Awaken the Guardian

Fates Warning: John Arch (vocals); Jim Matheos, Frank Aresti (guitar); Joe DiBiase (bass); Steve Zimmerman (drums).
Additional personnel: Jim Archambault (keyboards).
Recorded in September & October 1986.
Digitally remastered by Eddy Schreyer (1994, Future Disc).
Still singing about witches and devils, Fates Warning remained a metal band despite claims that this was their first progressive recording. Their aggressive sound remains from the first two efforts, and the song structures are too rudimentary to be called progressive. From this session one classic did emerge, "Guardian," a song that is still requested at their live shows. Progressive fans can skip this one too; however, metal fans are encouraged to pick it up, as it is a closet classic from the underground metal years of the '80s. ~ Robert Taylor