After a string of albums that
established their legacy as one of the titans of progressive metal,
Fates Warning found themselves at a crossroads. They had established
a sound that was entirely their own, one that blended challenging
music with accessibility, delicately making intelligent music that
could still cater to fans who preferred not to delve into the
intricacies of the compositions. It would have been easy to continue
down this path, turning out albums that satisfied their fans and
maintained their standing as a leader of the progressive scene. But
Fates Warning took a different turn, having taken that sound as far
as it could go, using their album as the jumping off point for
another reinvention of their sound. The spirit of progressiveness
compelled them to explore new territory.
The result was "A Pleasant Shade
Of Gray", Fates Warning's first concept album, an hour-long
composition traversing new textural and emotional levels. The
unnamed segments serve as movements, directing the larger piece as it
shifts and swings around the narrative being woven. Nothing on the
album approached the commercial appeal of their previous works, a
deliberate step utilized to ensure the album would work as a single
entity. Now, a generation removed, Metal Blade is reissuing the album as a three disc experience.
"A Pleasant Shade Of Gray"
begins in the darkness, immediately a different beast than anything
Fates Warning had done before. As the opening sounds give way to the
metal gambit that is "Part II", the shift is readily
apparent. A mix of industrial percussion sounds and striking
keyboard, the movement is a reconfigured, uglier take on the
traditional Fates Warning sound, sounding like the band in a
nightmare. Likewise, the copious harmonics scattered throughout
"Part III" are disconcerting, keeping the sound alien
enough to be at arm's reach.
"Part IV" is a brooding
movement, a slow burn with no desire for instant gratification. Ray
Alder croons his way through the song, with gorgeous harmonies
layered atop his voice, before Jim Matheos finally relents and
introduces the first standard prog metal riff. The sensation is
jarring, having been held-off for so long. The sensation continues
through "Part V", whose chorus shifts time just enough to
be unsettling, sounding misplaces although still befitting the song.
"Part VI" may be the most satisfying, an extended movement
that builds from a lone bass-line to a sweeping sense of grandeur
with Alder's most impassioned delivery. As throughout the album,
former Dream Theater keyboardist Kevin Moore is integral to
establishing the cold sound of the album, taking the music to places
guitars cannot travel.
The emotional centerpiece sits in "Part
IX", the most accessible movement of the piece. Layered with
acoustic guitars, it is a tender ballad that allows Alder's vocal to
carry the weight, coupled with a melody that allows him to stretch
his voice for effect, not to rise above the clamor of the band.
Not every aspect works as well. "A
Pleasant Shade Of Gray" is a single piece of music, but aside
from a reprise of the chorus from "Part V" in "Part
VII", little ties the movements together as a whole. The album
could just as easily be considered twelve separate parts with little
of the impact being lost. It makes no impact on the music, but makes
the experience slightly hollow, as though the result of false
advertising.
Above all else, "A Pleasant Shade
Of Gray" is a masterclass in establishing a mood. Rarely does a
metal album sound as utterly detached from the world without also
distancing itself from the melody that makes it music instead of
noise. It is not an easy piece to listen to, nor is it always
enjoyable, but it is rewarding. Matheos shows a deft songwriting
touch, showing a commitment to minimalism that few progressive metal
bands could approach. The music is not always complicated, but it
carries with it depth that more notes would not be able to convey.
"A Pleasant Shade Of Gray" may not be Fates Warning's most
loved album, but it is their most accomplished.
And now we can all relive the experience again.
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