This is the 4th studio album released in ’88 by these US pioneer Prog metallers, and it was the first to feature Ray Alder on vocals. Way before Dream Theater were into their stride, Fates Warning had come up with this style, which I would say is a cross between Iron Maiden and Queensryche. The earlier albums are a lot more straight up metal with a very NWOBHM influence, but this was the first album of theirs which was worthy of my attention.
Side 2 is taken up with the monumental The Ivory Gate Of Dreams, which is an absolute epic track split into 8 parts. When you listen to this track you realize how much of an influence they have been in the scene. Of course they can metal it out with the best of them as the thrash of Silent Cries shows – Metallica would be proud of this one.
This is a great repress by Metal Blade complete with a poster and it sounds great. I’ll admit I was a bit worried it wouldn’t be so good, as some of there reissues are terrible pressings, especially the KingsX ones – some of those are very noisy. Anyway, a good album by a great band. Hard to believe this is 33 years old.
8.5/10 from The Grooveman.
