Artist: Fates Warning
Label: Metal Blade Records
Release Date: 10/5/04
|
|
Title: FWX Artist: Fates Warning Label: Metal Blade Records Release Date: 10/5/04 |
Judgment Committee Reviews | Rating |
|
1 | ||
|
5 | ||
|
5 | ||
|
| |||
Abyss's Review:
I have never been a fan of this band, or this genre for that matter. And while I can't really pretend I know what the followers of this act specifically look for in an album, I'm pretty sure that many will be disappointed in their newest effort. Whenever I think about what I should write to express my feelings about this record, only one word keeps popping into my head over and over . . . BORING! Say it loud in Homer Simpson's voice, and that could be my entire review.
"One word review: Boring." Of course, no one can hear me speak through their computer and I don't do a very good impression of Homer Simpson anyway. Interestingly enough, however, I do a GREAT impression of Homer, the Greek epic poet who wrote the Odyssey and the Iliad, but most people don't remember what he sounded like, so I never really get a chance to use it. But I digress . . . I think the biggest problem many of the more discerning prog fans will have with this album is its overall simplicity. Most prog/metal fans I know don't want to hear this standard verse/chorus/verse/chorus stuff.
And while it fails by being too simplistic as a prog record, it also comes up short with regard to songwriting. While songwriting can often suffer in an attempt to expand the sound in music like this, here the band seems content with staying well within established boundaries, but instead of making the songs more accessible, the collection here just comes across as completely unremarkable. The most that can be said about them is that a few have slightly catchy choruses, but as a whole the album just really drags.
Of course, I don't really like this stuff to begin with, so most fans should take what I say with a grain of salt. One word review: Boring.
Death's Review:
Fates Warning are one of the most legendary names of the prog-metal genre; in 2004, they follow-up their high-profile summer 2003 tour supporting Queensryche and Dream Theater with their aptly named tenth studio album, FWX. The lineup once again features band-leader, songwriter and original guitarist Jim Matheos, longtime vocalist Ray Alder, drummer extraordinaire Mark Zonder, and legendary heavy metal utility man Joey Vera on the bass. The results? This album takes some of the somber lyrical mood and dramatic soundscapes of 1997's A Pleasant Shade of Grey and melds them seamlessly with the minimalistic and sparse yet technically amazing and deceptively deep song structures found on 2000's Disconnected. What we have then are movie-soundtrack level atmospheres, lyrics that are typically introspective yet open to personal interpretation, and a revived melodic sense whch ever-so-slightly harkens back to some of the classic Fates Warning albums of yore.
"A great record for those inclined to take the time." Of course, this is no Awaken the Guardian, The Spectre Within or even No Exit. Heck, it's not even A Twist of Fate. But of course, such comparisons are not even fair - this band is not trying to do that sort of thing anymore. Still, FWX is another masterful addition to the more modern Fates Warning catalogue, and if you enjoyed Disconnected or to some degree stuff like Perfect Symmetry, then there is a good chance that you will find a good deal to enjoy on this album too. Now don't get me wrong, this is some advanced material in every sense of the word, meaning that it is not only difficult to perform, it is certainly a highly sophisticated matter of taste. In other words, you have to want to dive into this album to get the most out of it that you can. That said, there are a couple of more melodic (yet still somber) songs on this album that are a bit more easily digested - not surprisingly, these are the album's most successful moments. For example, while "Another Perfect Day" is probably FWX's most commercial moments, it is also probably one of its finest. Alder's voice really shines, and the chord changes in the vocal melody line evoke a sad, minor key almost jazzy feel yet really communicating the expected Fates Warning vibe, while Alder stretches out at bit on the choruses to bring a chill Living Color or King's X feel and it really works. Another great tune is the album's opener, "Left Here," with some of the best, most poetic Matheos lyrics that can mean anything and everything at the same time, truly resonating with the listener who chooses to properly absorb them:
"I left here long ago, was someone else back then. I left here long ago, now I'm leaving again. I lost my way long ago, was someone else back then. Lost my way back then, and now I'm lost again."
