The opening line from lead off single “Release” fittingly announces Peter Wilson’s first album, FREEDOM’S DOOR. The driving, anthemic album opener sets the stage for the powerful, melodic hard rock record to be released early next year via Dr. Music Records by FOUR TRIPS AHEAD’s lead singer. “FREEDOM’S DOOR has been a long time in the making,” Peter shared. “In that time, I lost both of my parents, and became a father to a beautiful son. Add the madness of the pandemic to the mix, and political tensions in our country and around the world, I felt I had a great deal to write about and reflect upon. It was time to dig down deep and bare my soul, without fear or regret.”

Songs were tracked over several sessions at Spin Recording Studios in Long Island City in NYC. The songs were engineered by Nik Chinboukas (Metal Allegiance, Alex Skolnick Trio, Acrassicauda, Doyle from the Misfits), mixed by Grammy and Emmy Award-winning engineer Nick Cipriano (Dream Theater, Twisted Sister, Erasure, Donald Fagen), and mastered by legendary mastering engineer Roger Lian (Rush, Muse, Slayer, Pantera, Coheed and Cambria). Peter assembled a talented group of musicians from the NYC area to flesh out older material and to write new songs with—guitarist Glenn Sherman, bassist Harold Skeete, and guitarist Phill Ortiz. Drums were performed by FTA drummer Ken Candelas and, trusted studio stalwart, Nick Cipriano. “Glenn and Harold are two of my oldest and dearest friends. They are incredible musicians with soul and skill, elevating everything they play on. Both of them believed in the material and encouraged me throughout the writing and recording of the album. Phill and Ken and I had great chemistry and wrote a succession of exciting new songs together. And when it came time to record, everyone performed brilliantly on FREEDOM’S DOOR. The energy in the studio was palpable.”

Stretching out dynamically within a hard rock framework, Peter addresses various universal topics throughout his solo debut such as isolation and identity (“Mirror”), displacement and refugees (“Now There’s Nothing”), the rise of modern fascism (“Dicks and Swastikas”), greed and desperation (“Touch”), and heartbreak (“Sunshine”). Particularly poignant is the impassioned epic album closer and second single, the title cut, “Freedom’s Door”:

“I’ve seen what hate is

I’ve bared its scars

Fought for my place here

Cause this is my home.”

“Coincidentally, I tracked all of the vocals for “Freedom’s Door” on the anniversary of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville. The vibe was quite heavy in the studio and I felt as if I channeled my frustration and anger at the lack of progress in our nation in my performance. It still hits me hard when I hear it.”

Stepping out on his own, Peter unleashes his dynamic vocal range, distinct melodic sensibilities, and compelling lyrics throughout FREEDOM’S DOOR, welcoming listeners into his unique, energetic hard rock approach. Building on his years of fronting one of NYC’s premier rock bands, FOUR TRIPS AHEAD, Peter Wilson’s FREEDOM’S DOOR is a powerful, daring statement from a vital voice in modern hard rock.

Peter Wilson’s debut solo album, “Freedom’s Door”, includes the singles “Release”, “Sunshine”, and the epic title track.

“Freedom’s Door” is available digitally, on CD, and to stream via Dr. Music Records now.