Album Review: A Pleasant Shade of Gray

By: Paul Holloway (PJHOLLOW@MECHANICAL.Watstar.UWaterloo.CA)
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Fates Warning - A Pleasant Shade of Gray
Metal Blade
by Paul Holloway
special to Imprint

Fates Warning's last album, `94's Inside Out, was a satisfying if adventureless effort.  
The band had begun to stagnate a bit, songs sounding more and more like stabs at their 
fleeting commercial recognition.  Since then, guitarist Frank Aresti and original bassist 
Joe Dibiase parted ways with band, leaving guitarist Jim Matheos as the only original 
member from the `84 lineup.  Despite the odds, and the critics who said Fates were 
beginning to sound more predictable than progressive, the band has released their 8th 
album, A Pleasant Shade of Gray.  Clocking in at 53 minutes, this one song, 12 part 
effort stands as Fates Warning's finest release to date.

A Pleasant Shade of Gray is a complex exhibition of instrumental prowess and driving 
melodies.  While most metal bases itself on speed and volume, Fates builds layer upon 
layer of heavy, restrained, odd-timed playing.  They have never been a band to take 
themselves anything less than completely seriously, and it's more evident here than ever. 
Producer extraordinaire Terry Brown, who worked on Parallels in `91 and countless 
Rush albums, has molded a soundscape that's strikingly gray.  The band has returned to 
alot of experimentation, something that hasn't really been shown since `89's Perfect 
Symmetry.  There's some industrial influences, with triggered drums and sound samples 
scattered all over, and alot of keyboard. Ex-Dream Theater keyboardist Kevin Moore 
adds all the piano/synth work, most of which was originally written by Jim Matheos.  Drummer 
Mark Zonder has again proven himself as one of the most intricate percussionists in rock 
music.  Whacked out time signatures are one thing (playing along with anyone as 
syncopated as Matheos requires just a little more than most of today's toe-counters could 
handle), but combining it with cymbal work this tricky is something to be heard. Vocalist 
Ray Alder has never sounded better.  His range has decreased somewhat through the 
years, but is more than made up for by an uncanny ability to sing with so much emotion.  
Rounding out the lineup is ex-Armoured Saint bassist Joey Vera, who's playing style is a 
little more overstated than previous bassist Dibiase, but sounds right at home.

Not enough can be said for Fates Warning and A Pleasant Shade of Gray, and not alot 
has.  They've managed to play 13 long years, ducking almost all media attention and 
commercial success.  And if a metal band this tight and this innovative somehow slips 
through the cracks into the underground, album after album, fine.  Hidden away from 
media monsters, Fates Warning will hopefully continue to release music this rare for a 
long time.