What truly is progressive music? Each month BraveWords will aim to dissect that answer with a thorough overview of the current musical climate that is the prog world. Old and new, borrowed and blue. A musical community without borders. So watch for a steady and spaced-out array of features, current news and a buyer’s guide checklist to enhance the forward-thinking musical mind. So, welcome to BraveWords’ monthly column appropriately titled, Between A Rock In A Prog Place. 

In this month’s column, we speak to longtime Fates Warning singer Ray Alder, who is issuing his second solo album, II, on June 9 via InsideOutMusic (and can be ordered here). Chatting from his home in Spain, Alder discussed his latest solo offering, the future of Fates Warning, and his thoughts on the current state of prog metal. 

How does II compare to your previous solo album, What The Water Wants?

“The first one was more experimental – my goal was to not sound like Fates Warning, but to just do something totally different. Hence, the different musical styles – more straight-forward, not really that heavy, shorter songs. And I think I accomplished that goal with that album. It was a lot of fun – I really enjoyed everything we did on that album. But with this one, I wanted to go back to my roots – longer songs, more complex music, melodies and lyrics. The first album actually had a theme – it wasn’t a conscious thing, it’s just the way the lyrics came out. Somehow, everything ended up having to do with H2O – I don’t know why. 

“But this one was completely different – I just let the music take me to where I wanted to write the lyrics, about how the music made me feel. So, none of the songs really have anything to do with each other. The last song that just came out, ‘My Oblivion,’ seemed really like a dark song to me. They’re all sort of dark, but that one just made me think of action heroes or anti-heroes. One of my favorite genres of movies is revenge-type movies – all the John Wick movies and things. It made me think of that, so those lyrics are basically about an anti-hero laying waste to everything. It was a cool experience to just write about anything and not be so serious on this album – even though everything is sort of dark. Again, the longer songs are back to my Fates roots…and just keep it interesting.”

Who plays on the album?

“Fates’ touring guitar player Mike Abdow, my longtime friend Craig Anderson who is the drummer for Ignite, and Lords of Black guitarist Tony Hernando. Tony and Mike played their own bass parts throughout. Just three guys, really.”

Favorite tracks?

“One of the songs I did with Tony, ‘Hands Of Time,’ it basically deals with mortality – our own clock that’s ticking, so to speak. It has more of an old school, galloping rhythm going on. There’s three songs that Tony wrote and I think they’re a bit more traditional, old school…maybe European metal. There’s only nine songs on the album but it’s a really long album. I wish I could have fit more, but we basically ran out of space on the CD.”

How do you approach a solo album compared to a Fates Warning album?

“Not that I don’t take this seriously, but I think with the Fates stuff, I take a more serious view. I’m not sure if that’s a personal thing or if it’s what I think listeners want to hear, but I think the lyrics are maybe a little deeper and a more serious tone. But this one is looser and I’m writing just about anything.”

Is it true that Jim Matheos is no longer interested in writing new Fates Warning material?

“Pretty much, yeah. That’s what he told me, at least. Of course I’m disappointed, but there’s nothing I can do about it. For him, Fates has run its course – as far as writing, maybe that well is dry. As far as everything else, we have discussed touring – next year is the 40th anniversary, so maybe we’ll do something.”

Which Fates Warning album are you most proud of?

“I would imagine it’s A Pleasant Shade Of Gray. Just being able to do an album-length song. Writing the thing we were taking a chance – we didn’t know how it would turn out. But I’m just proud of the way it turned out. We toured so much for that album and played the entire song – from beginning to end – and people seemed to love it, we kept touring with it. So, I think that was a very big accomplishment on our part – on everyone’s part. To me, I think that’s one of my proudest moments.”

What do you think of the current state of prog metal?

“I think it’s bigger than it has been in a long time. There’s a lot of things happening out there. The band Haken is doing really well. But I don’t really listen to prog music that much – maybe when I was younger. But now, I don’t really listen to anything.”

Future plans?

“I’d love to be able to tour again with Fates or solo – or both. I got into the business playing in live bands – just being on stage. And since the pandemic, I’ve done one live show – at ProgPower in Atlanta. I’m just itching to get back on the road. The plan is to somehow get back on the road and then, write another solo album.”

Between A Rock And A Prog Place News Blast

Symphonic metallists Kamelot recently released their latest album, The Awakening, and unveiled a new video for the track “New Babylon” (featuring Ad Infinitum vocalist Melissa Bonny) – which can be viewed here. Also, the band will be launching their Awaken The World North American Tour in August (on a bill also featuring Battle Beast and Xandria), for which a complete list of the dates are included on the band’s official site.

Prog metallists Haken have also issued a new video for the track “Lovebite,” which was filmed at a performance last March in Paris and can be viewed below. Norwegian proggers Avkrvst will be issuing their debut full-length, The Approbation, on June 16th, and can already be ordered. 

Swedish symphonic metallists Therion will be issuing a new studio album later this year, but in the meantime, you can enjoy vinyl reissues of the earlier Secrets Of The Runes, Lemuria, Sirius B and Gothic Kabbalah LP’s by clicking here. Another symphonic metal act, Sirenia, recently issued their third single and video, “Wintry Heart” (from their new album, 1977), which can be viewed right here. 

NYC proggers Ice Age recently issued a new video for the title track from their latest album, Waves Of Loss And Power, which can be viewed below. And lastly, Danish prog-power metallists Pyramaze return this month with a new album, Bloodlines, as well as a new music video for the track “Alliance,” available for viewing here. And if you were paying attention…you will notice this is the second video included in this month’s column to include a guest appearance by Melissa Bonny! 

June 2023 New Albums

June 2
Roger Waters- The Lockdown Sessions 

June 5
Karnataka- Requiem for a Dream 

June 9
Ray Alder- II

June 16
Avkrvst- The Approbation
Motorpsycho- Yay!

June 23
Pyramaze- Bloodlines 

June 30
Frank Zappa- Funky Nothingness 
Hawkwind- Warrior on the Edge of Time (Steven Wilson Remix)
Various Artists- Round and Round: Progressive Sounds of 1974 (4CD)

Classic Clip

Mr. Alder wasn’t pulling our leg when he said that his favorite Fates Warning LP, A Pleasant Shade Of Gray, is one looong song. And the band was able to pull it off live splendidly, as evidenced by this performance from 1997, which features the complete song in all of its 55:47 glory.