Jay Nanda of San Antonio Metal Music Examiner recently conducted an interview with FATES WARNING singer Ray Alder. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
San Antonio Metal Music Examiner: At what point in time did you scale back completely from the high vocal range that you were known for when you first joined the band on "No Exit", and how difficult was it to realize that a change in style was necessary?
Ray Alder: I think it was "A Pleasant Shade Of Gray" when I really came into my own and rearranged what I wanted to do with my voice. In the beginning, the whole thing with the high voice, that's what was going on, to me, in the '80s. I was also a young guy, I was in San Antonio and wanted to sing high, and as I got older, I realized I wanted to sing, not scream. And it was probably "A Pleasant Shade Of Gray" when it came to me. And unfortunately, my voice changed. I grew up. Or whatever you want to call it.
San Antonio Metal Music Examiner: Frank [Aresti, guitar] is not going to be on this tour. What's keeping him away, and what should we know about Mike [Abdow]?
Ray Alder: Frank, it was funny, we were doing the album and everything else, and he started a new job. And he's also recently married and moving to California. We tried: "What about this?" But there's no anger whatsoever, and we wish him well. He will be with us the next few tours, we do know that. But Mike's a great guy. We tried out other guitar players and auditioned a few other guys. Mike just seemed to be the guy that would fit. Really nice guy, quiet, but a great guitar player. For some reason, he was the best fit. So far, he's doing great.
San Antonio Metal Music Examiner: What were you doing musically when the rest of the guys were doing the ARCH/MATHEOS project [the progressive rock band featuring FATES WARNING/OSI guitarist Jim Matheos and former FATES WARNING singer John Arch], and did that create any awkwardness within the band?
Ray Alder: Well, it's funny because I talked about it before — the ARCH/MATHEOS thing had a few songs that were supposed to be the new FATES WARNING album. The music Jim was giving me, I worked on it, and whatever I gave to Jim, it just didn't seem to gel with him. Both of us agreed it wasn't something I was completely happy with. Then he asked me, "What if I did something else with it?" And I said, "That's up to you. Of course, that's fine, if it's not working out with me." Then he brought up the John thing, and I was like, "Well . . . OK." [chuckles] "Whatever you want to do." I was taken aback. I definitely was taken aback a bit. I never took it personally. But I was just like, "OK." But then, you know, at the end, Jim needs to make a living as much as the rest of us. It was fine. It was an amazing album, and I was actually curious to hear John's voice as well after all those years. Once I finished with this album, I sat down and listened to that album and, Holy crap! It's amazing — and John's voice!
San Antonio Metal Music Examiner: It's great to hear how accepting you are of that because obviously a lot of bands wouldn't go back to that situation of reuniting with their original singer, then get back to their present singer. Just look at VAN HALEN. You don't see Sammy being accepting of going back to David Lee Roth.
Ray Alder: Yeah, again, it was a conversation Jim and I had. He was like, "Hey, I just want to make sure you're OK with this. Is everything going to be fine?" I'm like, "Absolutely." The next album, we were all together. And we were wondering, how were people going to speculate? "Oh, the band broke up (or) John's back in the band." So we knew what was going to come of it, but again, it was a project Jim threw together. I didn't feel it in my heart, and I worked on it for a long time.
Three former members of the Louisville, Kentucky-based band FLAW — Jason Daunt (guitar), Chris Volz (vocals) and Chris Ballinger (drums) — have reunited and are currently working on material for a new FLAW studio album. "We hope to be doing shows in a month or so and will likely have all material for the new album ready by the end of year," Daunt said in an online posting.
According to Wikipedia, FLAW was dropped by its label Universal Records late 2004 after its two major label albums failed to sell more than 500,000 copies combined. "The band's final days left many angry fans venting on the band's message board. They had setup a few shows within their surrounding states, and when the break-up news began to circulate, no one from the band stepped forward to admit their break-up. Several fans drove hundreds of miles to see the shows only to be told by club managers that the band unexpectedly cancelled without notice."
Comments the band: "This album is very important to all of us. Behind it, there is the ambitious goal of creating one of the most epic and cinematic albums ever written."
Adds LUCA TURILLI'S RHAPSODY singer Alessandro Conti: "Prepare yourselves for an amazing journey ranging from the myths and legends of the past to the unexplored borders of space and time, the revelations of quantum mechanics and beyond, while exploring the multi-dimensional levels of psyche and consciousness and the intimate secrets of heart and soul on the path of spiritual evolution. In short words: a roller-coaster ride of extreme emotions. Be ready!"
States guitarist/mastermind Luca Turilli: "I recently gave birth to my company Luca Turilli Music Productions and have partnered with great artists such as the U.S. producer/mixer Allen Morgan (U2, NINE INCH NAILS, TAYLOR SWIFT) and the Czech conductor Petr Pololanik (nominated for Hollywood Music In Media Awards in 2011) to start composing emotional music with impact, mainly for the world of cinema and the videogames.
"What I can say is that I am composing, writing and producing the guitar parts and the orchestral and choral arrangements for this new RHAPSODY album in the same exact way I would and will do it while scoring movie trailers or videogame soundtracks. Therefore, expect moments of high tension, pure action and adrenaline for a final result never heard before. In other words: the definitive consecration of cinematic metal!"
Former MURDERDOLLS frontman Wednesday 13 is editing his new concert DVD, "Scream Britain Scream", for an early 2014 release. The set will feature performance, backstage, and up-close-and-personal footage from Wednesday 13's March 2013 U.K. tour and the 2012 London Halloween concert. Wednesday 13 commented: "This DVD will be the ultimate backstage pass for any Wednesday 13 fan. We filmed every single second of the March U.K. tour. I want this DVD to show what we do, and how we do it... the good, the bad, and the ugly."
With certain releases, Wednesday likes to include his fans in with the artwork. This time, Wednesday 13 fans have a chance to be in the "Scream Britain Scream" DVD artwork as a member of the Royal Ghouls. 13 lucky fans can have their names attached to one of The Royal Ghouls storming out of the gates of The Royal Palace. Become a piece of history in the Wednesday 13 catalogue by capturing a winning bid on eBay; auctions end August 27.
This release will be different from previous releases as you will not only get to name your Royal Ghoul, but you will also get space in the booklet for your full name or dedication.