On August 12th A-Z, the new band formed by Fates Warning icons Ray Alder and Mark Zonder released their self-titled album via Metal Blade Records!
When Mark Zonder, famed former Fates Warning and Warlord drummer, started working on material in early 2020 he had a very clear vision for the band he wanted to put together. “I was thinking beer commercials, car commercials, and Cobra Kai. I wanted to have a very accessible band that would appeal to the masses and would lead to the ability to tour larger venues and build a second and third record off the success of the first. I did not want to hear things like, ‘I don’t hear a single, it is too proggy, I just don’t get it, let me listen to it a few more times’. I knew from myself and the others that I would recruit, it would have some sophisticated music parts but the big hook was the main priority.” The result was A-Z, and while Zonder is adamant it is not a supergroup that is doing a ‘one and done’ record it has a stellar lineup, reuniting him with Fates Warning vocalist Ray Alder, Warlord/Steve Vai/Ring of Fire bassist Philip Bynoe, guitarist Joop Wolters and keyboardist Vivien Lalu, the combination of these players stirring up a very specific kind of magic that could not be replicated.
A-Z the debut album is a pure masterpiece at work, Each song beautifully composed with amazing progression and songwriting giving a mind-blowing end result for the album, The debut album is like a collection of Greatest Hits bands used to do back in the days, This is just a precious album from the legends A-Z.
It was indeed a great pleasure and honor to have the legend Mark Zonder on the Interview to talk about A-Z and the musical awesomeness behind the scenes. Check out the most amazing Mark on the below YouTube Interview.
‘A-Z’ tracklist:
01. Trial by Fire
02. The Far Side of the Horizon
03. The Machine Gunner
04. Rise Again
05. Window Panes
06. Run Away
07. Stranded
08. At the Waters Edge
09. Borrowed Time
10. Sometimes
11. The Silence Broken (Bonus Track)
Music Videos
The Band
Philip Bynoe – Bass Guitar
Vivien Lalu – Keyboards
Joop Wolters – Guitars
Mark Zonder – Drums
