Fates Warning - Awaken The Guardian (1986)

 Back from the summer holidays, alive and well, we arrive with some old school stuff, but still progressive and really far away from their time! It's Awaken The Guardian, by Fates Warning, a great album, that drew my attention from the first time I listened to Fata Morgana and Guardian, with its unique high pitched vocals of -who else- John Arch and the progressive compositions made by Jim Matheos and the rest of the band.
 Being prepared of what you are going to listen to from the previous album, called The Spectre Within, you would be probably ready to hear some "hard" stuff, followed by John's voice and those endless technical solos that could blow your mind. On the contrary, though, Awaken the Guardian is a more melodic album, an album much easier to listen to and understand its compositions. Here's where the opinions matter the most, as a lot of people would say that their previous masterpiece was way harder and maybe better than this one. Still those two albums remain the most successful and complete albums of  Fates Warning, at least with John Arch on vocals.
 In more detail, the artwork is pretty much related with the previous album's and you could understand that by reading the lyrics. Talking about the lyrics, I've got to say that most of them are a bit confusing, in a way you could find out about what they want to say and what they want to express, but not the exact idea. In my opinion, the lyrics are a drawback for the album, but that's not an important matter, I still love it!
 Concluding, I got to say that Fates Warning made a great job for this album and this can be easily proven to you just by listening to it. One time is enough, I'm sure that all the Heavy Metal lovers will be back for more of it, as one or more songs of this album will get stuck in your head for days!
Support the band, go see them live or buy their albums, better in vinyl keeping the old ways alive!
Find info here: Metallum Page
Download here (whole discography) : Rockbox