Artist: FATES WARNING
Album: THE SPECTRE WITHIN REISSUE (CD)

Release date: 1985/ 2002
EAN/UPS: 039841443028
Media type: CD

Stoic Progressive Metal band FATES WARNING has weathered nearly two decades of shifting musical trends with a steadfast fanbase. The Cincinatti band was initially titled MISFIT in their original formation in 1982 with a line-up of vocalist JOHN ARCH, guitarists Victor Arduini and JIM MATHEOS, bassist Joe DiBase and drummer Steve Zimmerman. Renaming themselves FATES WARNING a series of demo recordings enabled the band to include a track on the 'Metal Massacre V' compilation album in 1984. The resulting appreciation resulting in a long term deal with Metal Blade records which carries on to the present day.

The 1984 debut album 'Night On Brocken' established the band very firmly in the traditional Metal mould. Shortly after its release Arduini departed and in came ex-DEMONAX guitarist Frank Aresti. The band got more complex with successive albums and the 1986 album 'Awaken The Guardian' broke into the American top 200 Billboard chart. Despite this success Arch quit, unable to reconcile himself with the band's musical direction, and was to be superseded by Ray Alder.

This new line up recorded the 'No Exit' album, released in March of 1988 and produced by the much in demand Max Norman, which included the twenty two minute epic 'The Ivory Gates Of Dreams'. FATES WARNING scored valuable airplay with the track 'Silent Cries' and the album gave the band increased sales. However, the band's stability suffered a further knock when Zimmerman opted out.

FATES WARNING added erstwhile WARLORD drummer Mark Zonder (a.k.a. 'Thunderchild') for touring in Europe prior to recording the Terry Brown produced 'Perfect Symmetry' album. DREAM THEATER's keyboard player Kevin Moore guested.

'Parallels' was another fine effort and saw FATES WARNING comfortably delving into more technical territory. 1997's 'A Pleasant Shade Of Grey' found bassist JOEY VERA, known for his lengthy tenure with Heavy Metal band ARMORED SAINT, joining the ranks, with Kevin Moore becoming a full-time band member as the band travelled a more Progressive direction than previously.

Both Ray Alder and Joey Vera involved themselves in the project band ENGINE with AGENT STEEL's guitarist Bernie Versailles for a highly rated eponymous 1999 album. JIM MATHEOS took a left turn for an almost soft Jazz solo album the same year 'Away With Words'.

FATES WARNING toured America in 2000 sharing a bill with NEVERMORE and PLANET X. The double live set 'Still Life' would see Japanese editions coming with a bonus exclusive rendition of the SCORPIONS 'In Trance'.

Touring commencing in April of 2001 would witness FATES WARNING on a strong package billing across America in alliance with Power Metal veterans SAVATAGE. The same year both Alder and Zonder would session on guitarist Nick Van Dyk's REDEMPTION project album. In March of 2002 Joey Vera, still maintaining his posts in both ARMORED SAINT and FATES WARNING, would team up with SAVATAGE guitarist Jack Frost's side endeavour SEVEN WITCHES for European touring.

Matheos would remain active too, participating in an all new ProgRock 'Supergroup' mentored by DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy. The impressive cast list for this venture also numbered PAIN OF SALVATION frontman Daniel Gildenlцw, erstwhile DREAM THEATER and presently CHROMA KEY keyboard player Kevin Moore and ex CYNIC and current GORDIAN KNOT bassist Sean Malone. Before long Gildenlцw was out of the frame and the band project was being billed as set OSI (Orchestra Of Strategic Influence). Former member Frank Aresti would be back in the news too, resurfacing with an eclectic solo Rock project billed as DRAGONSPOON.

