old Fates Warning

[Alex78]

hey,

I just got into Awaken The Guardian, which is a great, addictive album. At first I didn't think I'd get over the vocals (John Arch), but actually they're really good. I also have A Pleasant Shade Of Grey, which I find is totally different. Which of the early albums is especially worth getting? I heard the first two were more Maiden-like "standard" HM

 

[Lost and Found Records USA]

Ahhh, Fates Warning one of my all time favorites...

No Exit for sure is a must have album of theirs. Heavy, melodic, progressive...The first two albums, "Night on Brocken" and "Spectre Within" are more Maiden sounding than progressive, but are killer albums. They have both been remastered and reissued by Metal Blade and well worth it.

LFR

 

[Jean-Pierre]

The Spectre Within is the best one, Awaken The Guardian coming in second. No Exit is third I'd say, Ray Alder is awesome on that.

 

[Trans-Siberian Outcast]

The Spectre Within and Awaken the Guardian are two of my favority metal albums of all time. It's funny, most people credit Dream Theater for creating the prog metal scene that is so popular today. But, if you ask DT, they'll tell you they were influenced by Arch-era Fates Warning. So tell me, who really started the current prog metal scene?

Personally, the only album that sounded even remotely like Maiden was their debut, Night on Brocken. After that, they adopted a sound all their own. If you've already accepted Arch's vocals, go for Spectre Within next! It's AWESOME! (Better than Awaken IMO)

 

[ElectricWiz]

I was a big fan of early FW, but I must say with all seriousness that though it is only an EP, John Arch's solo outing of a couple years back is even better. An EP that manages to be in my top 10 metal albums of all time.

Also, my friend in Tucson (in high school) was the cousin of Joe the bass player. Me and a couple of other close friends got to hang with the band on the No Exit and Perfect Symetry tours when they came through the area. On Perfect Symetry we hung out in Tucson and Mesa, and really got a chance to get to know them. I remember one of them telling me at the time, "You gotta hear this new band Dream Theatre man..." I didn't turn out to be a big fan, but did buy the first album and thought it was ok. Also, at the hotel before the show in Mesa Ray Alder was in the shower and warming up and was singing a righteous version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow at the top of his lungs. Bitchin'!

 

[Break Zero]

My favorite band. Awaken The Guardian and Parallels are both within my Top 10 albums ever. And all would be right in the world if FW would bring Exodus, Guardian, The Apparition, Prelude To Ruin, and Epitaph back into their setlist.

Only "Night On Brocken" has a real Maiden feel to it, but it is still a fine album, and "Damnation" should be on any FW mix. "The Spectre Within" is where they started developing their own sound, with hightlights being Travaller In Time, The Apparition (a song which many claim to be one of the best Metal songs of all time), Kyrie Eleison, and Epitaph.

You already got "Awaken The Guardian". A masterpiece of music of any sorts.

"No Exit" is an excellent release, basic some nice Power/Thrash. Many point to "Silent Cries" as another highpoint of their career. "Anarchy Divine" is a nice Thrashy headbanging number, and "Shades Of Heavenly Death" is fighting it out right now with "Prelude To Ruin" over which is the heaviest song FW ever did. And of course, the epic "Ivory Gate Of Dreams" being 20+ minutes long and not boring once.

After that, they went with a more Progressive but still song orientated sound with "Perfect Symmetry", "Parallels", and "Inside Out". Then From "A Pleseant Shade Of Grey" onward (basically, when Frank Aresti and Joe DiBiase left the band), they went full on Progressive. While their newest sound is still excellent music, I wouldn't say its as good as the previous two eras of the band. But like I said, "Parallels" and "Awaken The Guardian" both are both in my top 10.

 

[wdiv]

Man, Parallels is one of the best disks ever!
Certainly not as "metallic" as the earlier stuff, but really just a perfect album.

 

[Mxgonzo]

I just picked up Guardian Remastered. Its has two cds and a DVD. The second cd has demos and live tracks. The DVD is from '86 Which is cool because I never saw them back then. It's only a one camera shot and the sound pretty much sucks but a nice piece of history none the less.

 

[Trans-Siberian Outcast]

I was a big fan of early FW, but I must say with all seriousness that though it is only an EP, John Arch's solo outing of a couple years back is even better. An EP that manages to be in my top 10 metal albums of all time.

