Fates Warning classic line up

The classic 1991 line-up of progressive metal band Fates Warning is to reunite.
The quintet – Ray Alder (vocals), Jim Matheos (guitar), Frank Aresti (guitar), Joe DiBiase (bass), and Mark Zonder (drums) – are to play a couple of shows in Greece during March, with more to follow.
This coincides with the reissue of their 1991 album Parallels through Metal Blade on March 16.
This will include a bonus CD with live and demo material, a DVD with an entire show from 1992, plus a documentary on the making of the album.

Needs Arch.

Looking forward to getting the CD/DVD though.

not quite the classic lineup but maybe the modern FW classic lineup. Still it sounds intriguing.

yay 'Parallels' reissue.

Sounds cool. I'd like to see them do another record with this line up.

Temple of Blood wrote:

Needs Arch.

Looking forward to getting the CD/DVD though.

Exactly.

No thanks.

manny wrote:

The classic 1991 line-up of progressive metal band Fates Warning is to reunite.
The quintet – Ray Alder (vocals), Jim Matheos (guitar), Frank Aresti (guitar), Joe DiBiase (bass), and Mark Zonder (drums) – are to play a couple of shows in Greece during March, with more to follow.
This coincides with the reissue of their 1991 album Parallels through Metal Blade on March 16.
This will include a bonus CD with live and demo material, a DVD with an entire show from 1992, plus a documentary on the making of the album.

YES!!!!!

John Arch can go fly a kite...Alder is a much better singer...better melody and more control...John Arch, while talented, was a one-trick-pony.

The Alder/Matheos/Aresti/DiBiase/Zonder line-up produced 3 CLASSIC albums...Perfect Symmetry, Parallels & Inside Out...

If they'd play only stuff from the first 4 Alder albums on this tour, I'd gladly go! Glad to see the early 90s lineup back together!

Not quite the classic line-up without Arch IMO, but still a great band. I've always like the Arch-era albums best, not just because of the vocals, but because I liked the music better then too.

Still, this would be a cool show to see. I had tickets to see Fates Warning on The Spectre Within Tour at the City Gardens in Trenton. They were opening for Motorhead. Unfortunately, Motorhead's tour bus or equipment truck broke down and they never made the show, so as we stood in line, Fates Warning came out and greeted the crowd. Unfortunately, there was no show because Motorhead had all the PA stuff.

Arch's EP >>>>> FATES WARNING's last 2 albums

Temple of Blood wrote:

Arch's EP >>>>> FATES WARNING's last 2 albums

Classic line up? You mean Arch, Matheos, Arduini, DiBiase and Zimmermann? Although I do like No Exit, Perfect Symmetry, and Parallels, NOTHING beats the first three FW records. Especially Spectre Within and Awaken the Guardian are pure perfection.

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

Temple of Blood wrote:

Arch's EP >>>>> FATES WARNING's last 2 albums

I have to agree with him. Alder is a great vocalist with an awesome voice, but John Arch's singing and vocal acrobatics are out of this world. The vocal melodies post-Awaken the Guardian are just kinda bland imo.

To me the 'Parallels' line up was the classic line up because this is when I discovered them and my personal fav period of the band, but to each his own.

manny wrote:

To me the 'Parallels' line up was the classic line up because this is when I discovered them and my personal fav period of the band, but to each his own.

Jerk.

Dave the Boss wrote:

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

Temple of Blood wrote:

Arch's EP >>>>> FATES WARNING's last 2 albums

I have to agree with him. Alder is a great vocalist with an awesome voice, but John Arch's singing and vocal acrobatics are out of this world. The vocal melodies post-Awaken the Guardian are just kinda bland imo.

Acrobatics are his problem...backflips can only take you so far. His vocal melodies, while impressive, were too much. Mark Zonder described it best...he described it as "way too many eggs in way too small a basket"...

It's a preference thing...some people prefer over the top shredding (ala Michael Angelo), some prefer more melodic, soulful playing (ala Richie Sambora)...it's the same vocally...some prefer crazy vocal acrobatics (Arch) or more melodic, "for the song" vocals (Alder)...I'm the latter.

SpectreFate wrote:

manny wrote:

To me the 'Parallels' line up was the classic line up because this is when I discovered them and my personal fav period of the band, but to each his own.

Jerk.

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

It's a preference thing...some people prefer over the top shredding (ala Michael Angelo), some prefer more melodic, soulful playing (ala Richie Sambora)...it's the same vocally...some prefer crazy vocal acrobatics (Arch) or more melodic, "for the song" vocals (Alder)...I'm the latter.

I suppose I must accept your opinion as fact as you are a musician. You win this round, sir.

SpectreFate wrote:

manny wrote:

To me the 'Parallels' line up was the classic line up because this is when I discovered them and my personal fav period of the band, but to each his own.

Jerk.

I'd still like to see them live though. They'd better dust off some Arch-era classics though. I'd kill to hear The Apparition live.

I prefer Alder as vocalist. I had the opportunity to hang out with him in Houston in 1997 and he was a very cool and class act. I will definitely be picking up this new special editon of Parallels. By the way I also just picked up Snowfall On Judgment Day from his other project Redemption. Great performance by Ray and also a guest vocal appearance by James LaBrie on one track. Good stuff!

SpectreFate wrote:

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

It's a preference thing...some people prefer over the top shredding (ala Michael Angelo), some prefer more melodic, soulful playing (ala Richie Sambora)...it's the same vocally...some prefer crazy vocal acrobatics (Arch) or more melodic, "for the song" vocals (Alder)...I'm the latter.

I suppose I must accept your opinion as fact as you are a musician. You win this round, sir.

Damn straight...

I enjoy both singers but Alder brought a new dimension to the band imo. I'm excited for a DVD, never had a chance to see them live.

I think Alder is excellent but Arch is just magical. "Perfect Symmetry" is one of my favorite metal albums of all-time.

I wonder how many more of these reissues they're gonna do. Is there a demand for an "Inside Out" re-issue or for a re-release of the last two?

Temple of Blood wrote:

I think Alder is excellent but Arch is just magical. "Perfect Symmetry" is one of my favorite metal albums of all-time.

I wonder how many more of these reissues they're gonna do. Is there a demand for an "Inside Out" re-issue or for a re-release of the last two?

I think they might stop at Inside Out, if I had to guess...it was the last album with a full 5-piece line-up.

But, then again, they could easily do A Pleasant Shade Of Gray with the APSoG Live as the bonus DVD.