Switching gears slightly, is the plan for Fates Warnings new album to still come out this year? Whats the status on that?
Well, were working on it now. When it comes out is going to be up to the record company. Obviously they want to have it out as soon as possible. Usually, nowadays, theres about a four month turnaround between when you deliver the record and when they put it out. But nobody likes to release anything in December. So if we want to get it out late this year, it means we have to deliver it sometime around July and Im not at all sure were going to be able to do that. I know well be recording this Summer. Well have it done this Summer or Fall, so either late this year/ early next year. Its just out of our hands when it will be released. Im just focusing on writing it and getting it recorded right now.
Has anything been recorded?
No. I mean, I record all my demos here at home, but we wont actually do the tracking till everythings done and everyone is ready to go. And then well go into the studio for a month after that.
Back in 2010, Fates Warning played a handful of shows with the Parallels line up in 2010, and last you year worked on the Arch/Matheos album [with former Fates Warning singer John Arch]. Did working with older members or performing older material influence the writing of the new album in any way?
I dont think so. Its still really early going in this Fates record, Im only a couple songs into it. So its kind of hard to say what final shape its going to take. Its not drastically different then what Ive done in the past. Its not drastically different then what Ive just done with Arch/Matheos, at least musically. I mean, obviously it will be very different with Ray singing on it, but its really early. I cant say until the whole thing is done. Often when I get 4 or 5, even 3, songs into a record, those songs will determine which direction the rest of the record goes in. So the first couple is always just casting a wide net and seeing what comes up, and thats the stage Im in right now.
Fair enough. I know this Spring Fates Warning is doing some touring in Europe and South America. Besides recording, what other plans do Fates Warning have in the works?
Well yeah, were doing some dates. We have a lot of dates coming up in March and April. Then Ill get back to working on this record, hopefully get that done this Summer and then we hope to be able to tour all over next year. The States, Europe, wherever people want us, well be there.