Metal Blade Records would re-issue the 'Night On Brocken' and 'The Spectre Within' albums for September. 'Night On Brocken' was clad in its original cover art, the first time on CD, and added four bonus rarities in an original 1984 MISFIT demo of 'Last Call', 1983 rehearsal tapes of 'The Calling' and 'Flight Of Icarus' and a live take of 'Kiss Of Death' recorded at the legendary L'Amour club. 'The Spectre Within' re-issue boasted a 1985 live version of 'Radio Underground', a rehearsal session of 'The Apparition' and two tracks from the DICKIE demos 'Kyrie Eleison' and 'Epitaph'. Former FATES WARNING vocalist JOHN ARCH signed to Metal Blade Records in early 2003 for an EP 'A Twist Of Fate'. His studio band included FATES WARNING colleagues guitarist Jim Matheos and bassist Joey Vera with DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy.

The band formed up a US heavyweight ProgMetal extravaganza in June packaged with QUEENSRYCHE and DREAM THEATER. The band would be rejoined by former guitarist Frank Aresti for these shows but would be without drummer Mark Zonder, forced out due to personal commitments. The group enlisted SPOCK'S BEARD drummer Nick D'Virgilio as stand in.

In early 2004 original FATES WARNING drummer Steve Zimmerman made a surprise return to action, moulding a new band unit entitled MILLENNIUM X, this unit evolving into INTERFACE. Meantime the band's present day drummer Mark Zonder was also getting in on the action, founding a fresh project entitled ALFA-DOG with guitarist Gary Wehrkamp of SHADOW GALLERY and vocalist D.C. COOPER of SILENT FORCE and ROYAL HUNT repute. Meantime bassist Joey Vera would temporarily enroll into the ranks of ANTHRAX as stand in for the departed Frank Bello. Another FATES WARNING member would also be found depping that same month, Mark Zonder joining the legendary Hard Rock outfit MONTROSE for a gig at the Dallas Guitar Show.

FATES WARNING's new album, 'FWX' recorded at Carriage House studios in Stamford, Connecticut, would see an October 2004 release. European shows found the band employing DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy an appearance at the 'Headway' festival in Amstelveen, Netherlands on 3rd April 2005. Further European gigs saw SPOCK'S BEARD drummer Nick D'Virgilio taking the role. Meantime, it was revealed that Mark Zonder had fired up a new band endeavour, billed TEMPLEWITHIN, in collaboration with MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP guitarist/keyboard player Wayne Findlay and the VALHALLA, MASI and HAWK credited vocalist David Fefolt. Also involved in these sessions would be the TRIBE OF GYPSIES credited singer Greg Analla.

Metal Blade Records issued an expanded, re-mastered edition of FATES WARNING's 1986 classic 'Awaken The Guardian' in June. This new, three disc version added a complete CD of live and demo tracks plus a DVD featuring live footage from 1986. Also arriving via InsideOut Music would be a live DVD, 'Live In Athens', filmed at the band's 20th February 2005 show in Athens, Greece. In outside activity, guitarist Jim Matheos collaborated further with ex-DREAM THEATER keyboard player Kevin Moore on the second OSI album.

FATES WARNING engaged in live action in 2006, their highlight concert at the 'Rock Hard' magazine festival in Gelsenkirchen on June 2nd preceded by Californian warm ups. The band for these shows saw Ray Adler, Jim Matheos and Joey Vera joined by ex-FATES WARNING guitarist Frank Aresti, then operational with his new band DARK DAY SUNDAY, and SPOCK'S BEARD drummer Nick D'Virgilio.

TRACKLIST:

1. Traveller In Time
2. Orphan Gypsy
3. Without A Trace
4. Pirates Of The Underground
5. The Apparition
6. Kyrie Eleison
7. Epitaph

Bonus tracks:
8. Radio Underground - Live Underground
9. The Apparition - Rehearsal 1985
10. Kyrie Eleison - “Dickie” Demo 1985
11. Epitaph - “Dickie” Demo 1985

LINE-UP:

JOHN ARCH - vocals
JIM MATHEOS - guitars
VICTOR ARDUINI - guitars
JOE DiBASE - bass
STEVE ZIMMERMAN- drums