Fates Warning are a group of great historical significance. Their first three albums (with the inimitable John Arch on vocals) are still considered classics by fans of traditional and power metal. Towards the late 1980s, the band opted for a more polished musical approach. Combining American metal with the progressive hard rock of Rush, they came up with an accessible type of prog that earned them many fans. This growing popularity owed much to the versatile voice of new frontman Ray Alder, who brought the band within an inch of radio success in the early 1990s. Over the course of 30 years, Fates Warning built up an extensive repertoire, an achievement now celebrated with the release of Live Over Europe.
Spanning the length of two CDs, Live Over Europe is an excellent collection of live performances. Sonically, everything is up to par. The instruments are so well mixed you could almost mistake this for a studio effort. Musically, every band member brings a tremendous set of skills to the table. Jim Matheos is a guitar genius whose intricate riffs and leads privilege beauty over technical showboating. He is here assisted by the talents of touring guitarist Michael Abdow. Joey Vera and Bobby Jarzombek make up the dutiful rhythm section, ensuring a rocking groove to even the most complex of songs. Last but not least, we have Ray Alder, whose slightly aging vocals still know how to shift from personal intimacy to crowd-stirring excitement.
Recommended tracks: Life in Still Water, Seven Stars, The Light and Shade of Things, Point of View
Release date: June 29th, 2018
Label: InsideOut Music
Tracklist:
Disc 1
1. From the Rooftops
2. Life in Still Water
3. One
4. Pale Fire
5. Seven Stars
6. SOS
7. Pieces of Me
8. Firefly
9. The Light and Shade of Things
10. Wish
11. Another Perfect Day
12. Silent Cries
13. And Yet It Moves
Disc 2
1. Still Remains
2. Nothing Left to Say
3. Acquiescence
4. The Eleventh Hour
5. Point of View
6. Falling
7. A Pleasant Shade of Gray, Pt. IX
8. Through Different Eyes
9. Monument
10. Eye to Eye
