LIVE OVER EUROPE

Fates Warning is one of the bigger names in the progressive metal genre and I bought this triple live lp to get to know the band. This release has been getting some great reviews and it is easy to see why; it's a well recorded live album spread over three vinyls, giving a good overview of the career of the band. Fates Warning has the sound of mid-eighties British metal band, without any glam or pomp. Riff based, thick leads and fairly melodic. The twin guitars give the band a thick sound, whereas the absence of keyboards gives the music a natural rock feel. Ray Alder his voice has matured a lot and though he doesn't sing his highest notes like before, he does have a warm and powerful voice. This the type of professional group that executes perfectly what they have in mind, giving perfect performances of all tracks here. However, I myself can't help being a bit unmoved by this band. There are few moment that stand out, that really grasp me or are daring compared to the other tracks. The band started with a heavy dose of Iron Maiden influences, but there's little of that musical story-telling type of song- writing here. Furthermore, Fates Warning doesn't come across as being that much of a progressive band. Not in a way a band like Voivod or even Threshold is. Perhaps it's just not my taste. My personal verdict is a three star rating, but let me say it is probably worth more to fans of the band and progressive metal in general. Another very solid vinyl release by InsideOut.