What the Water Wants” which is good because I didn’t want a rehash of that album. There is a sense of melancholy about some of the songs like “Keep Wandering” that is amplified by ALDER’s emotional vocal performance throughout. He is one of the few vocalists that I feel has gotten better with age. I did enjoy his high-pitched vocals on “No Exit” but over the years, I feel his voice has settled into much better. There is a depth to his vocals that give the tracks added emotion that would have been lost had he used his old voice.
I have not lived with the album for as long as his previous effort but since I got this disk, I have been spinning it non-stop and I can tell that it will be one of my favorites for years to come. RAY ALDER has been keeping busy for these last five years with solo material, FATES WARNING’s last record, and A-Z (an album he did with Mark Zonder) and judging by this release, he still has plenty of gas left in the tank. Now that Covid is over, I hope he is able to tour this record as I feel that these songs will only improve on the stage.