The New Guy

Ray Alder joined Fates Warning in 1988 at the age of 18. He still fronts the band some 20 years later. Some fans still call him the new guy. He replaced John Arch, who sang for FW between 1984-1988 and recorded the classic "Night on Brocken" with the band. However, Ray has recorded classic after classic as their frontman since 1988's "No Exit", up through their last two masterpieces, "Disconnected" and "FWX". The guy has the range of other prog greats like Geoff Tate and James LaBrie, except he has this much heavier/darker side to him that isn't as theatrical as Tate, nor as unpredictable as LaBrie.

In between Fates and his newer classic prog project Redemption, Ray started his own band called Engine. Much heavier that FW and with tons of Deftones-esque groove and backbone. They've put out two records that are crushing and haunting, though neither has sold much of anything. The band is an all-star team, featuring Bernie Versailles (Redemption, Agent Steel), Joey Vera (Anthrax, Armored Saint, Fates Warning, etc) and Pete Parada (Face To Face).

Ray Alder is now only 38 years onld with over 20 years in the game. He is a true legend and one of the best singers in the business. Check out some Engine and pick up the records wherever you can, since I believe both are out of print. Amazon has 'em pretty cheap. Think Taco Bell bean burrito cheap. It's worth every penny.

"Monster":
"Losing Ground":

Red Tape is Awesome

I doubt many people remember this band, but I assure you that Red Tape is indeed awesome. They were a true political hardcore/punk band from Sacramento who had put out a few EP's and a full length on their own through tiny unheard-of indies in the early 2000's. Roadrunner Records took notice of their devoted local Sacramento following and their respect from other locals (Deftones, Revolution Smile and Will Haven, who even have a song named after singer Jeff Jawarski) and quickly signed the band in 2004, putting out their crminally overlooked LP, Radioactivist.

I swear to God, they didn't work the record at all. Why the fuck would you put out a record in hopes that it fails? Tax write-off? Head in ass syndrome (HIAS)? I just don't get it. Bands that have made a career out of political punk like Against Me! and Rise Against have thrived in the past few years, selling hundreds of thousands of records even in this struggling climate, yet Red Tape is no more. I like Against Me! and Rise Against a good deal, but they are mere skid marks compaired to how amazing Red Tape was. They even had an "Army" just like KISS, but 100% less fruity.

So they put this thing out there, something like four thousand people buy it and they band gets dropped. Big fucking surprise. When Grady rejoined Will Haven in 2006 and then abruptly left just as quick, Jeff Jawarski jumped at the opportunity to sing for WH and is now their full-time vocalist. 2007's The Hierophant is brutally heavy and while it isn't the best output from Will Haven, it's still great.

Here's to true punk. " Stalingrad " 2004: