The Spectre Within Review
| Band | |
|---|---|
| Album |  The Spectre Within |
| Type | Album (Studio full-length) |
| Released | October 1985 |
| Genres | Progressive Metal |
| Labels | Metal Blade Records, Restless |
| Length | 48:23 |
| Ranked | #11 for 1985 , #856 all-time |
Album rating : 87.8 / 100
Votes : 32 (2 reviews)
Votes : 32 (2 reviews)
January 5, 2020
Fates Warning did something incredible on their sophomore album; they took two metal subgeneres that hadn’t even begun evolving yet and combined them to create an even more unique sound that would be mimicked forever. Of course I’m talking about Progressive Power metal.
Now, this album isn’t true Progressive Power Metal, but it’s absolutely clear this is where it started, and some moments in their songs actually delve completely into this territory. The songs are speedy, complex, long and changing, and feature some nearly operatic vocals about space and stuff. There are no weaknesses whatsoever to this album. Of course things could be improved, as hundreds of bands have done since, but at the time it was released, absolutely nothing could have touched this in this realm of metal.
Keep in mind, their debut album was a very, very generic Heavy Metal album with absolutely nothing substantial about it at all.
Now, this album isn’t true Progressive Power Metal, but it’s absolutely clear this is where it started, and some moments in their songs actually delve completely into this territory. The songs are speedy, complex, long and changing, and feature some nearly operatic vocals about space and stuff. There are no weaknesses whatsoever to this album. Of course things could be improved, as hundreds of bands have done since, but at the time it was released, absolutely nothing could have touched this in this realm of metal.
Keep in mind, their debut album was a very, very generic Heavy Metal album with absolutely nothing substantial about it at all.
Track listing (Songs)
| title | rating | votes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Traveler In Time | 7:13 | 90 | 4 |
| 2. | Orphan Gypsy | 5:59 | 90 | 4 |
| 3. | Without A Trace | 4:49 | 87.5 | 4 |
| 4. | Pirates Of The Underground | 7:07 | 87.5 | 4 |
| 5. | The Apparition | 5:51 | 94 | 5 |
| 6. | Kyrie Eleison | 5:25 | 90 | 4 |
| 7. | Epitaph | 11:57 | 92 | 5 |
Line-up (members)
- John Arch : Vocals
- Jim Matheos : Guitars
- Victor Arduini : Guitars
- Joe DiBiase : Bass
- Steve Zimmerman : Drums
21 reviews
| cover art | Artist | Album review | Reviewer | Rating | Date | Likes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | | Awaken the Guardian Review (1986) | 100 | Dec 23, 2023 | 5 | ||
 | | Go! Review (1997) | 90 | Aug 5, 2022 | 2 | ||
 | | 80 | Jul 26, 2022 | 1 | |||
 | | Parallels Review (1991) | 100 | Jun 13, 2021 | 0 | ||
 | | Perfect Symmetry Review (1989) | 100 | Nov 1, 2020 | 1 | ||
| | Awaken the Guardian Review (1986) | 80 | Apr 1, 2020 | 0 | ||
 | | ▶ The Spectre Within Review (1985) | 85 | Jan 5, 2020 | 0 | ||
 | | Don't Keep Me Waiting Review (2006) [EP] | 80 | Mar 30, 2019 | 2 | ||
 | | No Exit Review (1988) | 85 | Jul 24, 2015 | 1 | ||
 | | Rainmaker Review (1995) | 85 | Jul 23, 2015 | 1 | ||
| | Awaken the Guardian Review (1986) | 100 | Jun 10, 2015 | 4 | ||
 | | Fair Warning Review (1992) | 85 | Mar 15, 2015 | 2 | ||
| | Awaken the Guardian Review (1986) | 85 | Feb 10, 2015 | 2 | ||
| | The Spectre Within Review (1985) | 85 | Jul 26, 2014 | 2 | ||
| | Go! Review (1997) | 85 | Dec 9, 2013 | 3 | ||
 | | Best and more Review (2012) [Compilation] | 80 | May 4, 2013 | 0 | ||
| | 86 | Mar 19, 2011 | 0 | |||
 | | Aura Review (2009) | 60 | Nov 5, 2009 | 0 | ||
| | Go! Review (1997) | 100 | Nov 9, 2005 | 4 | ||
 | | 4 Review (2000) | 95 | Nov 9, 2005 | 1 |
1 2
SilentScream213 100/100Nov 1, 2020 Likes : 1
Most people consider “Awaken the Guardian” to be Fates Warning’s shining moment, but the album that outshone everything else by miles to me is “Perfect Symmetry.”
Perfect Symmetry is the band’s transition from a fantastical, proggy almost-Power Metal band into a full fledged modern Progressive Metal band, and one of the first albums ever to conceptualize this sou... Read More
No Exit Review (1988)
구르는 돌 85/100Jul 24, 2015 Likes : 1
The Spectre Within, Awaken the Guardian 두 장의 기념비적인 작품으로 Fates Warining은 Queensrÿche와 함꼐American Progressive Metal을 선도하는 자리에 서게 되었다. 하지만, Awaken the Guardian 발표 뒤 밴드의 프론트 맨이었던 John Arch는 밴드의 방침에 반발하여 Fates Warinig를 탈퇴하고 만다. 뛰어난 역량의 보컬리스... Read More
No Exit Review (1988)
Eagles 70/100Nov 9, 2005 Likes : 1
1982년 미국 코네티컷에서 결성된 Fates Warning은 84년 Metal Blade 레이블의 컴필레이션 음반에 참여하며 모습을 드러냈다. 같은해에 데뷔작 NIght On Brocken을 발표하였으며 85년의 The Spectre Within, 86년의 Awaken the Guardian을 내놓으며 Progressive Metal의 초석을 다진 이들이 새로운 보컬리스트 Ray Alder를 맞... Read More
