Los Angeles' ENGINE was a Metal Blade recording artists conceived 1999 project band fronted by FATES WARNING vocalist Ray Alder. Other high profile musicians involved numbered AGENT STEEL and live FATES WARNING guitarist Bernie Versailles, ARMORED SAINT and FATES WARNING bass player Joey Vera and the STEEL PROPHET and GENE LOVES JEZEBEL credited drummer Pete Parada.

Both Alder and Versailles would also participate in Nick Van Dyk's REDEMPTION project of 2001. Promoting the 2002 'Superholic' album ENGINE would embark upon a run of North American West Coast club dates during August. With regular sticksman Pete Parada committed to touring with FACE TO FACE the band pulled in IGNITE drummer Craig Anderson for this run of shows.

Anderson joined CRESCENT SHIELD in 2003, the new band assembled by erstwhile ONWARD singer Michael Grant. Ray Alder guested on the song 'Broken Road' for Italian act ELDRITCH's 'Blackenday' 2007 album.