A truly dynamic album that fans old and new alike will really enjoy discovering.
Nine Years – yes, you read that correctly, it has been nine years since Fates Warning last graced us with a new album. Yet when after all that time you can come back with such a wonderful set of songs and such a strong piece of work, then maybe (just maybe) the long wait has been worth it and you can be forgiven.
However, I must say that it took quite some time before I actually liked what the band had come up with on this new release. The songs take many hours of listening time before the melodic sensibilities that are prevalent throughout the music comes to the fore, and because of this you at first don't get or immediately like what is going on. When you do finally understand what Fates Warning have achieved, when the music finally clicks, then and only then will you hear one of the best prog metal albums released so far this year.
Some of you by now will have seen or heard the bands lead off single 'Firefly' which sets the tone for what the rest of the album sounds like. Edgy and dark, the song is all riffs and bass runs, with Ray Alder's wonderfully emotive vocals taking the track to the next level. Other songs that might whet your appetite include, 'Desire', the beautiful ballad 'Falling' where Adler really shows what a superb singer he is, 'Light House' and 'Kneel And Obey' – though the one song that really shows that Fates Warning are back and ready to take on the world, is the fourteen minute epic 'And Yet It Moves'. A light classical guitar starts the proceedings, until a heavy guitar riff takes over and the rest of the band then join this guitar melody, with the bass, drums, keyboards and especially once again the vocals of Ray Alder combining to create a prog metal masterpiece.
It might have taken nine years but messers Mathos, Alder, Vera, Jarzombeck and Aresti, have returned with a truly dynamic album that fans old and new alike will really enjoy discovering, to get the most out of this intriguing release. (So please guys let's not leave it for almost another decade to get more great music from you).
Ian Johnson
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