It’s been a while since A-Z (Zonder/Alder) 2022 and their well crafted debut album and even though excellent from every aspect still that “something” was hanging in the air for the imagination.
But times are a changing and a new line- up leaves out from the premises keyboardist Vivien Lalu and guitar player Joop Wolters for another destination but always keeping bassist Philip Bynoe.
Lo and behold 2025 brings forth “A2Z²” and a refreshed line-up for promises well kept with Simone Mularoni on guitars from DGM also on mix and mastering, Nick Van Dyk guitarist and main composer of the highly acclaimed US progressive metal masters Redemption and last but not least keyboard player James Waldo (ALCATRAZZ / WARLORD / NEW ENGLAND). And for that matter refreshed line-up enthused by the man himself Mark Zonder.
“A2Z²” is fused with power-chords brushed with fluency and accessibility but also and in-depth meaning shun in Ray Alder‘s passionate and raw like an uncut diamond voice, retains emotional, vulnerable with every thoughtful phrase, there’s light and then there’s shadow and When it comes to Mark Zonder himself one can simply witness some of his best drumming along with that unmistakable rhythmical and masterful annotation ever since his glided age with Fates warning.
Everything clings to a wonderous outcome and I could go on forever about laurels resting at the summit of songs like “Fire Away “, “A Wordless Prison”, “The Remedy”, “This Chaotic Symphony”, “Learning to Fly”, “Now I Walk Away” are just the highlights for the elevation and there’s more from where that came from for you to discover.
In a nutshell an amazing album not to be missed.
“A2Z²” has been released on the 6th of June 2025 by Metal Blade Records and is available on LP, CD and Digital format.
Review by: Leonidas Hatzimihalis
Check the discussion about the album in our forum pages.
