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

[TAC]

Love the Arch era logo.

[Glasser]

Love the Arch era logo.

Its their best logo hands down. After No Exit they ditched it unfortunately. I wasn't a fan of the original NoB logo.

[wolfking]

Love the Arch era logo.

It's strange how Arch era like the cover is.  Surely fake?

[pg1067]

Is that cover art legit?  I've never seen it before either.

Not sure how reliable this site is, but it seems that a 2-CD compilation album was released in Japan in 2018:  https://www.metal-tracker.com/torrents/230109.html

[pg1067]

9 Nothing Left to Say (Perfect Symmetry – 5)

Appeared on 15 of 19 entries
Top 10 finishes: 8
Highest Ranking: 1 (sfam2112)

Today we bid adieu to Perfect Symmetry.  When I showed up at my first FW show, Part of the Machine was my clear favorite, so I was a little surprised that Nothing Left to Say was the fan favorite right out of the box.  It's a killer song, starting with an ominous riff based around a tritone with strong guitar solos, followed by a pensive instrumental section before the vocals kick in and the song builds from there.  By the time Ray screams, "there's a child screaming with nothing left to say," the band has taken us through an emotional wringer.  It ranked as my #21 song.

Host's privilege:  It was, perhaps, the biggest disappointment of this countdown seeing Static Acts not make the top 50.  Static Acts was my #2 song on PS and my #10 song overall.  It came close, finishing at #54.  However, it only made 8 lists.  Props to Zoom E for having it at #2.

[romdrums]

9. Nothing Left to Say (6).  Such a great song, and really fun to play on drums.  The band is really firing on all cylinders here.  The fact that it didn't make all 19 lists is a bit of a surprise.  To me, this is a fantastic closer for what is a fantastic album.

[Lethean]

I had Nothing Left to Say at #47.  This is one of the first Fates Warning songs that I heard.  I can't say it's the best song to use to introduce someone to FW.  I thought it was a beautiful song but had to hear some more stuff to really dig in.

[pg1067]

9. Nothing Left to Say (6).  Such a great song, and really fun to play on drums.  The band is really firing on all cylinders here.  The fact that it didn't make all 19 lists is a bit of a surprise.  To me, this is a fantastic closer for what is a fantastic album.

It was on the first 9 lists I received and then missing on 3 straight lists (and 4 of 5).

Interestingly, though, none of the guesses about the three songs on every list mentioned NLTS.  FWIW, if I were on the other side of this, I'm almost positive I would not have correctly predicted the three songs on every list.

I'm now wondering if everyone feels confident about what the remaining 8 songs are.

[TAC]

9 Nothing Left to Say (Perfect Symmetry – 5)

Appeared on 15 of 19 entries
Top 10 finishes: 8
Highest Ranking: 1 (sfam2112)

I had Nothing Left To Say at #2!!! Geez, I thought I'd be the high ranker on it.

What a great song and Ray crushes the epic climax.


50  Prelude To Ruin                                                                            NR
49  Damnation                                                                             Handful Of Doubt
48  APSOG IX (Stayed Up Late One Night)                     Chasing Time
47  Through Different Eyes                                           APSOG III
46  APSOG VIII (Instrumental)                                     White Flag
45                                                                              APSOG IV
44  Traveller In Time                                                    Firefly
43                                                                              The Destination Onward
42  Pale Fire                                                                Left Here
41                                                                              The Road Goes On Forever
40  Outside Looking In                                                 Island In The Stream
39  The Longest Shadow Of The Day                             APSOG V (Murder In Munich)
38  Face The Fear                                                        Part Of The Machine
37                                                                              Wish
36  Another Perfect Day                                               APSOG VII
35  The Apparition                                                       Seven Stars
34                                                                              Eye To Eye
33  Buried Alive                                                           At Fates Hands
32  Silent Cries                                                            APSOG XII
31  Don't Follow Me                                                     From The Rooftops
30  Giant's Lore
29
28
27
26
25  Valley Of The Dolls
24  And Yet It Moves
23
22  APSOG XI (Do You Think That I)
21  One
20  Pirates Of The Underground
19  The Ghosts Of Home
18
17  Exodus
16  Epitaph
15
14
13  The Strand
12
11  APSOG VI (Turn Back All The Years)
10  Shelter Me
9  Guardian
8  Kyrie Eleison
7
6  Down To The Wire
5
4  Something For Nothing
3  We Only Say Goodbye
2  Nothing Left To Say
1

[romdrums]

9. Nothing Left to Say (6).  Such a great song, and really fun to play on drums.  The band is really firing on all cylinders here.  The fact that it didn't make all 19 lists is a bit of a surprise.  To me, this is a fantastic closer for what is a fantastic album.

