The Classic Metal Album Reviews:

	Title: Awaken the Guardian Artist: Fates Warning Label: Metal Blade Release Date: 1986 Rating: 5 Skulls
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Death's Review:
Admittedly inspired, in part, by Jeff Wagner's glorification and Jim Matheos' sad virtual renunciation of John Arch-era Fates Warning in the current Metal Maniacs, my thoughts turn this week to Awaken the Guardian, one of the greatest and most underrated metal albums of all time. This majestic collection of raw, inspired, emotional, lyrically-symbolic, darkly metallic, heavy, intricate and complex metal should live on forever in glory, and should never, I repeat, never be subjected to the scorn with which Matheos currently subjects it. Jim, while I love the band to this day, I cannot believe that you are sorry you included the record's crowning moment, the brilliant "Prelude to Ruin," on the recent Still Life live effort. I myself might have skipped what turned out to be a great release if it hadn't been for my casually picking it up and noticing "Prelude" in the track listing. Do you care?
For those who don't know, John Arch was Fates Warning's original vocalist. In the mid eighties he cultivated a rabid following within the metal underground. Finding another metal warrior who knew of and could appreciate the glory of Fates Warning was like finding a metallic soul mate, such was the passion that Awaken and other records like The Spectre Within engendered among those in the know. To this date, I have to think that Arch is one of metal's all-time greats, even though we have but three records to sample from. The power of his voice, and the incredibly high-pitched yet emotive and powerful range with which he sang, breathed life into the deep, introspective yet fantastically symbolic netherworld the album covers suggested. To think I only now learned (from that same Maniacs article) that audition tapes of him with Dream Theater exist somewhere! I wonder why he has not done anything of significance since the glorious Awaken. Talk about leaving the fans wanting more.
"The Sorceress" is dark, dynamic, and totally metal. Iron Maiden meets Judas Priest meets Queensryche when all three bands were at their prime. But Fates Warning were heavier than all three of those bands ever were - and more thrashy. In 1986, combining Powerslave or Piece of Mind style Maiden with Warning Queensryche and a little Metallica or Megadeth crunch was a novel and brilliant idea. It still is today, wink-wink, for any acts out there looking for a new niche to fill in. But I doubt you could pull it off with such majestic grace. "Valley of the Dolls" and "Fata Morgana" are sung with a desperation simultaneously ensuring hopelessness and ultimate truth.
The searing, expressive lead flourish at the beginning of "Guardian" only hints at the beauty of the subsequent classic guitar opening verses. Arch is a pure and utter god on this track. Of course, "Prelude to Ruin" is just plain sick Fates Warning style speed metal/ thrash. Complete with strange voices. And even stranger major-key melody at parts. "Giant's Lore (Heart of Winter)" is total eighties thrash. Very Flotsam and Jetsam. Very cool. Fourteen years later, who is doing this stuff? Is Iced Earth this good? Sad to say, but probably not.
"Time Long Past" is just an acoustic interlude with requisite mysterious lonely guitar solo, unfortunately the album's down point. But I challenge a modern lover of Swedish death metal to listen to the first minute of "Exodus" and not be amazed. Then comes the vocals and Arch delivers once more - with searing Tate/Halford like vengeance. The Steve Zimmerman drumming has one last chance to shine, and his expressive cymbal work is one of the song's highlights. A great ending to one of metal's most majestic moments. No Exit and Alder were/are cool, but Awaken/ Arch were one of metal's greatest moments. More bands should have progressed in this direction. Unfortunately, Mr. Matheos chooses to forget.

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