Redemption

An American progressive metal outfit rooted in Los Angeles, California, Redemption draws on connections with numerous heavyweight art-rock peers such as Evergrey, Fates Warning, Symphony X, and Prymary. The group fuses instrumental power, technical precision, introspective songwriting, and expansive melodic lines. Active since its formation in 2003, the band has established itself among the leading acts in twenty-first-century prog-metal through key releases including The Fullness of Time (2005), This Mortal Coil (2011), and I Am the Storm (2023).

Multi-instrumentalist Nick Van Dyk, based in Los Angeles and handling guitars, bass, and keyboards, conceived the project. Redemption asserted its place in American progressive metal with a self-titled debut album in 2003 that showcased vocalist Rick Mythiasin, formerly of Steel Prophet and New Eden, bassist Jason Rullo from Symphony X, and guitarist Bernie Versailles, appearing courtesy of Fates Warning. The follow-up, The Fullness of Time from 2005, benefited from guest vocals by Fates Warning’s Ray Alder and introduced bassist James Sherwood and drummer Chris Quirarte, both previously of Prymary.

Produced by Tommy Newton, the band’s next studio effort, Origins of Ruin, surfaced in 2007, with the live recording Frozen in the Moment appearing in 2009. That same year brought Snowfall on Judgment Day, produced by Tommy Hansen. This Mortal Coil followed in 2011, its title reflecting guitarist and keyboardist Nick Van Dyk’s recent cancer diagnosis. After Van Dyk received a clean bill of health, the second live album, Live from the Pit, was issued in 2014.

Redemption delivered its sixth studio album, The Art of Loss, through Metal Blade in 2016, featuring guest vocals from Armored Saint and ex-Anthrax singer John Bush as well as guitar contributions from former Megadeth members Chris Poland, Chris Broderick, and Marty Friedman. Ray Alder departed the following year to return to Fates Warning, prompting Van Dyk to enlist longtime associate and Evergrey frontman Tom Englund as vocalist. Englund’s first studio appearance came on the seventh album, Long Night’s Journey Into Day, released in 2018 and peaking at number 18 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. Two years later the concert film and live album Alive in Color documented the band’s 2018 headline set at ProgPower USA. Redemption sustained its commitment to melody-driven, prog-inflected power metal with the 2023 release I Am the Storm on AFM Records.