Artist: Fates Warning Album: No Exit

Year: 1988
Duration: 40:06

A Deep Dive into Fates Warning's No Exit Album: A Review for Music Lovers

There are albums that stand out in the music industry because of their innovation and uniqueness, pushing the boundaries of their respective genres and inspiring other artists to do the same. No Exit, the fourth studio album from the progressive metal band Fates Warning could easily fit into this category. This masterpiece by Fates Warning showed the prowess of the band members and their rich experience in the music industry. In this blog post, we will conduct a critical review of the No Exit album, including a sneak peek into the band's history and the highpoints of the album.

To understand Fates Warning, it is essential to know the band's early history. The band came into existence in 1982, which was the peak of the new wave of British heavy metal. Still, this American band had a unique sound that expanded the metal progressive genre's horizons. Fates Warning band's lineup changed a couple of times, but the core group remained with Jim Matheos on guitars, the voice of Ray Alder, drummer Mark Zonder, and bassist Joey Vera.

No Exit, released in 1988, can be classified as a landmark album for the progressive metal genre. From the first song, No Exit, the listener is locked into the rhythm and melody of the album. It immediately sets the tempo for the album, and the balanced use of keyboards and varied guitar riffs keeps the listener's attention focused. The deep lyrics of the song add to the overall appeal of how this band can convey a message not just through music, but also words.

One of the best songs on this album is Anarchy Divine. The highlight of this song comes in at 3:14, where the vocals and bass guitar merge, creating a smooth and enjoyable beat that captivates the listener. The lyrics create a paradox that emphasizes the necessity of chaos for a better world, making it far from a simple song. It is simply genius.

Another breath-taking song on the album is Silent Cries. The song opens with keys traveling through different octaves, creating a dramatic entrance into the rest of the song. The lyrics of the song highlight the experience of a solitary individual and the cries that echo in silence. With a range of notes not found in many metal songs, this song stands out.

Despite the numerous highpoints, Fates Warning's No Exit album has its lowlights. One of these lowlights is the song The Eleventh Hour. The song has an unstructured arrangement and falls short compared to the rest of the album. Although the song has technically sound musicianship, it lacks the overall appeal of the other tracks.

Fates Warning's No Exit album is a powerful testament to the band's knowledge and experience in the metal progressive genre. Drawing inspiration from other bands like Iron Maiden and Rush, Fates Warning created a sound that pushed the genre to new heights. The use of keyboards alongside diverse guitar riffs and intellectual lyrics made the album a captivating experience. Although the album had its low points, songs such as No Exit, Anarchy Divine, and Silent Cries will remain forever embedded to music fans' memory. As a critic, this album deserves a solid rating of 9 out of 10.

Fates Warning's No Exit album is a powerful testament to the band's knowledge and experience in the metal progressive genre. Drawing inspiration from other bands like Iron Maiden and Rush, Fates Warning created a sound that pushed the genre to new heights. The use of keyboards alongside diverse guitar riffs and intellectual lyrics made the album a captivating experience. Although the album had its low points, songs such as No Exit, Anarchy Divine, and Silent Cries will remain forever embedded to music fans' memory. As a critic, this album deserves a solid rating of 9 out of 10.