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Perfect Symmetry

Fates Warning - Perfect Symmetry Audio CD

A fair review of the Fates Warning "Perfect Symmetry" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Fates Warning reviews here, or go back to the Fates Warning tabs.

Band: Fates Warning
Title: Perfect Symmetry
Rating:

Release Date: 1994-04-26
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Part of the Machine 2: Through Different Eyes 3: Static Acts 4: World Apart 5: At Fate's Hands 6: Arena 7: Chasing Time 8: Nothing Left to Say

Different, puzzling, beautiful and powerful. An incredible album
This one I tried first since it was the most recent. It was 1989 and I had four favorite bands: Stryper, Dokken, Def Leppard and Poison(give me a break, ok?) and a friend loaned me 3 vinyl albums to try something different, The Spectre Within, Awaken the Guardian, and Perfect Simmetry,all by this band called Fates Warning. All I can tell you is that I was hipnotized, amazed, scared, impressed during the entire reproduction of the album. It was an epiphany, a revelation, one of the best crafted, performed and recorded albums, EVER. A gem. The other album were great yes, but this one was different, It's still different. Neither Fates or any other band has released something similar that I know of. Is the epitome of progressive rock/metal. Perfect Simmetry is an experience, the name was well chosen. Is perfect.

A Great Development
The addition of Mark Zonder on drums allows for a clean and sophisticated rhythm that guides the Fates through somewhat less conventional song structures (in all except the second track). This is a historically important album that was both key to the development of progressive metal and an impressive feat in its own right. The guitars (along with the occasional help of keyboard and violin) twist and turn, revealing a love for a somewhat new type of riff rooted in the styles of Rush and Kansas that would become important for Dream Theater and by proxy countless other prog metal bands; the song At Fates Hands is a particularly good example of this. Alder once again sings often in falsetto, which compared to the album's precursor No Exit sounds strange because the surroundings are calmer and less straightforward - the vocals might be something of an acquired taste due to this, but they are fantastic in their own right if you can accustom yourself to them.

The album as a whole sounds somewhat suffocated and frustrated; as the title suggests, the lyrics here continue the trend begun by No Exit and are mostly composed of bitter adolescent commentary on the restrictiveness of society. The critique has a tendency to become almost comically overblown: "Weary and weakened / Victims fall prey / To vague ideals and passionless play / Systematic spontaneity / In synchronized society," but when it comes right down to it there are some good points made here worth pondering a little, especially in the fantastic closer, Nothing Left to Say, which for my money is the best track on the album, featuring excellent performances by all band members of a very well-written song.

Unlike many of the bands they inspired, including later works of Dream Theater, this prog metal is not a wild display of technical ability, overly long songs, endless instrumentals, and blistering tempos. Good songwriting is the focus here, and each track is melodic, rhythmic, and clever. I'd recommend any fan of metal, even those averse to prog in general, at least give this album a chance, as despite its flaws there really isn't another one quite like it.

A True Landmark in the History of Prog Metal
Up until the late 80's, a term as "progressive metal" didn't even exist. Fates Warning's Perfect Symmetry is a truly historic and genre-defining recording in progressive metal. It could be easily argued that Perfect Symmetry and Voivod's Nothingface, both released in 1989, are the first albums that marked the birth of really heavy, crushing metal elements blended with progressive music. This is different from any Rush, King Crimson or Yes inspired band. This is METAL with serious progressive overtones. Many people who listen to Perfect Symmetry today may find it a tad flat and uninspiring, but I challenge those people to go back to the year 1989 and find equally genre-busting, original, creative, forward-going releases. From a historical context, Perfect Symmetry ranks right on top of the list as one of the most influential albums ever.

