SONS OF RA: Standard Deviation, The Debut LP From Chicago Progressive Metal/Jazz Fusion Trio, Is Out Today On Free Electric Sound + Tour Dates Begin

photo by Vacant Era Photography

Standard Deviation, the debut LP from Chicago-based progressive metal/jazz fusion trio SONS OF RA, is out now on the instrumental sub-label of The Lasers Edge Group, Free Electric Sound.

Two decades have passed since SONS OF RA emerged onto Chicago’s scene with their fusion of heavy prog, jazz, math rock, and elements of avantgarde music. Initially a line-blurring experiment, the trio’s most recent work has proven the band’s sound to jazz fusion aficionados, math and progressive rock purists alike while holding their own on bills on the Midwestern heavy music scenes. Formed by guitarist Erik Oldman Vecchione (Mare Crisium, Afrofuturistics), drummer Mike Rataj (Arbogast, Mine Collapse), and saxophonist/bassist Keith Wakefield (Jan King And Medicine Ball, Afrofuturistics), SONS OF RA independently released four EPs since 2016, culminating with the internationally critically acclaimed six-part suite Tropic Of Cancer in 2024.

Having drawn deeply from individual passions and stories, SONS OF RA’s evolution continues with their full-length album debut, Standard Deviation, diving deeper into their roots of avant-garde jazz, fusion, math and progressive rock, while maintaining a powerful metallic crunch. The album features interpretations of compositions from jazz legends Carla Bley, John Coltrane, and Don Ellis, balanced with a collection of original compositions reflecting the group’s diverse influences.

Standard Deviation was recorded and mixed by Spenser Morris (Saor, Panopticon, Vukari) at Palisade Studios in Chicago and mastered by Grammy Award-winning engineer Alan Douches at West West Side Sound in New York. Additionally, the album features guest performances by bassist Stephen Reichelt (Morgue Supplier, Drug Honkey, Mare Crisium), percussionist Paul Abella, and flautist Isaiah Sanderman. The cover art is a painting commissioned by the band from Chicago-area artist Nick Gurley, layout was handled by Erik Oldman Vecchione with photography from Sam Castellano at Doozy and Vacant Era Photography.

Listen to SONS OF RA’s captivating Standard Deviation everywhere including Bandcamp HERE, and watch the “Disintegration (Alabama Revisited)” video HERE and the “Lividity And The Ascension” video HERE.

Standard Deviation is now available on digital, CD, and LP at the label webshop HERE and Bandcamp – the standard version HERE and the hi-res version HERE. The band also has merch and signed copies of the album at the store HERE.

SONS OF RA is booking tour dates in support of Standard Deviation, including a hometown release show in Chicago tomorrow, Saturday, April 12th. For this show, the band will collaborate with several heavy hitters in Chicago’s scene, expanding to a septet with the addition of Luc Mosley (soprano saxophone), Katie Klocke (violin), Aerie Dover (flute, alto and tenor saxophones), and Quentin Dover (electric & acoustic guitars). Shows follow in Lafayette and Louisville at the end of April, late May they’ll play Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Melvindale, and a show in Oak Park was just booked for June. Additional shows will be added in the days ahead.

SONS OF RA Live/Events:
4/12/2025 Reggies – Chicago, IL *album release show w/ Wave Cage, Puke In The Icetray [info]
4/25/2025 North End Pub – Lafayette, IN [info]
4/26/2024 Planet of the Tapes – Louisville, KY
5/29/2025 Bantha Tea Bar – Pittsburgh, PA
5/30/2025 Orion Studios – Baltimore, MD
5/31/2025 Parts and Labor – Melvindale, MI
6/12/2025 Val’s Halla – Oak Park, IL

“If you’re in need of some jazzy metal goodness up in your ears today, this is certainly it.” – Metal Injection

“SONS OF RA impose few limitations on their music: They might try on any number of heavy and intense sounds, including prog, math rock, avant-garde metal, funk, and free jazz, depending on where the mood takes them.” – Chicago Reader

“It’s a dynamic, multilayered composition that is an absolute blast to listen to. It is just packed with so much good stuff, and simply put… it sounds awesome. But! There is definitely a lot to unpack.” – Nine Circles

photo by Sam Castellano

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