Official top 50 Fates Warning countdown thread!! - #1 Song Revealed!

[The Realm]

I'll say it again. That is mindboggling.

Yes mindboggling but I think 3 is the most we have ever had? I can't remember more than 2 previously in the other countdowns.

[Lethean]

I'll say it again. That is mindboggling.

Agreed.  I would have thought that One would be guaranteed to make everyone's list, but I imagine the 3 are from Perfect Symmetry and Parallels... maybe.

[wolfking]

We should all PM pg with our guess on the three songs.  Winner gets DTF boasting glory.

[The Realm]

Pretty tough to get all 3 I'd say.

[pg1067]

We should all PM pg with our guess on the three songs.  Winner gets DTF boasting glory.

Feel free.  Valuable internet points will be awarded if anyone gets them.

[wolfking]

We should all PM pg with our guess on the three songs.  Winner gets DTF boasting glory.

Feel free.  Valuable internet points will be awarded if anyone gets them.

Hmm......internet points.  That is nice indeed.

[Mister Gold]

I'll go ahead and just say this about my list; the top two picks were far and away the easiest parts of the list to make. On a related note, only one Alder era song on my list is ranked higher than Guardian.

That said, almost all the rest of my Top 20 is Alder-era material.

[pg1067]

We start off with……

A three-way tie for 49th place (which means this will actually be a top 51 countdown)!

49T Face the Fear (Inside Out – 1)

Appeared on 9 of 19  entries
Top 10 finishes: 2
Highest Ranking: 6 (devieira73)

I really love this song.  I had it at #22 and hoped that it would fair a little better than it did.  I love the odd feel of the verse rhythm.  Two people had it in their top 10, but only making 9 lists doomed it to the bottom of the countdown.


49T Don’t Follow Me (Parallels – 1)

Appeared on 9 of 19  entries
Top 10 finishes: 0
Highest Ranking: 15 (Dubleagent66)

The numbers game here is interesting.  It made the same number of lists as Face the Fear, and it’s highest finish was much lower, but it performed much more consistently, with only a couple finishes in the low 30s.  As for me, this is one of my favorites on Parallels.  Great driving rhythm and guitar harmonies.


49T Exodus (Awaken the Guardian – 1)

Appeared on 10 of 19  entries
Top 10 finishes: 2
Highest Ranking: 3 (Puppies_on_Acid)

The first of the Arch era songs.  This song reminds me a lot of Roads to Madness by Queensryche.  A lot of shifting time signatures that demonstrated what Fates was capable of.  We also got John Arch not trying to cram too many words into too little space.  For those who aren’t fans of his vocal style, definitely check this one out.  I had it at #26 and thought it would do better, but three of the ten rankings it got were very low, despite two top 10 finishes.

P.S.  The gap between these three songs and song #52 was only four points.

[Tomislav95]

Face the Fear (35)
Ray is really strong in verses, the ending is epic. My only problem is kinda soft chorus when compared to the rest of the song.

Don't follow me (20)
Definition of a grower for me. Contrary to the previous entry, chorus is the high point. Also, atmosphere and guitarwork is just tasty here.

Exodus
Just barely missed my top 50, I like it but not enough.

[jammindude]

None of these ranked for me.

Exodus came the closest. The final list had it at 53. The previous two lists had it at 55 and 57.  I just remember it being the only disappointment (to me) from the Guardian album. Epitaph was such an amazing closer to TSW and I was hoping for something as good or better to close Guardian and I didn’t get it.

Don’t Follow Me is ok. It came in at 75 on my first list, so I didn’t include it on my next two.

I’m shocked that Face the Fear is here. Just a completely uninteresting meh-fest. I looked everywhere on my first list for it and I couldn’t find it anywhere. I’m wondering if I just deleted it from the running completely as the song never would’ve cracked my top 100 much less 50.

[HOF]

One thing I love about Face the Fear is the spinner in the chorus. Such an unusual percussive effect in a song like this, but it works.

[Zoom E]

Face the Fear was at 31 for me.

I didn’t rank Don’t follow Me, but it could easily have slipped into the 40-50 range of my list.