It was on the first 9 lists I received and then missing on 3 straight lists (and 4 of 5).

Interestingly, though, none of the guesses about the three songs on every list mentioned NLTS.  FWIW, if I were on the other side of this, I'm almost positive I would not have correctly predicted the three songs on every list.

I'm now wondering if everyone feels confident about what the remaining 8 songs are.

I think I am.  It largely depends on the order.  But, I'd be shocked, SHOCKED!, if my number one and number two aren't in there.

[TAC]

I have no idea.

[pg1067]

Fun fact:  2 of the 19 lists had two songs in the top 10 that didn't make the countdown; 7 other lists had one top 10 song that didn't make it.

[jammindude]

I’m 99% positive about 1&2…the rest I’m not sure about.

[jammindude]

Fun fact:  2 of the 19 lists had two songs in the top 10 that didn't make the countdown; 7 other lists had one top 10 song that didn't make it.

I’m one of the 7 for sure. I had Prelude to Ruin at #9 and I’m still reeling from the fact that it didn’t make the cut. Of my remaining 9, 5 are already in and the other 4 would be even bigger shocks if they weren’t coming.

[The Realm]

9 Nothing Left to Say (Perfect Symmetry – 5)

Appeared on 15 of 19 entries
Top 10 finishes: 8
Highest Ranking: 1 (sfam2112)

Nothing Left To Say - another top 10 song revealed and another one I didn't rank. This song was never in the running to be in my top 50, and while it is a good song I am just not a big fan of this album overall.

As far as what songs are left, I have no idea. I have 5 of my own top 10 still to be revealed, the other 5 revealed all made it so it looks like 3 of my remaining top 10 will make it at least. Phew!

[wolfking]

I have no idea.

This.  Haven't put much thought into it but could guess a few of them I suppose.

[wolfking]

I had NLTS at 36.  I don't know, it's a great song but I guess I never really understood the high amount of praise it gets. 

[Zoom E]

Nothing Left to Say is one of only two songs from Perfect Symmetry that didn't make my top 50.

[nick_z]

Nothing Left To Say - My rank: #6

I absolutely love the initial riff. I remember the (only!) time I saw FW live in 1995 as support for Dream Theater, they opened their show with that riff (they didn't play the song, unfortunately). It sounded positively ferocious. A lot happening in a (relatively) short time, it's practically a three/four part suite. Fantastic song and, um, perfect closer for Perfect Symmetry.

Speaking of which...

Today we bid adieu to Perfect Symmetry.

Ha! And...

It was, perhaps, the biggest disappointment of this countdown seeing Static Acts not make the top 50.

Oh no 

I had it at #15, and I could've ranked higher, really. Sad (and very surprised) not to see it in the top 50. Such a killer song.

[nick_z]

Fun fact:  2 of the 19 lists had two songs in the top 10 that didn't make the countdown; 7 other lists had one top 10 song that didn't make it.

Well, there are 8 songs left, and I have 7 in my top 10 that haven't been revealed. I think, let's see, 5 of those are almost surely going to make it, and 2 are very possibly going to make it, but not so sure. Now that we know Static Acts didn't make it, there's one remaining song in my 20-11 that hasn't been revealed yet and might be one of the remaining eight. Very curious to see...

[Glasser]

Fun fact:  2 of the 19 lists had two songs in the top 10 that didn't make the countdown; 7 other lists had one top 10 song that didn't make it.

Well, there are 8 songs left, and I have 7 in my top 10 that haven't been revealed. I think, let's see, 5 of those are almost surely going to make it, and 2 are very possibly going to make it, but not so sure. Now that we know Static Acts didn't make it, there's one remaining song in my 20-11 that hasn't been revealed yet and might be one of the remaining eight. Very curious to see...

