Ray Alder – II Review

It’s probably not much of a stretch at this point to call Ray Alder a near-legendary prog-metal vocalist. With long-running stints in Fates Warning, Redemption, and recently, A-Z to his credit, the man has been part of a wide collection of influential prog releases and his voice has shined over multiple decades. Now that Fates Warning is inactive, Mr. Alder found time to work on his second solo outing. 2019s What the Water Wants was a sleeper solo album that snuck up and drilled its way into my brain. Several cuts are still in regular rotation, especially the larger-than-life title track. I was hoping the smartly titled II¹ would offer more of the same emotive prog-metal with Alder’s distinctive voice as the focal point. II is a different beast, however; at times more laid back and restrained in its approach. It also lacks the same highs that appeared last time. Can it still win an olde time Alder fan over though?

As with the last album, the material Ray Alder and compatriots Mike Abdow and Tony Hernando crafted for II is mostly mid-tempo and relatively soft, sometimes sleepy. There are occasional upticks in heaviness but aggression isn’t the point here. Opener “This Hollow Self” is indicative of what to expect throughout II. It sounds like a laid-back late-era Fates Warning, with Alder’s emotive vocals gliding over mellow but highly polished guitar work and generally subdued performances. Alder imparts passion and emotion to the proceedings but in a very low-key way. It’s classy and slick and it hits home. Cuts like “My Oblivion” and especially “Hands of Time” are a bit heavier but “heavy” is contextual here, and this is all pretty melodic stuff without an abundance of grit and edge. Both tracks offer minor pop and sizzle but fall well short of becoming earworms. Some songs lack peaks and valleys and come across as rather flat, with choruses that don’t always seize the ear firmly, relying on Alder’s voice to keep you hanging around.

Much of II is introspective and brooding. “Silence the Enemy” functions well in that space despite being very held back. “Keep Wandering’ is extra restrained and doesn’t ever seem to get real traction despite a very solid performance by Alder. Aside from the opener, only the nearly 8-minute closer “Changes” really made me sit up and take full notice. There’s much more passion and pulse in the song. Alder’s impassioned vocals, a solid chorus, and enthusiastic guitarwork ply the listener and allow things to stick and hook you in. At 51 minutes, II is a pretty nonconfrontational spin that feels shorter than it actually is. However, at times it can become easy to lose focus and let it drift into background noise. The production is clean and clinical, almost sterile, but it’s fairly routine for this kind of prog.

Ray Alder’s voice has matured and changed a great deal since he pierced eardrums on Fates Warning’s No Exit opus back in 1988. He doesn’t hit stratospheric highs these days and instead lives in a comfortable, engaging mid-range. He sounds great throughout II, his pipes still strong and expressive. He’s one of those vocalists that would sound great singing a dictionary to you. The languid, mellifluous backing music courtesy of Mike Abdow and Tony Hernando is pretty and palatable. They’re both very talented guitarists and offer all kinds of technical prog rock and metal noodling, especially on “Changes.” I do find myself wishing for more punch and urgency at various points on the album however. The big issue is the writing, which isn’t as memorable as last time. I don’t hate anything on II but little of it grabs me and makes me want to marinate in it. Sometimes it feels by-the-numbers and very safe sounding. Not exactly what I look for in a prog-metal release.

As enamored as I was with the last Ray Alder album, I’m much more ambivalent toward II. The songwriting isn’t focused or forceful enough to stick in my head despite the talent involved. I can see II hitting the spot when in a chill headspace, but it isn’t the kind of platter that will leave a big impression. I do love the man’s voice though!

Rating: 2.5/5.0
DR: 7 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: InsideOut
Website: facebook.com/RayAlderOfficial
Releases Worldwide: June 9th, 2023