Ryder is a hard rock band hailing from Queens, NY. Formed in 2016, the band features different talents united in their passion to throw down in the classic style for a modern crowd. Lead singer and guitarist James Ryder embodies the pounding spirit of true rock; Tim Freyr’s resounding bass compels its own attention from audiences; Billy Smith fuses precision with rebellion on drums, and guitarist Andrew Bloch weaves the musical threads that unite the band into a single force.


Ryder is authentically heavy but always wailing for their audience rather than at it. Their first EP, IV, which was produced by former Lynch Mob bass player Anthony Esposito, was released in 2017 and caught fans’ attention with its classic-yet-contemporary sound. Their new EP, For What It’s Worth, is a live compilation of new songs – a daring choice showing the band in their best aspect: playing to a live audience in venues that know good heavy rock when they hear it (cf. L.A’s Whiskey A-Go-Go, NY’s Gramercy Theater, NJ's Wellmont Theater et al.). FWIW is the answer to what is needed in hard rock now: obvious respect for the inspiration of predecessors from Thin Lizzy, Aerosmith, Black Sabbath, and the others, woven into a sound that is clearly alive with audiences today.