Redemption Bio

Progressive power-metal band Redemption was formed in Los Angeles, California in late 2000 by guitarist/keyboardist/songwriter Nicolas van Dyk. Following a chance meeting at a live show in Hollywood, van Dyk became close friends with legendary vocalist Ray Alder (Fates Warning) and eventually collaborated on a song on Alder's first solo record with his band Engine. Van Dyk asked Alder to produce a CD of van Dyk's more progressive metal music, and the two of them assembled a group of players to record the project, including Bernie Versailles (Agent Steel, Engine) on guitar and Jason Rullo (Symphony X) on drums. Rick Mythiasin (Taraxacum / ex-Steel Prophet) signed on to be the vocalist for the project, and Alder along with Fates Warning drummer Mark Zonder contributed guest performances. The band was signed to Ken Golden's Sensory Records and released its self-titled debut in the summer of 2002.

The band quickly gathered a following in the progressive metal underground, and received rave reviews from the press, which recognized the band for its combination of intensity, progression and melody. The band was asked to perform at the Atlanta-based ProgPower festival, the most important progressive metal festival in the United States, in September 2002. Due to scheduling constraints, a different performing lineup was needed and van Dyk recruited drummer Chris Quirarte and bassist James Sherwood of southern California prog-metal act Prymary, along with vocalist Corey Brown (Magnitude 9). Alder also joined the band on stage as a guest performer.

The rhythm section of Quirarte and Sherwood provided a strong creative boost to the band and van Dyk invited them to join as full-time members shortly thereafter. Van Dyk set to work writing and recording the follow-up, and upon hearing the completed music, Alder asked to join the band as its full-time vocalist in the summer of 2004 (in addition to remaining the vocalist for Fates Warning and Engine). The band recorded its sophomore release, The Fullness of Time, and van Dyk selected Tommy Newton, known for his production work with such bands as Conception, Ark, Helloween and UFO, to mix and master the record.

Once again, the music combines heaviness, complexity and irresistible melody drawing on such diverse influences as Kansas, Savatage, Iron Maiden, Fates Warning, Dream Theater, Rush and Megadeth. The songwriting is both heavier and more melodic than the debut, and maintains complexity while being more focused and song-oriented than its predecessor. Combining unusually strong songwriting with exceptional performances - including vocals from one of the premier singers in the history of metal - and the production talent of Tommy Newton, The Fullness of Time promises to be one of 2005's most unique and compelling offerings in the prog/power genre.