I had Exodus at 47. All the Arch tunes I ranked were low on my list. I found it tough rating them against the Alder songs.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

49T Face the Fear (Inside Out – 1)

Appeared on 9 of 19  entries
Top 10 finishes: 2
Highest Ranking: 6 (devieira73)

I really love this song.  I had it at #22 and hoped that it would fair a little better than it did.  I love the odd feel of the verse rhythm.  Two people had it in their top 10, but only making 9 lists doomed it to the bottom of the countdown.


49T Don’t Follow Me (Parallels – 1)

Appeared on 9 of 19  entries
Top 10 finishes: 0
Highest Ranking: 15 (Dubleagent66)

The numbers game here is interesting.  It made the same number of lists as Face the Fear, and it’s highest finish was much lower, but it performed much more consistently, with only a couple finishes in the low 30s.  As for me, this is one of my favorites on Parallels.  Great driving rhythm and guitar harmonies.


49T Exodus (Awaken the Guardian – 1)

Appeared on 10 of 19  entries
Top 10 finishes: 2
Highest Ranking: 3 (Puppies_on_Acid)

The first of the Arch era songs.  This song reminds me a lot of Roads to Madness by Queensryche.  A lot of shifting time signatures that demonstrated what Fates was capable of.  We also got John Arch not trying to cram too many words into too little space.  For those who aren’t fans of his vocal style, definitely check this one out.  I had it at #26 and thought it would do better, but three of the ten rankings it got were very low, despite two top 10 finishes.

Face the Fear - Count me surprised this made the list. Although it did just miss mine at #59. It's a decent song, but one of the less memorable from Inside Out. I'm with HOF and the spinner effect though

Don't Follow Me - This landed at #38 for me. Can't say I'm surprised this was so low on the list, but I'm glad it's there. Great chorus!

Exodus - This is one I thought for sure would make the top 25. You guys failed me. I'm at the opposite end from jammindude. I think this song took everything that was great about Epitaph and slightly condensed it and made it better. Mostly in the sense of an epic album closer.

[Lethean]

Face the Fear was number 49 for me, and the others didn't make the list.  I think Face the Fear is a really nice track.  I really like the vocal melodies and Ray's delivery.

[Dublagent66]

Face the Fear - Not ranked
Don't Follow Me - #15
Exodus - Not ranked

[devieira73]

49T Face the Fear (Inside Out – 1)

Appeared on 9 of 19  entries
Top 10 finishes: 2
Highest Ranking: 6 (devieira73)


Well, I guess I MUST say something here...

Inside Out is my favorite FW album. I just wish it had the same production values of Parallels and it seems I hear it as much more proggier thant most of us here. To me, Face the Fear is one of its finest moments: all the drumming (specially in the lighter chorus), the syncopated melodies on the verses and on the gorgeous pre-chorus, amazing solos and the excellent Inward Bound, that really serves as its outro.

[romdrums]

50. Face the Fear (NR).  Didn't make my list.  Not a bad song, but just kinda there.

49. Don't Follow Me (38).  A favorite of mine from Parallels.  Very Rush inspired.  Likely wouldn't have sounded out of place on Hold Your Fire.

48. Exodus (NR).  Just missed my cut off.  Solid closer to the best Arch-era album.

[pg1067]

Exodus - This is one I thought for sure would make the top 25. You guys failed me. I'm at the opposite end from jammindude. I think this song took everything that was great about Epitaph and slightly condensed it and made it better. Mostly in the sense of an epic album closer.

Yeah...I agree.  Exodus was an improvement on the existing model, although I like both songs quite a bit.

One thing I love about Face the Fear is the spinner in the chorus. Such an unusual percussive effect in a song like this, but it works.

Hmmm...never heard a vibra slap referred to in that way, but it's an apt term.  Of course, it's more famously known for its appearance in the intro to Crazy Train.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

If they make another album I hope they use the vibraslap again and use a mouth harp

I believe the vibraslap was also used in Devin Townsend's The Death of Music.

[TAC]

First off, thanks for starting this off with a real woman, and not like the Mousekateer that the other guy puts in his countdowns.

