Review RAY ALDER ‘II’

Ray Alder’s voice is one of the best that metal and rock has to offer these days. I have been fascinated by the singer’s expressive voice since Fates Warning’s ‘No Exit’ album, a voice that is also extremely recognizable. Alder also delivered very good work with Redemption and Engine which underpinned his position.

It was 2019 when Alder released ‘What the Water Wants’, a first solo album. Musically, the singer went in a heavier direction and while the chorus focused on a catchiness.

These days Alder releases ‘II’, his new solo album. As on the debut album, he worked closely with Fates Warning touring member Mike Abdow. Lords Of Black’s Tony Hernando is also back on board and it is this trio that engineered the songs on ‘II’. While Adow contributed six tracks, there are three songs on which Hernando was in charge.

The new long player represents a next step in Alder’s solo ambition. ‘II’ is emotionally charged and darker than the debut. A good example of this is ‘Keep Wandering’. Melancholy is at the center of this calm tune and Alder’s soulful vocals give the song a good depth, while also always being equipped with a bit of hope. It is exactly these contrasts that make ‘II’ an emotionally profound album.

This approach runs like a common thread through the album. While Abdow musically executes Alders’ ideas in a skillful manner, it is Hernando who adds the big moments in the chorus. And not to forget the heavy riff the track entails.
With all the individuality, Fates Warning references also appear to a greater extent, which on the one hand seems logical and on the other hand gives the songs additional depth. ‘Those Words I Bleed’ is one such song and also ‘My Oblivion’ follows this pattern.

Gloom and darkness is what drives ‘This Hollow Shell’. In a sensitive way, it is Alder’s voice that takes the listener into a dark world.

Ray Alder manages with his two comrades to develop worlds of sound that fascinate. There is no room for boredom in any of the songs and you will always enjoy new details and twists that make ‘II’ an entertaining album.
‘Changes’, the closer, is a song that falls into this category. After a rather heavy start, it is the following, calmer section, where the frontman can present all the empathy of his voice.

In summary, it can be said that ‘II’ is a felicitous continuation of Ray Alder’s solo ambitions. An album has been created here, in which emotional worlds are transported through music. ‘II’ is an intense album that you can listen to many times without getting bored after a while. Alder offers a musical journey into a dark realm, where there is always light on the horizon.