Darkness in a Different Light

''Darkness in a Different Light'' is the eleventh studio album by progressive metal band Fates Warning, released in 2013 through Inside Out Music. It is the band's first album since '' FWX'' (2004), marking the longest gap between two studio albums in their career, as well as being their first studio album with guitarist Frank Aresti since '' Inside Out'' (1994); although he appeared on the band's next album ''Theories of Flight'' (2016), as a guest, ''Darkness in a Different Light'' would be the last to feature Aresti as an official member. Drummer Bobby Jarzombek also makes his debut with Fates Warning on this album, and it is the band's first release through Inside Out Music."Fates Warning To Release 'Darkness In A Different Light' In September"
Blabbermouth. August 1, 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-01.

Background

Plans for an eleventh Fates Warning studio album were mentioned in September 2009 when vocalist Ray Alder said that the band was working on new material. In June 2011, guitarist and bandleader Jim Matheos hinted that Fates Warning would not be playing any more shows that year as the band was continuing to work on their new album.

In March 2012, Alder reaffirmed that the band was working "as hard as we can" to complete the album for a late 2012 or early 2013 release. On December 28, 2012, Matheos confirmed that the songwriting was complete. Three months later, it was announced that Fates Warning would enter the studio in April to record the album.

On August 1, 2013, the album title and release dates were announced. Alder described ''Darkness in a Different Light'' as "the result of almost two years of very hard work from everyone in the band" and celebrated the lineup as "the best that Fates Warning has ever had". He expressed his eagerness to tour extensively in support of the album. During October 2013, the band performed in nine European countries.

Alder suggested that awareness of the band's previous releases informed the new album: "The idea with ''Darkness in a Different Light'' was to do something similar to '' Parallels'', not necessarily musically, but in theory. Catchy songs, big choruses—that was the idea. Sure, we sometimes think that we won't ever make an album as big as ''Parallels'', but I think our new album is different than anything else out there right now. We look to the future".McQueen, Gregg
"An Interview with Fates Warning: Searching For A Different Light"
The Aquarian. Retrieved February 8, 2014.

With respect to the album title, Alder indicated that it was inspired, although accidentally, by Matheos' lyrics for the song "And Yet It Moves". Alder explained that

The track "O Chloroform" features lyrics by keyboardist Kevin Moore, which were originally left unused from the writing sessions for the 2011 Arch/Matheos album ''Sympathetic Resonance''. Alder remarked of the song's lyrics and curious title: "It's such a cool song, ... I know what chloroform is, but I don't know what he's talking about aughs"Gehlke, David E. (September 22, 2013)
"Fates Warning – Quite A Bit Left To Say"
Dead Rhetoric. Retrieved 2013-10-07.

Reception

Reviews for ''Darkness in a Different Light'' have been mostly positive. Observing that instrumental technicality has become the norm in metal, AllMusic's Gregory Heaney lauded Fates Warning for bucking the trend and writing songs which "bring us back to a time when songs felt more like sprawling compositions than theoretical math problems". Describing it as "another notch in a long list of accomplishments for Fates Warning", Dan Drago praised the album in About.com for "flawlessly glid ngback and forth between complex progressive time signatures and straightforward crushing riffs". Blabbermouth's Ray Van Horn Jr. suggested a kinship between ''Darkness in a Different Light'' and Fates Warning's 1990s output, but also noted an "amplified toughness" that pointed to earlier works such as ''No Exit'' (1988). Joe Devita suggested in Loudwire that ''Darkness in a Different Light'' marked Fates Warning's "leap into the modern age" with the band "reinventing themselves while retaining pieces of their hallmark sound".

Around 2,700 copies were sold in its first week of release."Fates Warning: 'Darkness In A Different Light' First-Week Sales Revealed"
Blabbermouth. October 11, 2013. Retrieved 2013-12-30. This resulted in ''Darkness in a Different Light'' entering at 162 on the Billboard 200; the band's first album since '' Perfect Symmetry'' (1989) to appear on the chart.

Track listing

Personnel

Fates Warning
*Ray Alder – lead vocals, production
* Jim Matheos – guitar, engineering (vocals, guitar)
*Frank Aresti – guitar, background vocals
*Bobby Jarzombek – drums
*Joey Vera – bass, engineering (bass)

Additional credits
*Phil Magnotti – engineering (drums), mixing
*Kent Smith – engineering, mixing (live tracks)
*Maor Appelbaum – mastering
*Conte di San Pietro – artwork, design

Release history

Chart performance

References

External links

Review by Nick
at When Prog and Power Unite

{{DEFAULTSORT:Darkness in a Different Light
Fates Warning albums
2013 albums
Inside Out Music albums