Fates Warning--Parallels (1991)
Rating--7.5
Queensryche circa 1987, with a little more prog and a little less bottom-end. At his best, vocalist
Ray Alder is a Tate clone, and the guitar runs and musical phrasings are almost identical to some of those featured on 'Rage for Order'
and 'Mindcrime'. Now, before we jump to any (more) conclusions, is this such a bad thing? I mean, how many death bands sound
alike? How many hardcore, glam, or any other genre-labeled bands? That being said, Fates (at this point in its career) just happens to play music a lot like
Queensryche---and also happens to do a pretty good job at it.
"Life in Still Water" has a good opening riff, and a rolling, strong
chorus. "Leave the Past Behind," while only decent on an overall scale, features some nice time changes around a complete and
thorough emotional atmosphere.
"The Eleventh Hour" has a good, pulling buildup, and then a major kick-in about halfway
through. An extremely driving pulse-- coupled with Alder's vocals-- makes this one a top highlight.
"Point of View" is a soaring, all-around solid
track, and "Eye to Eye" has a slower feel to it; it actually comes across a lot like Dokken with its tough
power chord feel and methodical chorus. A solid cut, and in all a very good album.
TRACK LIST: Leave the Past Behind/Life in Still Water/Eye to Eye/The Eleventh Hour/Point of View/We Only Say Goodbye/
Don't Follow Me/The Road Goes on Forever
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