Fates Warning
Darkness In A Different Light

A monument of progressive metal, Fates Warning has returned. Finally. Nine long years had passed since the last release "FWX," followed only by the "Live In Athens" in 2005. Then came a more or less prolific period for the band's various members in their side projects. The mind goes mainly to a very interesting idea by guitarist Jim Matheos and former keyboardist Kevin Moore, the OSI, who mixed prog, metal, and electronic to create a world not easily identifiable. A moment of rest, then, with few updates and no certainty about what Fates would do in their future. Then the announcement of a new work to be released in the autumn of 2013 and several changes in the band's line-up: Mark Zonder out on drums and Bobby Jarzombek (Halford, Riot, Sebastian Bach) in, along with guitarist Frank Aresti (a former FW member) joining the dear old Jim Matheos.

The Connecticut band has been one of the reference stars in the progressive metal landscape of the last three decades. For many, they codified the coordinates of the genre, those complex and grandiose compositions that would become the pride of Dream Theater. As a band capable of adapting to changes, Fates have carved their path: from the epic beginnings with John Arch behind the microphone, to the period of "classic" prog (1988-94) to landing on more intimate and reflective shores starting with "A Pleasant Shade Of Gray," which is almost unanimously considered their masterpiece.

In the face of a crystal-clear career, with almost always positive works, true peaks, and some dips, judging the new creation of such a musical entity is no simple task, especially considering the band's silence period. For this and for the usual "calm" needed to analyze a progressive metal release, the advice is always the same: listen to the CD multiple times. "Darkness In A Different Light" doesn't escape and induces us to listen multiple times to savor all the various nuances of each single piece. We are facing an immediate album, decidedly accessible and "not very intricate" despite the proposed genre. Moreover, Fates Warning have never fallen into the soloist self-indulgences that so distinguish other names in the scene. The new work is no exception and presents us with the usual impactful prog, based on melody, a melancholy undertone, and the extraordinary voice of Ray Alder, a real guarantee.

The general sensation is that the crystalline production, while highlighting the sounds, also leaves a perception of "plastic" that makes the compositions much more static than they actually are. Mannerism is the term that more than any other could explain this impression that unfortunately pervades the entire CD. This can be summarized as the only true major flaw of DIADL, otherwise characterized by the usual technical and compositional mastery of Matheos and associates. The two guitars paint and Alder's voice finishes, giving us from the start intense and well-executed tracks such as "One Thousand Fires" and "Firefly," continuing with one of the best pieces of the album, "I Am," a perfectly balanced song in crescendo, with a catchy chorus and good bass work from Joey Vera. Also interesting is the vaguely post-grunge atmosphere the piece seems to emanate. Overall, the band's eleventh effort is of a "muscular" mold, with reflective moments relegated to a secondary role. The first is "Lighthouse," perhaps the only real track on the album that has the scent of a filler. An "acid ballad" with few ideas that slips away without leaving a trace. Another reflective moment is given by the perpetual changing of the final suite "And Yet It Moves," with its acoustic initial arpeggio recalling medieval minstrels, before a new slowdown in the final part. Note how when the songwriting becomes more complex, the signature is always Matheos'. Among the positive notes, "O Chloroform" should also be mentioned, a sort of fusion between metal and unexpected space/psych-like openings.

Undoubted technical and compositional skills, genre aptitude, clear ideas, excellent musical performance. Everything that was asked of Fates Warning is punctually present in the new work. Some uncertainties here and there, the latent feeling of a work too calculated and perhaps little "emotional," but overall "Darkness In A Different Light" is a great comeback album of an entity with undisputed importance in the progressive metal landscape.

Three and a half stars.

1. "One Thousand Fires" (7:20)
2. "Firefly" (4:57)
3. "Desire" (3:58)
4. "Falling" (1:35)
5. "I Am" (5:06)
6. "Lighthouse" (5:22)
7. "Into The Black" (5:07)
8. "Kneel And Obey" (5.05)
9. "O Chloroform" (4:14)
10. "And Yet It Moves" (14:05)