Representative Albums: "No Exit," "Chasing Time," "Perfect Symmetry"
Representative Songs: "Prelude to Ruin," "Guardian," "Monument"
Biography
When prog rock first reared its head during the early '70s it contained elements of hard rock, but few bands crossed the line into heavy metal. This all changed during the '80s, when bands such as Dream Theater, Watchtower, and Fates Warning merged their love of Yes and Rush with their admiration for Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. Formed in Hartford, Connecticut in 1983, Fates Warning has endured quite a few lineup changes since its inception, with the exception of guitarist Jim Matheos, who has been present through it all. Starting off as a straight-ahead metal band (their progressive side didn't show up until a few years later), Fates Warning built a regional following which soon led to a recording contract with metal indie label Metal Blade. With vocals being handled by John Arch, Fates Warning issued such titles as 1984's Night on Brocken, 1985's The Spectre Within, and 1986's Awaken the Guardian, the latter of which became the first record from the group to appear on the Billboard album charts. Wanting to break out of a somewhat one-dimensional metal sound, Arch was dismissed in 1987 and replaced with Ray Alder. The move immediately paid off for Fates Warning, as their music (and lyrics/subject matter) became much more complex and challenging. The band's first recording with Alder, 1988's No Exit, would go on to become their highest charting album ever (peaking at number 111), and was followed up a year later with Perfect Symmetry, as well as an inaugural tour of Europe. The early '90s saw Fates Warning focus primarily on touring (only one album was issued during a several-year span, 1991's Parallels), although Matheos did issue a solo album in 1993, First Impressions. 1994 saw the group issue Inside Out, which was supported with a U.S. tour alongside Dream Theater (at a hometown gig in Connecticut, former frontman Arch joined the band on-stage). The band's first best-of compilation, Chasing Time, followed a year later, as did appearances on tribute albums for Rush (Working Man) and Judas Priest (Legends of Heavy Metal), which helped buy the band time as they began composing the most challenging album of their career. It was also around this time that former Armored Saint bassist Joey Vera joined the group (although he was originally thought to be a temporary replacement, Vera was still present several years later). Finally issued in 1997, Pleasant Shade of Gray took the extended suite style of 2112 and Tales from Topographic Oceans to a new extreme, as the album was comprised of a single, hour-long song (broken down into 12 different, untitled sections). The very first live release by Fates Warning, Still Life, was issued in 1998, while Matheos issued a solo releases the following year (Away with Words) and Alder, having formed a side project, Engine, recorded an eponymous CD. Fates Warning continues strong into the 21st century, as evidenced by 2000s studio album Disconnected, and further extensive touring -- including a set of summer dates in 2003 alongside prog metal comrades Queensrÿche and Dream Theater. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide
The band directly contributed to the establishment of the progressive metal genre, with its early works considered by many as very important works defining the genre itself. In the liner notes to the 2005 expanded edition of the Awaken the Guardian album, Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy noted that, "very often fans and critics credit Dream Theater for creating a whole new genre of progressive metal music in the late '80s/early '90s, . . . but the truth is Fates Warning were doing it years before us." [1]
In 1986, original guitarist Victor Arduini left the band and was replaced by Frank Aresti. The third album, Awaken the Guardian was released in that year, moving towards a more mythical atmosphere.
In 1987, original vocalist John Arch left the band, prior to the start of work on the band's next album. Ray Alder joined the band in 1988. That year, the first album with Alder, No Exit was released.
Continuing the pattern of lineup changes, original drummer Steve Zimmerman left the band in 1988, and was replaced by Mark Zonder in 1989. Perfect Symmetry was released in the same year. Kevin Moore (keyboardist for Dream Theater at the time) was featured as a guest on At Fate's Hands.
1991 saw the release of Parallels, which was considered by some as a commercial release. New Dream Theater vocalist James LaBrie made a guest appearance on "Life in Still Water."
The next album, Inside Out, from 1994, continued the vein of the previous album in general, adding more melody to the songs.
A compilation album, Chasing Time, was released in 1995, including two previously unreleased songs.
In 1996, both Joe DiBiase and Frank Aresti left Fates Warning.
The three remaining members—Alder, Matheos and Zonder—released A Pleasant Shade of Gray in 1997. The album also featured work from guest musicians: Joey Vera on bass and Kevin Moore performing piano and keyboards. The album revealed a much deeper and darker mood of Fates Warning, completely different from their previous works, a concept album. The album, originally a 50-minute long song, was divided into 12 tracks.
A live two-CD set, Still Life, was released in 1998. The first disc contained "A Pleasant Shade of Gray" performed live in its entirety, while the second contained a complete version of "The Ivory Gate of Dreams" from the 1988 album No Exit along with other songs. Bernie Versailles on additional guitars, and Jason Keaser on keyboards accompanied the band on this album, while still keeping Joey Vera as the bassist on this record. A Japanese version included a studio Scorpions cover, "In Trance".
In 2000, Moore and Vera returned once more, to make the next album, Disconnected.
FWX, the band's tenth and latest studio recording was released in 2004. Drummer Mark Zonder stated it would be his last album with the band, as he wished to pursue other interests, and left in 2005.
Live in Athens, a concert DVD, was released in 2005; a CD version was also released.
Recently Frank Aresti has returned to play with the band the last couple of tours. He is also on the Live in Athens DVD.
The band has recorded songs for various "tribute" albums, including "Closer to the Heart" on the 1996 Working ManRush tribute, "Saints in Hell" on the 1997 Legends of MetalJudas Priest tribute, and "Sign of the Southern Cross" on the 2000 Holy DioRonnie James Dio tribute.
