kelly
Herr Babelfish der Übersetzer, he wore a whipped-cream-covered tutu for this title.
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- Jan 1, 2002
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I'm such a nice person that I have had the majority of my Fates Warning CDs out on loan for some time. Getting them back last night was like being reunited with an old friend.
Fates Warning began their career as a British New Wave of Heavy Metal influenced American metal band. But unlike other American acts in this era, Fates Warning had far more impressive musicians and intelligent lyrics.
By the time they had released Awaken the Guardian, their third album, in 1986, Fates Warning had begun to sound more like a progressive metal band, sharing a small niche with bands like the then new Dream Theater and Queensryche.
At this point, John Arch, the original vocalist leaves the band. Arch was a true metal vocalist in the vein of Rob Halford and King Diamond. Although he is greatly missed, Ray Adler had perhaps a better fit for the band's new sound and direction.
In 1989 the band released Perfect Symetry with a new drummer and guest starring Kevin Moore of Dream Theater fan on keyboard. This album spawned the video "Through Different Eyes" that could sometimes be seen on MTV's Headbanger's Ball.
The band continued that direction through the 1991 release Parallels which also managed to snag a Dream Theater guest, this time James Labrie. This album is their best known album and holds all of the concert favorites like "Eleventh Hour", "Point of View" and "We Only Say Goodbye." They had only barely missed commercial success with this album, being only a little too far behind Queensryche's Empire and being its melodic and musical superior.
Dream Theater members have since continued to appear on their albums while attempts to achieve commercial success have completely ceased. Their albums are now what they should be--bold and experimental, with no compromise given to assembling radio digestable chunks.
A Pleasant Shade of Grey, 1997, brought on Terry Brown, the famous producer of Rush's best albums and brought the band into a more professional completion. A concept album of sorts, A Pleasant Shade of Grey is excellent headphone music and something I don't think any fan of progressive rock could be disappointed to own.
The continuance of this album was 2000's Disconnected, also produced by Terry Brown with the usual guest stars. You might have trouble saying which is better between this and Grey--I'm undecided.
If you'd prefer Fates Warning in something more easily sampled, I wholly recommend their live release, Still Life. The first album of this is A Pleasant Shade of Grey in its entirety while the second disc mimmicks most of what is on their Chasing Time compilation. They are, of course, an excellent live band.
If I've somehow managed to influence you, reply or email me and let me know. I've always felt a little sympathy for a band this good that has had no recognition. I've seen them live twice in bars and it just bewilders me how a band like this is still playing clubs while bands like Motley Crue can fill stadiums. Please give them a chance.
Kelly
Fates Warning began their career as a British New Wave of Heavy Metal influenced American metal band. But unlike other American acts in this era, Fates Warning had far more impressive musicians and intelligent lyrics.
By the time they had released Awaken the Guardian, their third album, in 1986, Fates Warning had begun to sound more like a progressive metal band, sharing a small niche with bands like the then new Dream Theater and Queensryche.
At this point, John Arch, the original vocalist leaves the band. Arch was a true metal vocalist in the vein of Rob Halford and King Diamond. Although he is greatly missed, Ray Adler had perhaps a better fit for the band's new sound and direction.
In 1989 the band released Perfect Symetry with a new drummer and guest starring Kevin Moore of Dream Theater fan on keyboard. This album spawned the video "Through Different Eyes" that could sometimes be seen on MTV's Headbanger's Ball.
The band continued that direction through the 1991 release Parallels which also managed to snag a Dream Theater guest, this time James Labrie. This album is their best known album and holds all of the concert favorites like "Eleventh Hour", "Point of View" and "We Only Say Goodbye." They had only barely missed commercial success with this album, being only a little too far behind Queensryche's Empire and being its melodic and musical superior.
Dream Theater members have since continued to appear on their albums while attempts to achieve commercial success have completely ceased. Their albums are now what they should be--bold and experimental, with no compromise given to assembling radio digestable chunks.
A Pleasant Shade of Grey, 1997, brought on Terry Brown, the famous producer of Rush's best albums and brought the band into a more professional completion. A concept album of sorts, A Pleasant Shade of Grey is excellent headphone music and something I don't think any fan of progressive rock could be disappointed to own.
The continuance of this album was 2000's Disconnected, also produced by Terry Brown with the usual guest stars. You might have trouble saying which is better between this and Grey--I'm undecided.
If you'd prefer Fates Warning in something more easily sampled, I wholly recommend their live release, Still Life. The first album of this is A Pleasant Shade of Grey in its entirety while the second disc mimmicks most of what is on their Chasing Time compilation. They are, of course, an excellent live band.
If I've somehow managed to influence you, reply or email me and let me know. I've always felt a little sympathy for a band this good that has had no recognition. I've seen them live twice in bars and it just bewilders me how a band like this is still playing clubs while bands like Motley Crue can fill stadiums. Please give them a chance.
Kelly