"Simple Human" is heavier, but lyrics (penned by Alder on this track rather than Matheos) don't do it for me the same way as they do for some of the other tracks. "Heal Me" is very interesting and absorbing as well, as is the instrumental "Sequence #7" (sounds like it sounds) which leads into the Queensrychian "Crawl." Alder really goes off on this more-traditional metal song (he penned these lyrics too, which I like a lot better), and this is an absolutely must-play on any future live Fates Warning tour - it would go over well in a live setting. "A Handful of Doubt" is very wistful and quite mellow (although serious power chords do kick in on the back end of the track), but is a great example of some of the common Matheos-penned lyrical themes about time, aging, isolation, self-doubt and change. "Stranger (With a Familiar Face)" rocks out (and has a cool guitar solo), but the album's closer "Wish" is ultimately more interesting overall. "Wish" (track "X" for those looking for numerological meaning) really embodies the spirit of the modern Fates Warning - music that is constructed using interesting sounds for maximum intensity yet a minimalistic sparseness achieving maximum dynamic effect. The lyrical message ("May you never know this darkness, may you never be so blind. May you always know the peace, that I could never seem to find") is universal and lands with maximum impact too.
All in all, a great record for those inclined to take the time. Sure, this is a far cry from the new Lamb of God - but both are on my radar screen; both appeal to my diverse musical tastes. And you? Surely only a small subset of Metal Judgment readers are interested, yet those that are will find a lot to explore. I've read that Mark Zonder does not want to tour with the band anymore. Here's hoping that some incarnation of Fates Warning hits the road in support of FWX sometime soon.
Hel's Review:
Some might wonder why the Judgment Committee persists in reviewing releases by certain bands, like Fates Warning, that are always almost guaranteed to earn a thrashing from Abyss. There are really two reasons. First, these are usually bands that both Death and I enjoy, even if Abyss doesn't. Second, FWX marks the band's tenth studio release. The latter alone is grounds enough for Judgment Committee coverage. Certainly, Fates Warning is a band that deserves to have their latest album mulled over by those in the metal community.
"The songwriting is haunting and infectious." Of course, anyone's perspective on this album will be dictated by their thoughts on the existing Fates Warning catalog. So ask yourself, "Am I a Fates Warning fan?" If the answer is no, then I can't believe you're actually this far into the third review of their new album. Don't you have anything better to do? If you answered yes, you should then ask, "Am I a fan of all things Fates Warning?" If the answer to this is no, then you need to examine this record with the understanding that this is Fates circa 2004. If you are a fan of the band, then you certainly owe it to yourself to check out FWX - a band that has been around for this long and is still cranking out albums of this caliber deserves your loyalty and attention.
So let's turn our attention to the album. It's true that Fates Warning is not the heaviest band out there today, and that this is not the heaviest album that they have ever released. But frankly, there are times when things like that really do not matter so much, and this is one of those times. Fates Warning have released an album of entrancing yet catchy songs that true fans should fully appreciate. The musicianship remains tight and Alder's voice continues to be the lynchpin of the band's sound. Matheos' lyrics, in particular, strike a doleful chord that lingers after the songs have ended. The songwriting is haunting and infectious. The production is perfect. Really, this is exactly the kind of album I would hope for from Fates Warning these days, and they have indeed delivered.
I know I will be returning to this album again and again, and I consider that to be the mark of an exceptional album. The moral of the story is that you cannot please all of the people all of the time, but Fates Warning has certainly pleased this person at this time. If you have enjoyed all of the other Fates Warning records over the span of their career, as I have, I can assure you that you will enjoy this one as well.
[- Metal Judgment Home -] [- Email Metal Judgment -]
©1999 Metal Judgment. All rights reserved.