Really? Just, wow.

[Glasser]

I revisited newer FW. I just can't get into anything after Disconnected. I do like Another Perfect Day from FWX but that's it. It bums me out honestly.

[jammindude]

I revisited newer FW. I just can't get into anything after Disconnected. I do like Another Perfect Day from FWX but that's it. It bums me out honestly.

I always thought FWX was very uneven. DIADL was a home run for me initially…but didn’t age very well. TOF on the other hand…

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

Need to play a bit of catch up again.

Valley of the Dolls - Had this at #23. Love that opening riff! Then the vocal melodies and phrasing is spot on for me 

Damnation - Had this at #72. It's a decent song with some really cool sections and a lot of good ideas. It just never feels like those ideas were molded together well enough.

Giant's Lore (Heart of Winter) - I was surprised this didn't make the top 50. I had it at #12. Just a giant of a song (see what I did there? ). Love the the way the drums weave throughout the song and the almost doomy nature of the song. Then there's the masterful guitar solo in the middle that perfectly bridges the two halves of the song.

Prelude to Ruin - I had this at #31 and I probably could have rated it higher, but the goofy spoken word part always brings me out of the song. The rest of it is top notch Arch era goodness.

Traveler in Time - This was my #26. Again, I'm a little surprised it didn't make the top 50. This was a pretty big statement by the band, the first song after NoB and what an improvement!

Epitaph - Yes, Exodus is better, but this is still a masterpiece. I had it at #14. This shifts through so many moods and awesome melodies and riffs throughout its 11 minutes. Just a tour de force.

Through Different Eyes - My #17 song and another of what I call "Classic Fates Warning" songs. How could you not like this song. Great driving drums, fantastic melodies, and Ray doing what Ray does best. That opening guitar line is iconic in my opinion too.

One - This was at #41 on my list. Great driving riffs here and some cool vocal harmonizations. Nothing amazing though.

From the Rooftops - Just barely missed my top 50, coming in at #52. It's a good song, nothing more. ToF is an album that is better than the sum of its parts.

The Ghosts of Home - Just barely made my top 50 at #50. Not quite the best song on ToF, but close. The intro takes too long before the song really starts going and it isn't even a satisfying buildup. They seemed to have lost that ability after FWX. The rest of the song is pretty great though. Sidenote: the part starting at about 2:15 sounds a little bit like In the Presence of Enemies.....maybe it's just me...

Nothing Left to Say - Man I thought for sure I'd be the highest ranker on this song. I had it at #7. Just an amazing Prog classic and epic album closer. For the most part Fates Warning sure knows how to write an album closer 

[wolfking]

I revisited newer FW. I just can't get into anything after Disconnected. I do like Another Perfect Day from FWX but that's it. It bums me out honestly.

Not even Theories of Flight?

[Glasser]

I revisited newer FW. I just can't get into anything after Disconnected. I do like Another Perfect Day from FWX but that's it. It bums me out honestly.

Not even Theories of Flight?

It didn't stick with me. I'm still spinning a few just to see if anything clicks.

[WardySI]

NR for me either good song but playing it now while reading comments and Chasing Time follows and is a way better song IMO...

I am confident all my Top10 will have featured in the countdown only about 4 so far that haven't (holds breath)...

I revisited newer FW. I just can't get into anything after Disconnected. I do like Another Perfect Day from FWX but that's it. It bums me out honestly.

Not even Theories of Flight?

Theories would be my first suggestion too.  So far as this Countdown has gone have been drawn back into discovering some Arch and APSOG but while preparing for the Countdown, as much a fan as I already was if their last album LDGN was I was surprised at just 'how' good it was. 

An incredibly strong album   

[Samsara]

Nothing Left to Say was #32 for me. I love it, but perhaps I haven't given it enough love. I'll have to revisit.

[pg1067]

I revisited newer FW. I just can't get into anything after Disconnected. I do like Another Perfect Day from FWX but that's it. It bums me out honestly.