This is drum god Mark Zonder's debut with the band too. Listening to Zonder's drumming is a true delight. I don't think I've been amazed of this magnitude by anyone else's drumming; Mark Zonder gives Fates Warning a new edge, makes them a better, more challenging act with tons of chops and transparency. Whilst this is merely his first album with the band, he works the drums with blistering power and accuracy, adding various odd-metered rhythms. Founding member Jim Matheos and Frank Aresti are still deeply rooted in a metal territory but their songwriting has moved towards a more cohesive style. Frank Aresti continues to integrate his impeccable skill into the songs as Matheos experiments with melody and harmony. Vocalist Ray Alder sings in a more disciplined manner; rather than screaming every verse, he's creating gripping melodies and delivering haunting lyrics. He's not as effective in the music as he's on the band's 90's albums, but he's certainly getting there. DiBiase on bass is less prominent than, say Awaken the Guardian, but then he is more of a straightforward bass guy whose style would better fit the John Arch-era. Still, he's there 100% with subtle rhythms and bass grooves. Guesting on the album is ex-Dream Theater keyboardist Kevin Moore. Many think that Moore only played on Fates Warning's 1997 and 2000 releases, which is true to a certain extent. Kevin was a key member on A Pleasant Shade of Gray and Disconnected as he played practically on every song, but his real debut with Fates Warning is Perfect Symmetry, the track "At Fate's Hands". This is one of the longest songs on the album beginning with a forlorn violin piece alongside Moore's distinctive piano melody. As Zonder plays with his cymbals, Kevin creates a creepy atmosphere which serves as a backdrop to the lengthy instrumental passage interwoven by Matheos and Aresti's celestial lead guitar melodies.

The songs are pretty nicely evened out. There are compact metal songs such as "The Arena" and "A World Apart". Mainly composed by Frank Aresti, the latter begins with dark and brooding acoustic guitars (which Aresti is great playing at) and introduces an unexpected odd-time polyrhythm by Mark Zonder before it delves into a dexterous and melodic guitar solo with lots of tapping sweeps. This is, in my opinion, one of the best solos on the album. "Part of the Machine" and "Static Acts" are penned by Matheos and Aresti respectively. Both guitarists play melodically strong solos that descend over Ray Alder's lyrics. Alder particularly sounds great on "Static Acts" signalling the fact that he will be a defining element on the band's future releases.

"Through Different Eyes" and "Chasing Time" are the album's ballads. Matheos comes up with a somewhat bluesy guitar line in the intro of "Through Different Eyes", which is enhanced by piercing screams from Ray Alder, and later a breathtaking guitar duel between the two axemen. I've always believed the style explored on this song is further developed on the band's subsequent release, Parallels. "Chasing Time" offers more violin and string instruments with emotional singing from Ray Alder. The progressive climax of the album, however, is the last song "Nothing Left to Say". At nearly 8 minutes, the song finds the band in their most extreme and experimental prog metal phase. Plenty of solos abound the compositions with polyrhythmic drum attacks, dense rhythm and lead guitars, and complex time signatures. Matheos' lyrics once again are only a small taste of what's yet to come.

The only setback of Perfect Symmetry is its production. Roger Probert is obviously more of a traditional Heavy Metal producer as he doesn't seem to have much of an impact on the band's stylistic direction. Some of the arrangements are weak and the stereo mixing is flat. There's little separation of the instruments or the vocals. However, this minor problem is overcome on the later albums as the band matches up with renown producer Terry Brown. This is a very key album in the evolution of progressive metal and essential to anyone who is interested in finding out the roots of this ever-changing genre. I also usually recommend this for starters, after Parallels, of course. .

A Major Letdown
I was so excited when I ordered it from Amazon; I put it in and was disappointed. I had always heard that this was the best and most definitive of Fates Warning's sound. Many of the tracks were very poor and Ray Adler's voice was just a scream for the majority of the time. "Through Different Eyes" is good though, and except for the instrumental beginning, "Nothing Left to Say" is one of the best songs that Fates Warning had ever done. The rest of the songs aren't that good to begin with, but the production does not help. It is very weak and dated, and the guitars don't hit as hard as they should. Also, although Mark Zonder would become a metal drumming legend, it is hard to pick up on this album, maybe because he does nothing spectacular, but maybe because it is nearly impossible to hear him. Fortunately I gave the band another chance with "FWX" and have discovered that Fates Warning is really good. I guess that hardcore fans of the band will enjoy this, but to someone looking to get into Fates Warning, I would instead recommend "Parallels. ".

Don't listen to Bozo Pedroza
Part of the Machine is fantastic-intricate drum and guitar interplay. This is a great cd. Alder sings great throughout, namely
A World Apart. Kevin Moore does some great keyboard work. Matheos and Artesti are awesome. Thank goodness these guys filled the void that was left by some dissapointing work from the Gods of prog metal Rush. I would listen to this cd anytime instead of Counterparts and Test For Integrity.

You can see a complete list of all Fates Warning discography, or go back to the Fates Warning tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.