Ray Alder new vocalist for Redemption!

[Michael@SacredMetal]

Ray Alder is Redemptions New Vocalist

Sensory Records recording artists Redemption announced that Ray Alder, legendary vocalist of progressive metal icons Fates Warning and of his solo project Engine, has become Redemptions vocalist. He is currently recording vocal tracks for Redemptions second CD, tentatively titled The Fullness of Time, scheduled for release in early 2005.

Im incredibly excited that Ray is our singer, commented Nicolas van Dyk, Redemptions primary songwriter and guitarist/keyboardist. Hes always been my favorite vocalist in progressive metal and his voice sounds amazing with the new Redemption material.

Alder and van Dyk have been friends for some time. Alder was a guest musician for one track on Redemptions self-titled debut (released on Sensory in 2003), and he joined the group on-stage at Atlantas ProgPower festival in September of that year to perform this song. The two also collaborated previously on a track on the first Engine CD.

When writing began for the upcoming Redemption CD, the band had planned to work with Corey Brown (Magnitude 9 and Section XVI) who had stepped in to sing for the band at ProgPower. However, that changed when Alder heard the new material.

When I heard the new songs that Nick had written, they immediately struck me as really heavy, and progressive but more focused at the same time, said Alder. Not to take anything away from the debut, but this CD is a big step forward. Theyre just great, heavy songs and I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of.

I want to emphasize, Corey Brown is a talented friend and a true professional, said van Dyk. The decision to work with Ray is in no way indicative of any discord with Corey, whose performance with us in Atlanta was awesome and who possesses an amazing voice. I was fully prepared to work with Corey and I would have been very happy with him in the band. But there was no way I was going to turn down the chance to have Ray in Redemption. Its a unique opportunity to work and perform with a vocal legend, as well as a close friend. I think Rays voice will take Redemption to a truly special level.

Alder, of course, remains the vocalist for Fates Warning (who are releasing their new CD FWX on October 5th) and Engine. Ray has a fair amount on his plate, and before we began work on Redemption together we had to make certain that his ongoing commitments to Fates Warning and Engine would still allow him to commit himself to Redemption as well, explained van Dyk. I didnt just want to hire a session vocalist. Redemption is a band. Ray and I are comfortable that Redemption will fit into his schedule, both for recording and live performance.

Recording for the new CD, other than vocals, is nearly completed. Its significantly heavier than the previous CD, but its very melodic at the same time, said van Dyk. Its still quite progressive but I think its more song-oriented and the songwriting, both musically and lyrically, is much more mature than our debut. Im really looking forward to peoples reactions I think its going to surprise a lot of people. Well be letting people know a bit more about the CD, including its production details and track information, as the release date gets a bit closer.

In addition to van Dyk and Alder, Redemptions other members are guitarist Bernie Versailles (Agent Steel and Engine), and bassist James Sherwood and drummer Chris Quirarte (both of Prymary). Versailles has been a member of the band since its inception, while Sherwood and Quirarte joined for last years Prog Power performance and have been members since that time.

The groups new CD will be released by Sensory Records, a division of The Lasers Edge. The targeted release date is spring, 2005.

[Dustin]

LOL!
how ironic!

I was just haning out with Nick Van Dyk and Smiley (Redemption & Prymary keyboardist) in Atlanta last week (this is why I've been away), and Nick was celeberating that Wednsday night when we frist got there, that he got Ray Alder ...he happend to buy our guitrarist toooooo many drinks and I had to carry him back to the hotel. Nick's my boy!!!

I'm very happy for Nick, and am really looking forward to hearing what Ray is going to sound like singing over all the new material they've been working on. I'm also a big fan of Corey Browns vocals as well, so I'm a bit disapointed he's not going to be on it, but I can still hear him in his other great bands - Magnitude 9 and Section 16.

\m/
Dustin