A-Z (Ray Alder et Mark Zonder de Fates Warning)

[Everflow]

Les 2 anciens compères dans Fates Warning se retrouvent pour un projet, avec également le bassiste de Warlord, un claviériste français, et un guitariste belge.

Metal Blade Records has announced the signing of A-Z.

A-Z (pronounced "A through Z") equals Ray Alder (FATES WARNING; vocals) and Mark Zonder (ex-FATES WARNING, WARLORD; drums), and also means "anything is possible" — and with this lineup of musicians, that is no exaggeration. This exciting new band reunites Alder with Zonder, and they're joined by Philip Bynoe (WARLORD, STEVE VAI, NUNO BETTENCOURT) on bass, Joop Wolters (STEVE WALSH, SIMON PHILLIPS) on guitar, and Vivien Lalu (STEVE WALSH, JORDAN RUDESS) on keys.

Zonder comments: "When we were looking for a deal, Metal Blade was number one on the list. First worked with Brian Slagel about 40 years with 'Metal Massacre II' and WARLORD. No question that they do a great job and we are very excited and proud to be back at MB."

Musically, A-Z is melodic and progressive, bringing to mind the classic FATES WARNING-era of albums like "Parallels" and "Pleasant Shade Of Grey", while recalling the hooks of classic 1970s and 1980s hard rock artists. The band's upcoming debut will be the first time Alder and Zonder have recorded together since 2004, and it will surely please both FATES WARNING and melodic hard rock fans alike.

In the meantime, fans can check out a video signing message from A-Z and Metal Blade CEO/founder Brian Slagel below.

A-Z is:

Ray Alder - vocals
Mark Zonder -drums
Philip Bynoe - bass
Joop Wolters - guitar
Vivien Lalu - keys

[Pierre]

Ca pourrait être la continuation de Warlord ? A voir

[Everflow]

On peut entendre quelques extrais dans la vidéo, c'est très éloigné de Warlord.
Plus proche de ce que Zonder faisait dans son projet Slavior, difficile à catégoriser.

[Cruchot jr]

Toujours curieux d'écouter les projets liés à Fates Warning. Zonder reste un sacré batteur, et Ray Alder garde une voix magique.

[Everflow]

Voici le résultat. Finalement cela ressemble aux albums solo de Ray Alder (Engine) et Mark Zonder (Slavior), en plus mélodique.

A-Z, the new band formed by Fates Warning icons Ray Alder and Mark Zonder, have released the second single from their upcoming debut album. Fans can check out the new music video for "Trial By Fire" below.

Speaking about the new single, the band comments: "We always felt that 'Trial by Fire' was going to be a big song for us. Classic arena rock style song, big intro, great groove, memorable chorus, and a classic vocal-oriented ending. All of the elements that made the 70's and 80's the greatest era for rock."

[Everflow]

Pas franchement metal ni même prog mais y'a du talent.

[Everflow]

[Everflow]

[metal militia]

Encore un nouveau groupe de musiciens que j'apprécie et je suis passé à côté! Faut que je passe plus sur le forum...

[Everflow]

[Everflow]

[Everflow]

[Everflow]

[Everflow]

Sans être indispensable, je trouve ça plus intéressant que l'album solo d'Alder.

[Everflow]

[metal militia]

Bien sympa ces titres.

[Everflow]

Deuxième album en juin.

Ils ont intégré le guitariste leader de Redemption, groupe dans lequel officiait (encore une fois) Ray Alder.

Hard rock band A-Z returns with its sophomore album, "A2Z²", on June 6 via Metal Blade Records. Spearheaded by legendary drummer Mark Zonder (FATES WARNING, WARLORD) and along with former FATES WARNING bandmate Ray Alder on vocals, "A2Z²" builds on the groundwork laid on the acclaimed 2022 self-titled debut album.

The title "Nothing Is Over" — the first single from "A2Z²" — serves as a de facto statement announcing the quintet's 10-song sophomore effort and musical M.O. It's the initial track Zonder and guitarist Nick Van Dyk (REDEMPTION) wrote when they began working on "A2Z²" with Alder.

Music trends may be ever-changing, but classic rock 'n' roll is indeed never over, and A-Z remains committed to heavy music that's sophisticated but hooky and accessible. Helping achieve those aural goals are bassist Philip Bynoe (STEVE VAI, RING OF FIRE, WARLORD),Italian guitarist Simone Mularoni ("A2Z²" mixing/mastering, DGM) and keyboard player James Waldo (ALCATRAZZ, NEW ENGLAND). "Nothing Is Over" is heavier and deeper than what the band explored on their debut LP, with a bit more prog playing, but still featuring a big chorus hook and plush vocals. Alder's lyrics were inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's short story "The Outsider".

The band known as A-Z began when Zonder started working on material in early 2020 with a clear vision for the band he wanted to put together. "I was thinking beer commercials, car commercials and 'Cobra Kai'. I wanted a very accessible band that would appeal to the masses," he says. The band's name — standing for "Alder through Zonder" — was an easy choice that would never pigeonhole the lineup's sound. "What I liked is that it did not limit what someone would think of the band," says Zonder. "If we named the band SCARY SERPENT, it would give a certain direction and didn't want people to prejudge us."

The band members are legendarily prolific, which allows for an amazing dynamic where, as Zonder explains. "When you find the right guys, you just let them do whatever they want," he says. "Everybody's a seasoned pro and all the different ingredients come together, make it what it is. That live and recording experience allows A-Z to instinctively know how not to step on each other musically."

"We're all about the songs, the band, not what each of us does in it. It's simple," they all agree. "It's about the music as a whole," says Zonder, "I guarantee you everybody's into something completely different musically, and that's where the magic to me comes from, taking different influences and everybody doing what they do to create A-Z. We're not 20-year-old kids. We're at the point where if you're gonna go, just go big. And that's what we've done on 'A2Z²'."

[metal militia]

Cela sonne encore plus metal prog'. Plus démonstratif. Cela sonne bien, ce n'est pas désagréable mais je ne voudrais pas que tout l'album soit ainsi.