I'm feeling myself become emotional at the thought of this being the last FW album. In a week, I'll be potentially listening to the last FW album for the first time. I hope that's not the case, but it's possible give the album title and the final song's title. I'm feeling so grateful for all that FW has given us for close to four decades now. What a special band.
Also, does anyone have FW's DVD The View from Here? If so, what's it like?
Mike,
I have it. Think Building Empires. Fates's version of it. Totally worth it to pick it up.
As for "The Last Song" being the absolute last FW material, no one knows. The press is asking, and the Fates guys aren't telling. There was some review of that song indicating that the lyrics are very pointed in that direction. It could have been something in this thread, I forget. But to be honest, it wouldn't surprise me. I remember on the Theories tour cycle, Ray doing an interview to the effective of they were hesitant to do another album because they weren't sure if they could top Theories of Flight, and wanting to be done on a high note (or something to that effect), but I don't have a link to it.
Whatever it ends up being -- it has been such an incredible run. I wish I would have gotten into them sooner. I remember seeing ads for Fates shirts in metal magazines, and thinking they were death metal, and not wanting to check them out (seriously, lol). When I was growing up, we only sporadically had cable and MTV, and while I saw videos from a lot of hair bands, and Queensryche (I was on the lookout for that), I rarely was permitted to stay up for Headbanger's Ball. And like I said, much of the time, we didn't have cable. So I never saw Fates' vids.
But once I picked up APSOG on that Columbia House 1 cent CD thing, and put it on, I was turned off. It wasn't death metal, and had some nice moments, but that's a tough introduction (at least for me it was). Now, obviously, I have a huge appreciation for it, even if it isn't my favorite Fates record. I still like it a lot. I didn't really get into them until 2003. My wife said "how can you love Queensryche and Dream Theater and not love Fates Warning?!" I listened to Parallels, liked it. But it was seeing Fates live on the QR/DT/FW tour and the song "One" that blew me away. I went out and bought the catalog, and became a hardcore instantly. SO WISH I would have gotten into them sooner. They are, for me, one of my top three bands of all time (original lineup of Queensryche, Fates Warning, Alter Bridge).
And to top it off, you won't find a nicer guy than Jim Matheos.
So if it IS the end, I hope that the new album is everything I think it's going to be and that we can get some live gigs once COVID is over and properly send the boys on their way.
And if it ISN'T the end, and the song is a red herring, we'll all get a laugh at this in a few years.
The other thing that popped up in my head is -- what if this is the last song for THIS LINEUP/ERA of Fates? Meaning, perhaps Jim is going a different direction. I thought it was interesting Gavin Harrison was playing drums on one of the tracks. I wonder, perhaps Jim and Ray are going to look at a new lineup? I think it's not very likely (I mean, what's the point, ya know). But I'd love to hear why Gavin Harrison is on a track. I mean, it's weird when there are multiple drummers on a record. It changes the groove.
We also don't know who is doing the solos. I think one of the reviews said that Frank Aresti is on the record -- well, he has been doing solos on the last couple, so that's not a surprise. But I know Mike Abdow is doing solos too. I asked him if he could give who is doing the solos on each of the songs, and he said let it be a surprise. So not sure what's up.
SOMETHING is up, or there isn't anything, Jim, Ray, Joey, Bobby, Mike, and Frank are having a field day laughing at the speculation.
Topic: The Official Fates Warning thread v. Elsydeon hasn’t been around (Read 312045 times)