Like their other modern day Progressive Rock colleagues Dream Theater and Queensryche, the band Fates Warning crossed the genres of Metal and Progressive Rock to formulate an exciting sound often categorized as Progressive Metal. It was a sound that captivated a young audience in search of great new music.
In 1984, the band released their first album entitled Night on Bröcken. Their debut album was followed by The Spectre Within in 1985 and Awaken the Guardian in 1986 which featured the arrival of guitarist Frank Aresti. The band went through a major lineup change the following year as they acquired a new lead vocalist named Ray Alder. The band’s new lead singer took over vocal duties on the band’s New Exit album released in 1988.
In 1989, the band released the groundbreaking album Perfect Symmetry. The album also featured a new drummer named Mark Zonder. The Perfect Symmetry album was a pivotal point in the band’s career as their sound matured tremendously on the album heading towards a more progressive nature.
The band released the Parallels album in 1991 which turned out to be one of the band’s most successful albums up to that point in time. Inside Out was released in 1994. The brilliant concept album A Pleasant Shade of Gray was issued in 1997. Disconnected was released in 2000 with Dream Theater’s Kevin Moore on keyboards. In 2004, Fates Warning released their tenth studio album entitled FWX.
Almost ten years passed before the band released a new album. In 2013, Fates Warning released Darkness in a Different Light. The band’s most recent album as of this writing was released in 2016 entitled Theories of Flight.
Our Top 10 Fates Warning Songs list attempts to define some of the band’s highlights from their 30 plus year career. It is just a subjective list and serves as an introduction for those not aware of the band’s material and history.
Top 10 Fates Warning Songs
# 10 – A Pleasant Shade of Gray
We start out our top 10 Fates Warning song lust with “The Pleasant Shade of Gray Suite.” The only problem with choosing the Pleasant Shade of Grey Suite” is that it runs the entire album. But then again may that’s not a problem because it’s freaking amazing We have provided a little snippet hear. Go buy the CD and hear the entire suite.
# 9 – Point Of View
The Fates Warning song Point of View was released on the No Exit album in 1989.
# 8 – The Ivory Gate of Dreams
One more time we take a look at the band’s great No Exit album. The album’s final musical selection is the suite “The Ivory Gate Of Dreams.” Simply breathtaking!
# 7 – Still Remains
The Fates Warning song “Still Remains,” was issued on the Disconnected album in 2000.
# 6 – Monument
The album Inside Out was released in 1994. It was the last album to feature the band’s long time bassist, Joe DiBiase. The song “Monument,” appeared as the ninth song on the album.
# 5- Left Here
“Left Here,” was the opening track to the band’s 2004 album FWX.
# 4 – Seven Stars
The Fates Warning track Seven Stars is the most recent Fates Warning material to be presented on our Top 10 Fates Warning songs list. The Seven Stars song was released on the band’s 2016 album Theories Of Flight.
# 3 – Part Of The Machine
The great Fates Warning track “Part of the Machine,” was issued on the Perfect Symmetry album in 1989.
# 2 – We Only Say Goodbye
One of the most popular Fates Warning songs comes from the album Parallels. The song “We Only Say Goodbye,” was written by Jim Matheos.
# 1 – Guardian
One of the bands most exciting songs and our favorite here at ClassicRockHistory is the track “Guardian.” The songs was from the album Awaken The Guardian. The album was released in 1986.
Updated Nov 7, 2020
Point of view is on parallels