Ray Alder : what Band do you like him more in?

[EstyMaJ]

I have to say i grew up listening to fates warning and just recently got into Redemption and i have have to say out of  FW , Engine and Redemption I have to pick Redemption I love the way the music flows and the way he sings in this band , the lyrics in FW seem to flow choppy to me. And i love the melodey's in Redemption much more flow to them  I dunno i really like this band alot.

[YtseBitsySpider]

I agree with your assessment.

His voice seems to have matured quite nicely.

[Perpetual Change]

I like him better in Redemption. Because I like Arch era Fates a lot better. Alder era isn't bad, but it always seemed a bit, uh, underdeveloped...?

Really, Redemption makes Alder Fates Warning look like "just some band Alder played with in high school."

[LudwigVan]

Ray-era Fates Warning beats the crap out of Redemption imo.   

[Perpetual Change]

Well, when I say "high school band" I don't mean on a songwriting level. I just mean that those records don't sound very good IMO. With Arch-era Fates and PS, I totally don't mind the sound because it just sounds like "classic" metal to me. But, even though there's a bunch of songs on Parallels and Inside Out that I like, those albums really should sound a helluva a lot better for when they were released. Instead, they sound neither modern nor "80's." They just sound lifeless to me.

[Samsara]

I prefer Ray in Fates Warning, but mostly from Parallels onward. The first couple of records with Ray (No Exit, Perfect Symmetry) are good, but he was trying too hard to stay similar to John Arch. Frankly, while I like Arch, and recognize his talent, not really a big fan of that era of Fates. As a big fan of the band, I have the three records with him, but I don't really think of Arch when I think of FW.

Redemption is awesome, but frankly, in regard to how Ray sounds, he sounds no different in Redemption then he does in FW from Parallels on. So it's all good.

[Perpetual Change]

Is the FW fanbase divided at all about the vocalists? Personally, I like Arch quite a bit better, but more because of the style of the band with Arch. Not necessarily the singing. But I'm pretty clueless as to where most Fates fans stand/stood on the issue.

[yeshaberto]

I have tried for years to get into FW, but fell in love with Redemption on first listen.  the music is so tight and flows beautifully.  they are easily in my top 5 bands

[LudwigVan]

Is the FW fanbase divided at all about the vocalists? Personally, I like Arch quite a bit better, but more because of the style of the band with Arch. Not necessarily the singing. But I'm pretty clueless as to where most Fates fans stand/stood on the issue.

I like Arch's voice.  Vocally I think he and Alder are comparable.  Musically speaking, I prefer the Alder era over the Arch era.  Even though I still enjoy the Arch albums, I think that Jim Matheos' songwriting during those early days was quite raw and undeveloped.  

[Dublagent66]

My ranking:

1.  Fates Warning
2.  Engine







3.  Redemption

[EstyMaJ]

I have tried for years to get into FW, but fell in love with Redemption on first listen.  the music is so tight and flows beautifully.  they are easily in my top 5 bands

I hear hear what you mean about the flow , they were an easy i want all there catalog after first listen for me also , that doesn't happen often .

[pogoowner]

Is the FW fanbase divided at all about the vocalists? Personally, I like Arch quite a bit better, but more because of the style of the band with Arch. Not necessarily the singing. But I'm pretty clueless as to where most Fates fans stand/stood on the issue.

I like Arch's voice.  Vocally I think he and Alder are comparable.  Musically speaking, I prefer the Alder era over the Arch era.  Even though I still enjoy the Arch albums, I think that Jim Matheos' songwriting during those early days was quite raw and undeveloped. 

I don't really care for the Arch era. As you said the songwriting is weaker, and frankly, I don't care for Arch's voice, or at least the way he was using it for Fates Warning. Too high and whiney.

As far as Ray goes, his vocals in Redemption and recent Fates Warning are pretty much the same. I wish he still had the range of his younger days, but I think he's a much more skilled singer now than when he was younger.

[Mebert78]

Wow, this is a tough question for me.  I could go either way.  Ray sounds great with both bands.  I've been so into Redemption the last few months, so I'd pick them if forced.  But that's only cause Fates Warning hasn't made an album since 2004, and I wasn't overly thrilled with that FWX album.  So it's been a good 10 years since they made an album I loved: Disconnected.  So Redemption feels much more current and exciting to me.

[Zook]

Is Engine worth checking out. What do they sound like?

[Vlasto]

...look at my sig and you've got the answer...

[SoundscapeMN]

[EstyMaJ]

Is Engine worth checking out. What do they sound like?

I would call it bordeline alternative rock /metal? its ok kinda dull IMHO