49T Face the Fear (Inside Out – 1)

Appeared on 9 of 19  entries
Top 10 finishes: 2
Highest Ranking: 6 (devieira73)

49T Don’t Follow Me (Parallels – 1)

Appeared on 9 of 19  entries
Top 10 finishes: 0
Highest Ranking: 15 (Dubleagent66)

49T Exodus (Awaken the Guardian – 1)

Appeared on 10 of 19  entries
Top 10 finishes: 2
Highest Ranking: 3 (Puppies_on_Acid)

I had Face The Fear at #38.
Not nearly my fave from Inside Out, but it's a great side 2 track. Love Mak Zonder here. His parts have an UAGM style too it. Nice tune.

I had Don't Follow Me at #31.
This song has a great pace and feel. Parallels is kind of a heavy album to me (lyricwise, not musically) but I find the music of Don't Follow Me quite uplifting, even if not lyrically if that makes any sense.


I had Exodus at #17.
First off....this is way too low.
@Paul, yeah I feel you on the Roads To Madness comp. Especially how it opens. Great song!!


50
49
48
47
46
45
44
43
42
41
40
39
38  Face The Fear
37
36
35
34
33
32
31  Don't Follow Me
30
29
28
27
26
25
24
23
22
21
20
19
18
17  Exodus
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1

[HOF]

One thing I love about Face the Fear is the spinner in the chorus. Such an unusual percussive effect in a song like this, but it works.

Hmmm...never heard a vibra slap referred to in that way, but it's an apt term.  Of course, it's more famously known for its appearance in the intro to Crazy Train.

Didn’t know what to call it or how to look it up, really! It sounded like something spinning to me, and I was probably thinking of this:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rkYJh5KinOA

Cool to know what that sound actually is though!

[The Realm]

49T Face the Fear (Inside Out – 1)

Appeared on 9 of 19  entries
Top 10 finishes: 2
Highest Ranking: 6 (devieira73)

49T Don’t Follow Me (Parallels – 1)

Appeared on 9 of 19  entries
Top 10 finishes: 0
Highest Ranking: 15 (Dubleagent66)

49T Exodus (Awaken the Guardian – 1)

Appeared on 10 of 19  entries
Top 10 finishes: 2
Highest Ranking: 3 (Puppies_on_Acid)

Face The Fear - this didn't rank for me. I do like this song, so not that surprised to see it make it but was never really in the running for my top 50. There is some great drumming on the track and some interesting musical ideas.

Don't Follow Me - Also unranked by me. I have a feeling this is the first song of many from Parallels that we will be seeing in the countdown.

Exodus - now we are talking! Ranked 32 for me. Not sure how much love the John Arch era will get in the countdown but great to see this one make it. I get the comparison to Roads of Madness, the beginning is very similar but then this track winds it way into one great part after another.

[wolfking]

First off, thanks for starting this off with a real woman, and not like the Mousekateer that the other guy puts in his countdowns.

Oh yeah, I support this.  Shania is damn sexy and indeed the definition of a real woman.

[wolfking]

FTF - Had this at 29.  This was a late grower and not as immediate as a lot of the other songs on FTF.  It's placed well in the album and I really like the pre chorus especially.

DFM - 23 - Always a highlight on Parallels and again placed nicely later in the album.  Great Frank solo here and nice Maidenish harmonies.

E - 49 - Very nice track, a highlight from the Arch era.

[nick_z]

Face the Fear - My ranking: #7

I guess I'm the other one that has it in the top 10  What can I say, I love everything about it. I mean, like devieira, I consider Inside Out a top, top FW album (#2 for me), and Face the Fear is surely one of the reasons why. Absolutely yes to the UAGM feel of Zonder's parts. And those guitars in the verses are so good: the clean/distorted interplay is one of my favorite aspects of that FW era. I think the chorus is fantastic and, again, the way Zonder pushes it is just perfect.

Don't Follow Me - My ranking: #25

Very late-80s Maiden guitar harmonies to open the song. That my #25 song is not even among my very favorites on Parallels should be telling of my feelings on this album.  Anyway - very cool-sounding verse, great chorus and slightly more straightforward drumming, perhaps, but still full of delicious and subtle flourishes. Excellent tune.

