Album Review: Engine (Self Titled)
Release Date: September 21, 1999 (Metal Blade Records)

By: Michael Kizer (mike@ivorygate.com) ~ July 17, 1999
Webmaster for "Island In The Stream" ~ www.ivorygate.com/fw
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* This review may be reproduced as long as the above credits are included. *
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After twelve years with the godfathers of progressive metal, Fates Warning
vocalist Ray Alder releases his first solo album under the band name "Engine".
Don't expect this album to be in the same style as Fates Warning or some 
typical "lead singer solo album" with a bunch of vocal dominated ballads. On 
this album, Ray stretches out into a more aggressive metal vein than that of
Fates Warning, and in a totally different vocal style as well. Yes, you can
still tell that it is Ray singing, but you have never heard him sound like 
this before. If you have seen Fates Warning live before and seen them cover an
old Judas Priest or Armored Saint tune, then you might have an idea of the 
intensity of his singing on this album. The songs on this album are filled 
with heavy guitars courtesy of Bernie Versailles (Agent Steel), solid rhythm 
work of Joey Vera on bass (Fates Warning, Armored Saint) and Pete Parada on
drums (Face To Face) and Ray's powerfully aggressive vocals and bittersweet
lyrics. This is an intense album that screams to be played loud, so warn the 
neighbors. I should also mention that the production and sound on this album
is great, produced and engineered by Joey Vera and mixed by Bill Metoyer.

When you first play this CD, be prepared for a "Monster", which is also the 
first track on the album. Heavy, in your face guitars back Ray's aggressive
vocal approach, which clues you in to the fact that this is going to be a 
different type of album. The second track "Alone", turns it down a notch, but 
just a notch. This track has great guitar riffs and an unforgettable chorus, 
you'll be hard pressed to get this tune out of your head. The next track 
"Falling Star", mellows out a bit to allow for some great melancholy lyrics,
	"Is this how it ends
	 A box of photographs in the closet
	 Is this how it ends
	 To fly away right in front of me
	 Is this how it ends
	 A falling star crashes in the ocean
	 Is this how it ends
	 It falls apart right in front of me"
Then it hits you like a hammer, driving home the sense of loss and regret in the 
rest of the song. Then we pick up the pace once again with "Taste", with Ray 
letting loose some screams and powerfully clean singing that proves yet again
that he is one of the best vocalists out there, bar-none. The next track, 
"I Don't Need" has Bernie laying down some awesome guitar riffs to go with
Ray's angst filled lyrics. I have to mention at this point that you should
really pay attention to the killer bass work that Joey lays down on this track
and throughout the entire album. Like I said, play this thing loud for full
effect. The next track "Teach Me", has Ray playing call and response between 
his aggressive and clean vocals to great effect in the chorus, with the great
line, "I love it when you teach me how to hate you". Then "Bear Your Cross"
takes us on a journey into the painful memories of abandonment, similar in 
lyrical feeling to Queensr˙che's "Bridge", but musically it is a heavier tune 
with Ray delivering a great emotional performance. "Tree Of Life", the next song
is a moderately paced tune, examining our place in life at this point in time.
Then "You're Awake", the last song, jumps in and makes sure that you are. The 
very hard and heavy guitars really drive this tune into your head and finish the 
album off with a bang.

The album, which clocks in at forty three and a half minutes, is very different
album than most people would expect from Ray, but then why do the same thing he
has been doing in Fates Warning for the last dozen years? Engine represents a 
nice change of pace, and a great heavy album that doesn't lose focus on the 
strength of the songs and melodies. If you are a Fates Warning fan, you need 
this album to hear a different side to Ray, and if your tastes point more on the 
heavy side, then this album will definitely satisfy your needs. Look for it in 
stores on September 21, 1999.