Man, Im so glad theres someone who recognizes Fates Warning, they’re some of the pioneers of prog metal, and they never get much love or hardly ever mentioned. Ive loved them when i was a teenager back in the day! I remember buying Awaken the guardian at the record store as a teenager. That would have been my number one.
I absolutely love FW. I saw them many times live, but the two that really stick out for me are the two back to back they did in New Britain CT. January 1994. I saw both shows. A few months before Inside Out was released. John Arch came up on the second show for a few songs. Amazing. I also got to jam with Frank Wrestling a couple times. I was auditioning for his new band Dark Day Sunday. I didn't get the gig, but it was really cool just to play with the guy. An absolute beast on the guitar!!!
My ranking is very similar. I was introduced to Fates around the No Exit period. To me that’s the first one I always reach for. There’s certain albums that I can appreciate for what they are but don’t connect with me as much either. Perfect Symmetry and A Pleasant Shade could be 2 or 3 depending on my mood. The latest stuff is decent but admittedly I haven’t given as much of a chance to. Good content!
I found Fates when I was 11. It was just before No Exit. I saw that they were releasing a new album and picked it up on the day it was released. I remember being so, so bummed that they had a new singer. Obviously this was pre-internet so myself, I had no idea that there was a vocalist change until I first played No Exit. What a let-down at the moment. It took me years to get into the Ray era but I eventually did somewhat.
Awaken the Guardian is my favorite, i Like all the John Arch Albums and the Arch/Matheos stuff, No Exit is Excellent first with Ray Alder .. perfect symmetry..parallels love inside out.. damn not a bad album i like them all for different moods and reasons
Fates Warning chickened out and because a bit lazy for a bit, but they have since then redeemed themselves big time. Also check out the Arch / Matheos project albums!! They are beautiful! Awaken the Guardian is just pure mystical magical incredible divine poetic heavy intricate unique ... did I say Divine? This album is like nothing before or after it, even by the band itself. It has a Presence, and a Voice, and that presence and voice is everything I LOVE! I don't think it would matter if I heard it first time when it came out which I did or today; they impact would still be the same! Because NOTHING I've ever heard before or after compares to it. Of course maybe today I wouldn't be listening to it tripping on Entheogens like I was back then, since we're all older and living more responsibly (?) now than we were back then, but Holy Cow this album is something truly Remarkable.
Nice ranking man. I actually would've had Inside Out a little higher. Island In The Stream is probably one of my favorite Fates Warning songs. Awaken The Guardian I would've had a lot higher. My top 3 favorite albums of theirs are No Exit, Parallels, and Perfect Symmetry!
I got into them from the start. So my No.1 is Guardian then 2.Spectre, then the first 3 Alder albums...after that I lost interest. You might be right, timing is everything.
I feel similarly about many of the albums. Except Disconnected is not in my top 10 & Pleasant Shade is always a top 3 or so. One of my favorite bands, also & for years. Truly consistantly great on all levels, though I miss Frank Aresti when he is not involved.
I prefer The Specter Within over Awaken the Guardian personally. John gets a little too in love with his own voice or something on ATG. Too many tra la la's... TSW is much more raw vocally. The new album needs to be rated MUCH higher. I admit it may be a tad bit long and a couple songs could have been cut but it's got some killer tunes and a nice variety of styles to fit the mood.
