The Raptor Trail has been slowly and quietly plotting its course over the last 25 years. Founding members John Meyer and Matthew Mayes had been kicking around the idea of recording something together for decades. Finally in 2014, the planets aligned and the idea actually transcended into a studio recording project which later came to be called The Raptor Trail.

The Raptor Trail was actually the first song that Meyer and Mayes wrote together for the project, and it snowballed from there, with “Gravity x Ten” following, and then ten more songs over the course of the next year.

Their self titled album which was released in May 2015 received a warm reception from diehard Jupiter Coyote fans, as well as many publications from the Progressive rock side of the scale. Now the band has just released their sophomore album this past March, entitled New World. This second release finds the band stretching it's musical wings with particular attention to vocal harmonies and acoustic based themes.

With The Raptor Trail comprising of: Gene Bass - Drums, Percussion; Matthew Mayes - Vocals, Guijo, Acoustic Guitars, Acoustic Banjo; and John Meyer - Lead, Slide, Fretless & Acoustic Guitars, G-Strings, Bass, Weird Noises, Background Vocals, this second album kicks off with the guitar thunderous 'Four Times,' before the mood is lightened by 'Whoville.' The upbeat bar fest cut 'Going To Dublin' is next and is one of the highlights on this great new CD and is backed by both the mid-tempo 'Stone By Stone' and the epic (in length and depth) 'Let It Go.' The storytelling of 'The Fall' is next and that is followed by the title track, 'the thoughtful 'New World'.

The fun and bouncy 'Time Slides Onward' is next before the heavier guitar cut 'Blue Highway' comes to the fore. The guitars get a little darker, a little heavier, and whilst the tempo drops overall, for me the best song of the album comes next: 'Wheel.' The album then comes to a conclusion with both stoic 'Desolation' and the perky, assured guitar work of 'Grace.'

MP3 Purchase Link

www.facebook.com/theraptortrail