1068 - Fates Warning The Ivory Gate of Dreams 1988

The mythologically based 21 minute tour de force "The Ivory Gates of Dreams", included in "No Exit", is a masterpiece composed of eight parts. DiBiase's occasional catchy bass fills, and Matheo's Spanish influenced acoustic guitar, together with Alder´s melodic vocals achieve their greatness in "Daylight Dreamers" and "Quietus".

From sleeping visions
Daily were torn
In waking hours
Hopes our forlorn.
Is all we do and all we dream
doomed to drown in a hopeless stream?

786 - Fates Warning Pirates of the Underground 1985

This is Fates Warning's first real prog-metal album,and where they started to define their own sound. This is a legendary record, and better produced then the debut "Night On Brocken". One of the highlights is "Pirates of the Underground", symphonic mastery and great vocals by John Arch.

763 - Fates Warning Guardian 1986

Fates Warning's last album with under-appreciated vocalist John Arch was a grand send-off, and the highly complex nature of the songs is where progressive metal really began to coalesce. After this album. bands like Queensrÿche stepped up to the plate and began to really add progressive elements to the mix. "The Guardian " is a new masterpiece of the band.

475 - Fates Warning Eye to Eye 1991

With the recruitment of their new singer Ray Alder Fates Warning started moving towards a more accessible sound. At this point in their career every album had been significantly different from the last one and Parallels lives up to this legacy. The album trilogy of "No Exit", "Perfect Symmetry" and "Parallels" shows an evolution that really comes to its own here. "Parallels" is the perfect marriage of challenging, thoughtful and easily accessible music. It is catchy, yet long lasting, technical and detailed, yet not overwhelming because it keeps the melodic element in focus at all times. "Eye to Eye" opens with a small explosion and heads into a heavy riff. Ray, in a spine-chilling way, delivers the lines:

All we can really share
Is the coldness we feel
And the silent memory
Of the moment we met.

407 - Fates Warning Kyrie Eleison 1985

Groundbreaking progressive metal act Fates Warning’s second album is finally seeing the ramaster treatment, "The Spectre Within" is certainly remains an important recording in the history of the genre. John Arch´s high- pitched screams took the Bruce Dickinson influence up another level.

341 - Fates Warning Life in still water 1991

Although John Arch was an outstanding vocalist in his quasi-operatic style, and recorded unforgettable tracks with the band, with the recruitment of their new singer Ray Alder Fates Warning started moving towards a more accessible sound. The album trilogy of "No Exit", "Perfect Symmetry" and "Parallels" shows an evolution that really comes to its own here. "Parallels" is the perfect marriage of challenging, thoughtful and easily accessible music. It is catchy, yet long lasting, technical and detailed. Guitarist Jim Matheos is responsible for writing all the music. Ray Alder sings with a ton of emotion and his voice holds a certain sadness that really hits home. He is much more controlled than on the previous two records and it suits his voice. Mark Zonder shows his incredible skill on the drums by constantly changing patterns and adding a ton of detail to the music. I cannot stress how amazing it is listening to him play. Joe Dibiase on bass is another creative spirit roaming free. His bass lines often lead the way and bring both intensity and extra nuances to the melodies. "Life in Still water" holds genuine tension until it is finally released in the chorus. James LaBrie sings backup on the track.

 

228 - Fates Warning Anarchy Divine 1988

Fates Warning's fourth studio album marked the beginning of a major transition for the band. With the departure of vocalist/lyricist John Arch, the boys from Connecticut signed up Arizona singer Ray Alder and shifted to a more introspective and realistic approach to their songwriting. “No Exit” is the obvious pick amongst this band’s back catalog as a diamond in the rough. It is neither the epic tales of otherworldly themes set over Thrash/NWOBHM riffs found in the John Arch era, nor is it the neo-progressive anthems of self-analysis and introspection found in the later Ray Adler material, but instead a rather curious marriage of both approaches. The guitar sound is very similar to what they used on "Awaken The Guardian", only a bit drier and crisper. The drums sound huge and Steve Zimmerman gives his best performance with the band, his last before being ousted in favour of Mark Zonder. The album starts with the title track, which is about 45 seconds long, before it gets into "Anarchy Divine", with outstanding guitar work, a powerful drum sound, and Alder' s up-front voice.

102 - Fates Warning Traveler in Time 1985

The Spectre Within" was Fates Warning's second album. At the time the album was released, the term 'Progressive Metal' hadn't really entered the English language in any substantial or meaningful way. Listening to the first track, one could tell there was something very special brewing. 'Traveler in Time' was an exceptional choice as an opener, and is still among the best compositions this band has written. I didn´t find a video recording for the track, so...listen to it below.

66 - Fates Warning The Apparition 1986

"The Spectre Within" is a gem of Metal art, just plain genius. Every song is an immortal classic, from "Traveller in time" to "Epitaph". I didn´t find a video for this track "The Apparition", I consider this one of the best cuts in the album, together with "Traveler in Time". Incredible drumming,and awesome Arch's vocals in this epic tune.

10 - Fates Warning Eleventh Hour 1991

Great track taken from the best progressive metal band: Fates Warning.
"The Eleventh Hour" starts off with a nice guitar fills in the vein of 70s prog followed with a vocal line sung in a mellow style. The music turns louder with extremely powerful voice of Mr. Ray Alder (in the vein of Mr. Geoff Tate’s voice) with a very high register notes.