Also, my friend in Tucson (in high school) was the cousin of Joe the bass player. Me and a couple of other close friends got to hang with the band on the No Exit and Perfect Symetry tours when they came through the area. On Perfect Symetry we hung out in Tucson and Mesa, and really got a chance to get to know them.

AGREE 100% with the Wiz on John Arch's solo album. It's only 28 minutes long, but it's so damn great you can just play it twice and you get your regular one-hour prog metal disc. Also, I saw Fates on the No Exit tour at the Mason Jar in Phoenix (and got my album signed by the band). Did you go to the Mason Jar show, Wiz?

NP: Eternity X

 

[Burkhard]

If you've already accepted Arch's vocals, go for Spectre Within next! It's AWESOME! (Better than Awaken IMO)

Fully agreed. I also prefer "The Spectre Within" over "Awaken The Guardian". I´d say "The Apparition" and "Epitaph" are my favourite Fates Warning songs.

np: Kate Bush - "Nocturn"

 

[Alex78]

thanks all, I'll try Spectre Within next! I just got Perfect Symmetry, too.
this band is great! much better than Dream Theater in my opinion

 

[MetalAges]

Awaken is my fav from them along with Perfect Symmetry. No Exit is a must have. To be honest, it's hard to go wrong with anything prior to InsideOut. InsideOut is where they started to stray a bit more commercial (mind you I still love it). Everything after that album hasn't done much for me personally.

 

[Wheezer]

Also, I saw Fates on the No Exit tour at the Mason Jar in Phoenix (and got my album signed by the band). Did you go to the Mason Jar show, Wiz?

I did. And my ears are still ringing from that show. We got the "KISS" table for the opening band(s). I knew we had to have crossed paths without knowing it in Phoenix.

 

[Trans-Siberian Outcast]

I did. And my ears are still ringing from that show. We got the "KISS" table for the opening band(s). I knew we had to have crossed paths without knowing it in Phoenix.

Far out, man! We may have even talked at some point as I was quite social back in those days. I don't even remember the opening bands, but during the Fates show we were standing just outside reach of the mosh pit.

NP: Fastway - All Fired Up

 

[Bryant]

As TSO ponted out, Fates Warning is actually the Godfathers of modern Progmetal. It is tough to give you another FW release to pick up because every one is different. I actually prefer Alder era FW and their most popular release from the Alder era seems to be APSOG and it is my LEAST fave. I would get "Paralells" and "No Exit." Paralells is actually about as "commercial" as they get, but it's certainly NOT commercial, just "catchy." On the other hand, "No Exit" is the first with Alder, but it actually bridges the Arch and Alder era pretty well. Some don't like Arch and some don't like Alder, but even those that don't care for Alder like "No Exit."

Bryant

 

[Fangface]

Some don't like Arch and some don't like Alder, but even those that don't care for Alder like "No Exit."

... and some like both
I give them props for evolving and trying not to sound the same album after album, to my mind that's what a 'progressive' band should be all about.

 

[ElectricWiz]

AGREE 100% with the Wiz on John Arch's solo album. It's only 28 minutes long, but it's so damn great you can just play it twice and you get your regular one-hour prog metal disc. Also, I saw Fates on the No Exit tour at the Mason Jar in Phoenix (and got my album signed by the band). Did you go to the Mason Jar show, Wiz?

NP: Eternity X

Haha. I did indeed! I believe that's where they played on PS tour also. Funny to know we've been to a show together. Actually, it probably happened at other times too since I used to see shows fairly often in Phoenix.

 

[Wheezer]

Haha. I did indeed! I believe that's where they played on PS tour also. Funny to know we've been to a show together. Actually, it probably happened at other times too since I used to see shows fairly often in Phoenix.

Lessee, you were in Phoenix and now in the Bay Area. You didn't go to DeVry did you?

 

[Wheezer]

Far out, man! We may have even talked at some point as I was quite social back in those days. I don't even remember the opening bands, but during the Fates show we were standing just outside reach of the mosh pit.

That place was almost big enough to stay out of the mosh pit.

I'll bet we went to a lot of the same shows. I was there from July '85 to November '88. I went to DeVry and worked at Ed Debevic's while I was living there.

 

[Wheezer]

... and some like both

That would be me too. I do lean towards Alder though.