Exodus - My ranking: #50

Just squeaked in  Despite the length, I find this to be an easily digestible Archer-era track (relatively speaking  ) Very epic riffage, lots of dynamics and beautiful melodies.

[WardySI]

It took me half the day to get past this 


Okay...

Face The Fear #22.
Parallels and Inside Out being my top2 Fates this kinda song is just a no-brainer.  Always loved this one but it wasn't until their Live In Athens did I really sit up and say whoah!   Never misses my Fates playlists and now inspired to watch that show again during the week

Don't Follow Me #33
Parallels and what can I say?  Much like Face The Fear this is just staple Fates through and through a beautiful song actually expected it to get a better result tbh but thankful it made an appearance.

Exodus #38
Ya know listening back through the catalog for this countdown and I reckon this is one of the most underrated Fates songs period and damn pleased it made the list!


Thanks again for doing this one pg1067 these are so enjoyable just love reading other peoples results and opinions cheers!

[wolfking]

It took me half the day to get past this 

Impressive, only took me a few minutes.

[WardySI]

It took me half the day to get past this 

Impressive, only took me a few minutes.

 

[Zydar]

That don't impress me much.

[T-ski]

That don't impress me much.

One of the worst songs I’ve ever heard, did not make my list. 

[pg1067]

For day 2, we get……

Another tie!  These two songs finished a mere three points ahead of the three songs that tied for 49th place.

47T Handful of Doubt (FWX – 1)

Appeared on 9 of 19  entries
Top 10 finishes: 1
Highest Ranking: 7 (Samsara)

FWX is my least favorite Fates album, and I didn’t even include this song in my pool of songs to rank.  I listened to it for purposes of this blurb.  The first half did nothing for me.  The heavier part would be a great ending for something, but it didn’t really save the song for me.


47T A Pleasant Shade of Gray VIII (APSOG – 1)

Appeared on 7 of 19  entries
Top 10 finishes: 2
Highest Ranking: 4 (Zoom E)

I LOVE this instrumental, but I only had it at #33.  I wasn’t sure it was going to make the list, but it was boosted by the two top 10 finishes and three other top 20 finishes.  It’s a brilliantly crafted transitional piece/etude with an incredible acoustic guitar/piano duet between Jim Matheos and Kevin Moore – a pattern that shows up later in the album.

[nick_z]

Handful of Doubt - Not Ranked

This one wasn't too too far from entering my top 50. It's a good moody piece from FWX. I agree it builds up quite effectively, but ultimately it didn't make the cut.


APSOG Part VIII - Not Ranked

It is indeed a beautiful instrumental interlude. It works perfectly within the album, and could've made my list. In the end, as a stand-alone piece, it didn't. If anything, it shows (imo) how great APSOG really is when considered as a whole.

[romdrums]

47T. Handful of Doubt (18). One of my favorites from FWX.  I love how moody and dynamic this song is.  Ray does a great job on the vocals.

47T. APSOG Part VIII (NR).  Works better in the context of the album, IMHO.  Feels like more of an extension of Part VII than a standalone piece, despite the shift into the piano and acoustic guitar duet.

[Samsara]

A Handful of Doubt is an incredible tune. Moody, emotional, has a good heavy section. When I first picked up FWX, which I think is underrated by many, this immediately stood out to me as one of those under the radar gems in the catalog.

[WilliamMunny]

A Handful of Doubt is an incredible tune. Moody, emotional, has a good heavy section. When I first picked up FWX, which I think is underrated by many, this immediately stood out to me as one of those under the radar gems in the catalog.

Yeah, FWX is a fantastic album.

"Left Here," "River Wide, Ocean Deep," "Another Perfect Day," & "Heal Me" are all standout tracks. In fact, I'm of the opinion that the 3 'rockers' ("Crawl," "Simple Human," & "Stranger With a Familiar Face") kind of bog the album down. Without those three, the record is an incredibly focused E.P. that stands among their best work (at least IMO)