Prog metal founding fathers Fates Warning have been on a hot streak since their amazing comeback in 2013. It’s pretty much been an uphill climb for the past five years. As the band has tour relentlessly and released two very strong records. And now we get a new live document from the last tour. Recorded across Europe on the ‘Theories of Flight’ tour, it is the ultimate live document.
2018’s ‘Live Over Europe’ is without question the bands finest live album. Two hours and eighteen minutes of heavy ass progressive metal shoved down your throat. Their first official live album ‘Still Life’ was recorded from the ‘Pleasant Shade of Grey’ tour. Which is a concept album so of course they play it in its entirety. That takes up most of the set leaving for limited time to get in all the baddest ass of their songs. And then there’s the ‘Awaken the Guardian’ live album with Jon Arch on vocals. And it’s actually really good. They do the whole ‘Awaken’ album and some other tracks from the era. And Arch still has his vocal range in full. But it’s not a definitive live album because Arch only sings on the first three albums.
But now Fates Warning finally has their definitive live album with ‘Live Over Europe’. Like I said above, it’s particularly long. And the set is very very strong. With plenty of focus on the new ‘Theories of Flight’ album among many classics from 1988’s ‘No Exit’ onward. The band sounds incredible. Most of the time it sounds like a really loud studio album. Which is great. There’s usually a little more beef in live versions of songs. And when the band delivers everything spot on it makes for a great listening experience. Drummer Bobby Jarzombek holds everything together with a mega-ton drum tone. And he can play anything Zonder did. At times he’s more linear, breathing new life into some older tracks. Bassist Joey Vera is locked in heavy. Keeping the band members glued together. Mike Abdow’s secondary guitar work is a perfect match for main man Jim Matheos. Although I do wish Aresti was still in the band. Matheos himself is unreal. What can you say about him? Without question one of the most underrated guitarists and song writers of the modern era. And singer Ray Alder, who’s celebrating 30 years with the band now, still has his golden tenor two voice. Sure he can’t sing as high as he used to, but that’s good thing in this situation. He found his real voice in the early 90’s. As opposed to imitating original singer Jon Arch. And it’s still going strong.
The album is sort of split into two parts. The first disc is more focused on the ‘Theories of Flight’ and ‘Darkness in a Different Light’ albums. There’s some classics in there such as 1994’s ‘Pale Fire’ or 1988’s ‘Silent Cries’. But it’s songs like ‘SOS’, ‘Seven Stars’, ‘And Yet It Moves’ and ‘Firefly’ that hold down most of the first set. ‘One’ and ‘Pieces of Me’ from 2000’s ‘Disconnected’ are also present. And they sound great. Thick guitar tones, phat drums and bass. It’s mixed very well.
The second disc is focused primarily on the classic Alder years. 1988 through 1991. With a lot of focus on 1991’s ‘Parallels’. Which makes sense because it is without a doubt their most commercially successful album. Ripping versions of ‘Point of View’, ‘The Eleventh Hour’ and ‘Eye to Eye’ dominate the disc. But there’s also a megaton heavy version of ‘Nothing Left To Say’ from 1989’s ‘Perfect Symmetry’. The band slows down with a short version of ‘Falling’ which leads into the ninth movement of ‘A Pleasant Shade of Grey’. Overall an amazing two plus hour set. And they do a strong set of their strongest songs. Delivered with impeccable accuracy and umph. It’s good to hear the crowds being involved as well. Although you wish they were playing bigger venues. Just because they deserve it. This band should be playing arenas. But destiny has other ideas in store. No matter though. Fates Warning are here to stay. And this new live document is a perfect statement for their immortality.
A perfect example of how underrated this band is. That chorus needs to be arenafied.
