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October 12, 2008 |
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01. Left Here
02. Simple Human
03. River Wide Ocean Deep
04. Another Perfect Day
05. Heal Me
06. Sequence
07. Crawl
08. A Handful Of Doubt
09. Stranger (With A Familiar Face)
10. Wish
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First off, kudos and applause to Metal Blade for having the good taste and integrity to give this classy, long-standing, and oft-underrated act a well-deserved home. Few bands within any of the Metal subgenres have had the good fortune to enjoy as long and illustrious a career as Prog Gods FATES WARNING (Ray Alder/vocals, Jim Matheos/guitars and keys, Joey Vera/bass, and Mark Zonder/drums). By the same token however, few bands have had the courage to play to their strengths and convictions in the manner of this legendary U.S. act who have never been afraid to change, evolve, and forge ever onwards with both their integrity and creative vision very much alive and intact.
'FWX' - the band's tenth studio release since their inception waaayyy back in 83'/84' - is yet another artistic triumph, although as ever, something of an involved and challenging experience that requires multiple listens to fully appreciate. Such is the nature of the beast with a band of this pedigree though, where no two albums can be expected to be exactly the same in terms of either style or substance. This of course, however, is the reason we all keep coming back to the FATES' crew time and time again anyway.
To be totally honest, I've been putting off even writing this review for about two weeks now as I just could not for the life of me decide what the hell to say that would do honest, descriptive justice to this release. 'FWX' is not after all, the kind of record that immediately hits one over the head with any kind of raw speed, aggression, or grandiose symphonic bombast. No...this is in fact, a rather subdued and introspective listening experience. A somewhat moody, driving-alone-under-open-blue-skies-on-a summer's-day kind of album that invites pensive, yet hopeful reflection and a general sort of watch-the-world-go-by appreciation of quietude too often too lacking within the Metal realms these days.
Tracks here build slowly and tastefully at a midrange tempo that utilizes instrumentation on a very minimalist, yet effective and expressive level. The vocals are the engine that truly drive this machine, Alder drawing forth an impressive range of emotive voices that paint very identifiable and human pictures to tell a common story of shared experience. Opener 'Left Here' strikes an immediate chord with it's hooky acoustic intro before building into a strangely ominous, yet at the same time uplifting ode to personal reflection and resolve to move on with one's life. The soaring 'Simple Human' and 'River Wide Ocean Deep' continue in similiarly moving tone, offering space for thought between the instruments and vocals that creates a cozy, cerebral effect sure to burn these tracks into the listener's memory and ensure repeated plays in search of the hidden gems that are guaranteed to be revealed with each spin.
Personal faves would have to be the melodically hooky, emotively nostalgiac 'Another Perfect Day' - easily the most infectious, standout track of the album - 'Heal Me' where Alder truly soars against one of the better riffs on offer on the album, and 'Stranger (With A Familiar Face)' with it's insistent pull and driving riff. Truly though, the whole album is a treasure-trove of unexpected surprises and intelligent, creative hooks and catchy anchors. Alder, despite showing greater restraint than on previous efforts continues to shine as one of the premiere vocalists in the wider Prog universe. Matheos - ever the underrated strings/keysman - sprinkles liberal doses of magical shade and texture overtop of what are - as stated - quite minimalist yet effective song constructs.
Vera/Zonder meanwhile prove that a man need not live off of thundering blast beats alone in order to create a memorable backbone to a song as they provide the living pulse in appropriately measured doses to each track. Ultimately, here craft and writing are brought to the fore as the key components in creating an album that will surely offer something to everyone, and most importantly, grow in appreciation with each listen. Highly advised to fans of DREAM THEATRE, QUEENSRŸCHE, and the AYREON projects to name but a few like-minded thinking-man's Metal acts currently in action.
A moody affair certainly, with a gravity and maturity that reflects a band who are truly comfortable and at-home with their current place in the world, 'FWX' bows to no trend...dismisses trend entirely for that matter, and concentrates solely on the task of crafting honest, heartfelt, and emotionally uplifting music that ultimately transcends labels such as 'Prog', or even 'Metal' for that matter. 'FWX', and FATES WARNING are simply who and what they are. Nothing more, nothing less. This is a band of true artists offering up a thoughtful collection of songs sure to be appreciated by anyone who enjoys and appreciates the simple joys inherent within good songwriting and inspired musicianship aimed at making the listener feel 'good'. And man...isn't that what it's all supposed to be about?
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