NORTH SEA ECHOES — the duo of vocalist Ray Alder and guitarist Jim Matheos, both of progressive metal pioneers FATES WARNING — will release their second studio album, How To Cast A Shadow, on July 24, 2026 via Metal Blade Records. The announcement arrives with the album's lead single and video, "Enjoy The View."
The follow-up to the project's acclaimed 2024 debut Really Good Terrible Things, the new record pushes NORTH SEA ECHOES' sound into heavier territory. "This record is a bit heavier, with several more songs featuring real drums, played by Dennis Leeflang," Matheos explains. "It wasn't necessarily intentional or planned, just the way things shaped up and how they emerged this time."
Alder agrees, singling out one track in particular. "'I'll Leave A Light On' is much heavier than anything on Really Good Terrible Things. It has a darker, melancholic feel that fits well on this album. I loosely based the lyrics on a character from my favorite sci-fi series. I won't say which, but they do use the quote 'out there in the black.'"
Spanning the radio-ready rock of "All That Comes After," the escalating "A Time Of Innocence And Purpose" and the timeless ballad "Villains Or Saints," How To Cast A Shadow crosses genres while building on the emotional, exploratory spirit of its predecessor.
On the lead single, Alder says: "The guitars and drums have this great drive that builds throughout the song. The combination of quiet verses and heavy choruses made me think (lyrically) of a darker side to some people. Those who would choose numbness over pain."
Both musicians bring decades of pedigree to the project. Alder has fronted and co-written for FATES WARNING for 37 years, appearing on ten albums between 1988's No Exit and 2020's Long Day Good Night, along with seven records with REDEMPTION, two solo albums and the band A-Z. Matheos, a FATES WARNING co-founder whose career stretches back to 1984's Night On Bröcken, has released thirteen albums with that band, plus solo work, four LPs as OSI with former DREAM THEATER keyboardist Kevin Moore, and KINGS OF MERCIA.
"You could say that there are elements of everything we do or have done on this album, yet FATES and our various other projects are totally different types of music," the pair say.
How To Cast A Shadow arrives on CD and digital formats.
Pre-order: metalblade.com/northseaechoes
Track listing:
- A Time of Innocence and Purpose
- Enjoy the View
- Good Enough
- I'll Leave a Light On
- All Fall Away
- Revenge
- Villains or Saints
- What Is and What Was
- All That Comes After
- How to Cast a Shadow