I always thought FWX was very uneven. DIADL was a home run for me initially…but didn’t age very well. TOF on the other hand…

Glasser, I totally get your feelings about FWX.  I feel almost the same about Disconnected.  Glad to hear that you're not giving up on Darkness and Theories.  Darkness clicked with me right away.  I feel it underperformed in the countdown, but I ranked five of its songs in my personal top 50.  Theories took quite a while to click with me, but it had six songs in my top 50.

[pg1067]

"If you skate, you would be great if you could make a figure eight."

8 Leave the Past Behind (Parallels – 5)



Appeared on 16 of 19 entries
Top 10 finishes: 5
Highest Ranking: 2 (devieira73)

I’m really surprised this song made the top 10.  I had it at #31 on my countdown, so I think it’s a really good song, but it’s only my #4 song from Parallels.  Coming off Perfect Symmetry, I wondered what Fates would do to follow up.  I LOVE the way this song starts (with the line being reprised in The Road Goes on Forever).  The song starts with an alternating 5-6 pattern, which invoked fond memories of the adroit time signature usage on the prior album.  It certainly more accessible than most songs from Symmetry, though.  Solid chorus (although I’m not a fan of the bass line in the chorus).  Solid guitar solos, with the second one (Frank’s, I think) being particularly strong.

[Samsara]

I had Leave the Past Behind at #10.

Really great opening track and a good anthem. To me, Parallels will always be the band's crowing achievement. Taking their complex sound, making it more accessible, but not losing any of their integrity or dumbing down their sound. It's very akin to Queensr˙che's Empire in that way.

Anyway, great song and one of my favorites from the band.

[TAC]

8 Leave the Past Behind (Parallels – 5)

Appeared on 16 of 19 entries
Top 10 finishes: 5
Highest Ranking: 2 (devieira73)

I had Leave The Past Behind at #45. It is the 6th of 6 songs from parallels I ranked. I can't believe it's this high, honestly.


50  Prelude To Ruin                                          NR
49  Damnation                                                            Handful Of Doubt
48  APSOG IX (Stayed Up Late One Night)                     Chasing Time
47  Through Different Eyes                                           APSOG III
46  APSOG VIII (Instrumental)                                     White Flag
45  Leave The Past Behind                                            APSOG IV
44  Traveller In Time                                                    Firefly
43                                                                              The Destination Onward
42  Pale Fire                                                                Left Here
41                                                                              The Road Goes On Forever
40  Outside Looking In                                                 Island In The Stream
39  The Longest Shadow Of The Day                             APSOG V (Murder In Munich)
38  Face The Fear                                                        Part Of The Machine
37                                                                              Wish
36  Another Perfect Day                                               APSOG VII
35  The Apparition                                                       Seven Stars
34                                                                              Eye To Eye
33  Buried Alive                                                           At Fates Hands
32  Silent Cries                                                            APSOG XII
31  Don't Follow Me                                                     From The Rooftops
30  Giant's Lore
29
28
27
26
25  Valley Of The Dolls
24  And Yet It Moves
23
22  APSOG XI (Do You Think That I)
21  One
20  Pirates Of The Underground
19  The Ghosts Of Home
18
17  Exodus
16  Epitaph
15
14
13  The Strand
12
11  APSOG VI (Turn Back All The Years)
10  Shelter Me
9  Guardian
8  Kyrie Eleison
7
6  Down To The Wire
5
4  Something For Nothing
3  We Only Say Goodbye
2  Nothing Left To Say
1

[Lethean]

I didn't have this one ranked.  Nice song, just not one of my favorties from Fates.

[HOF]

Leave the Past Behind really is a great album opener.

[nick_z]

Leave the Past Behind - My rank: #4

Gosh, I love this song. Thought I might be the highest ranker on this one, but guess not...devieira beat me to it 

Sets the tone for the album so well...first tip-toeing its way in with the soft beginning and then going all-in, showing everyone's amazing playing and songwriting skills. I mean, those guitars (including the bass!)...and the drumming! What more can be said? The verses are super-lush and the pre-chorus is one of my absolute favorite FW moments. As is the outro to the song. The clean arpeggiated guitars and the bass lines have a bit of a Marillion vibe to them...thinking Seasons End or whereabouts. Just masterful.