Biography

An American progressive metal group with ties to a host of heavy art rock contemporaries like Evergrey, Fates Warning, Symphony X, and Prymary, Los Angeles, California's Redemption employ a compelling blend of sonic heft, technical acumen, reflective lyrics, and soaring melodies. Since emerging in 2003, the band has risen to the upper echelons of 21st century prog-metal with standout efforts like The Fullness of Time (2005), This Mortal Coil (2011), and I Am the Storm (2023). The brainchild of Los Angeles-based multi-instrumentalist Nick Van Dyk (guitars, bass, keyboards), Redemption proudly unfurled the flag of American progressive metal on their impressively rendered eponymous debut in 2003, which also featured vocalist Rick Mythiasin (ex-Steel Prophet and New Eden), bassist Jason Rullo (of Symphony X), and guitarist Bernie Versailles, on loan from the legendary Fates Warning. For their second album, 2005's The Fullness of Time, Redemption gained an additional boost with the guest presence of Fates Warning vocalist Ray Alder, and broke in another accomplished rhythm section in bassist James Sherwood and drummer Chris Quirarte -- both formerly of prog rockers Prymary. The band's sophomore outing, the Tommy Newton-produced Origins of Ruin, saw release in 2007, followed by the 2009 concert album Frozen in the Moment. The Tommy Hansen-produced Snowfall on Judgment Day arrived that same year, and was followed by the aptly named This Mortal Coil in 2011, which was inspired by guitarist/keyboardist Nick Van Dyk's recent cancer diagnosis. Van Dyk was declared cancer free shortly thereafter, and the band issued its second live album, Live from the Pit, in 2014. In 2016 Redemption released its sixth studio long-player, The Art of Loss, on Metal Blade, including a guest spot from Armored Saint and ex-Anthrax vocalist John Bush, along with contributions from former Megadeth guitarists Chris Poland, Chris Broderick, and Marty Friedman. Alder left the group the following year to rejoin Fate's Warning, so Van Dyk recruited longtime friend and Evergrey frontman Tom Englund to join the group on vocals. Englund made his studio debut on the band's seventh full-length effort, Long Night's Journey Into Day, which arrived in 2018 and debuted at number 18 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. Two years later the band issued Alive in Color, a concert film and LP of their 2018 headlining performance at ProgPower USA. Redemption continued to carry the torch for prog-leaning, melodic power metal on 2023's triumphant I Am the Storm, which was released via AFM Records. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, Rovi