The quartet of vocalist Ray Alder, bass player Joey Vera (Armored Saint), drummer Bobby Jarzombek (Halford, Sebastian Back, Zierler) and only remaining original member guitarist and composer Jim Matheos has recorded an amazing, timeless progressive metal album that has all the trademarks we\u2019ve come to love from them over the years.<\/p>\n
They have somehow incorporated parts and sounds from all eras of their impressive career into one sensational melting pot. A track like \u201cThe Ghosts of Home\u201d has some strong ties to the transitional and first album Ray Alder sang on \u201cNo Exit\u201d, and \u201cThe Light and Shade of Things\u201d bears some resemblance with things Jim wrote for albums like \u201cPerfect Symmetry\u201d and \u201cA Pleasant Shade of Gray\u201d, while \u201cSeven Stars\u201d has the connections to albums like \u201cParallels\u201d and \u201cInside Out\u201d. They have not forgotten the more cold and more modern, bordering to industrial influences from \u201cDisconnected\u201d or \u201cFWX\u201d, just listen to \u201cLike Stars Our Eyes Have Seen\u201d.<\/p>\n
The album kicks off with a song that sort of introduces everything that\u2019s to follow; Jim\u2019s\u00a0 guitars introduces us to the band, followed by Ray\u2019s strong vocals and the album just takes off from there, Frank Aresti even performs a guitar solo on the opener as well as on \u201cWhite Flag\u201d. The album lives thru Jim\u2019s excellent riffs, song writing and guitar soli as well as Ray Alder\u2019s outstanding voice; he has already blessed us once this year with his smooth voice, but this is even better. And anyone who though Mark Zonder was irreplaceable will be blown away by the \u201cnew\u201d rhythm section; extremely tight and at the highest technical level.<\/p>\n
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As I think you have gathered by now, this is a complex and innovative album, an instant classic that captures the essence of Fates Warning<\/strong> in one album! The eight songs on \u201cTheories of Flight\u201d<\/strong> bring up the best of the best in one of the best progressive metal bands ever, and everything just sounds and feels so right. From the brilliant riff attacks, thru the excellent rhythm section, over the majestic voice of Ray, in the hooks, in the soli, in the melodies and in the brooding presence of melancholy that has always been an important part of the sound and in the lyrical universe.<\/p>\n \u201cTheories of Flight\u201d<\/strong> was produced by Jim Matheos and mixed\/mastered by Jens Bogren and must be one of the best metal productions I\u2019ve ever heard: crystal clear, serpentine and modern. And just add to the overall sensational experience.<\/p>\n Album of the year<\/em> \u2013 in my small world everything will be measured up against this masterpiece. It has surpassed all the other albums that have impressed me this year: Dream Theater, Haken, Redemption, Big Big Train, Katatonia and Anderson\/Stolt and I can only strongly recommend \u201cTheories of Flight\u201d<\/strong>.<\/p>\n