Fates Warning - 'Parallels'

A perfect, symmetrical example of Fates Warning Mark II.

When it comes to melodic and mature 80s metal, progressive icons Fates Warning seem to eternally be cast in the shade of their peers in Queensryche, while also being forced to rail against the stylistic clichés of the genre as a whole. 1991’s Parallels seemed to change all that for the Connecticut quintet, however, bursting through preconceived barriers of style versus substance, and running with the marked ‘n measured intensity showcased on the album’s 1989 counterpart (pun intended), Perfect Symmetry.

Enter 2010: Metal Blade Records does fans the service of reissuing this classic piece of cerebral metal to the masses, complete with copious demo tracks, live footage, and an additional DVD, further driving home the point of how classically excellent Parallels still is, almost twenty years later.

For it was in this brief two year span where Fates Warning truly began to outgrow their humble, Maiden-esque beginnings, encompassing all of the spitfire and energy of their early years (then fronted by the helium-voiced John Arch), while also incorporating a new, musically restrained and matured outlook. Indeed, the songwriting here on Parallels focuses on both instrumental prowess and vocal driven melodies, drawing from every wellspring of the band’s talent, with stupendous results.

Ray Alder-who has long been one of metal’s most under-appreciated voices—sings his heart out here on Parallels, delivering what may be a career-defining performance for both him and his band alike, while the musical core of guitarists Jim Matheos and Frank Aresti, bassist Joe DiBiase and skinsman extraordinaire Mark Zonder execute their riffs ‘n rhythms with expert precision.

It’s good that Metal Blade has decided to unearth this gem for public consumption once again, for Parallels truly does shine on just as brightly in 2010 as it did in 1991. Worth your time and effort.

Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.