Album Review: Disconnected

By: Tom Swoboda (tom_swoboda@compuserve.com)
=============================================================================

     Wow.  Fates Warning's new album, Disconnected, is out in Europe now, 
won't be out in the States until July 25, however Metal Blade was nice 
enough to mail it out to American fans just before the European release 
date.  That is, until retailers bitched about it, but Metal Blade honored 
the orders it took before they rescinded the offer, and so my copy of 
Disconnected came in the mail today. Wow.
     
     1) This is the heaviest record Fates has recorded since No Exit in 1988.
     2) It's still very much progressive rock, mellower than the new Dream
        Theater, but I think it puts Fates back on the map as a heavy metal band.
     3) Kevin Moore takes a much more active role here than he has in the past 
        with Fates.  However, he and Joey Vera aren't really credited as full
        members; their names are in much smaller type below Ray Alder, Jim 
        Matheos and Mark Zonder.  Ray, Jim, and Mark (Mark has--gasp!--short 
        hair!) are the only ones pictured in the group photo.
     4) Ray Alder writes lyrics for two tracks on his own, and collaborates
        with Matheos for one lyric.  This is first time in the twelve years 
        since he joined the band that Alder has joined the songwriting team, 
        and the man can write good lyrics; see his side project with Joey Vera, 
        Engine, for more in that department.
     Anyhow, the tracks are:

1) disconnected part 1--An instrumental leading into...

2) One--This song kicks off with a riff the likes of which hasn't been heard 
since...well, No Exit. :) It goes into an atmospheric first verse, jumping
back into the "recent" Fates sound except for the riff playing faintly in the 
background.  It kicks back in at the end of the first verse, and goes into what
IMO is the strongest chorus Fates Warning have ever done.  Simply an excellent 
track.

3) So--IMHO it should be called "So Tired," but that's the artist's prerogative.  
Not a bad track, but much mellower than One.  Best part is the keyboards from 
Kevin Moore.

4) Pieces of Me--Again, Fates are back on the map as a heavy metal band.  There 
are even some *techno* elements here, which turned me off when I first read of 
it in a review, but it actually works really well. Strong chorus here, too.  
This sounds a little like Engine, but not overly so.  Zonder is putting on a
drum clinic, as always.

5) Something from Nothing--This eleven minute track didn't make an impression 
with me at the start, but then it goes  into a long atmospheric part that manages 
to be atmospheric *and* interesting.  Normally this would put me to sleep, but 
they really bring it off masterfully.  Nearing the five minute mark, it kicks
in and gets heavy, goes into a strong chorus, and the end of my first listen felt 
very different than when the song first started.  Great song.

6) Still Remains--Sixteen minute epic!  WOO-HOO! Like the previous track it starts 
slow, gets busy after a couple minutes and is absolutely an ingenious song.  If 
you liked The Eleventh Hour, you'll *love* Still Remains.  It simply has to be 
heard.  Wow.

7) disconnected part 2--A continuation of the first track serves as the outro.

Summary: Get it.  If you're in Europe, now, if you're in the States then as soon 
as humanly possible.  If you were a little disappointed with Perfect Symmetry, 
Parallels, and Inside Out (though they had their moments) but thought A Pleasant 
Shade of Gray was a step in the right direction, you *need* Disconnected.  
Arguably their best album.  
***** out of *****.

--T.J.