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Fates Warning - Parallels



8.7 | 282 votes |
Release date: 29 October 1991
Style: Progressive metal

Owners:

296 have it
39 want it


Disc I
01. Leave The Past Behind
02. Life In Still Water
03. Eye To Eye
04. The Eleventh Hour
05. Point Of View
06. We Only Say Goodbye
07. Don't Follow Me
08. The Road Goes On Forever

Disc II [Special Edition bonus]
01. Leave The Past Behind [live]
02. Don't Follow Me [live]
03. Eleventh Hour [live]
04. Point Of View [live]
05. Eye To Eye [live]
06. Nothing Left To Say [live]
07. Quietus [live]
08. Through Different Eyes [live]
09. Leave The Past Behind [demo]
10. Eye To Eye [demo]
11. Eleventh Hour [demo]
12. Point Of View [demo]
13. Don't Follow Me [demo]

Disc III [Special Edition bonus DVD]
01. 80-minute concert filmed live in New Haven, Connecticut on February 13, 1992
02. 75-minute documentary on the making of "Parallels".
03. Eye To Eye [video]
04. Point Of View [video]

Top 20 albums of 1991: 7
Top 200 albums of all time: 188

Guest review by
treptolemus
Rating:
8.8
Back in 1991 Fates Warning created Parallels, one of their most important and coherent albums. Their sound keeps evolving through time, providing the progressive metal field with unique and astonishing moments.

In this album the band reveals another "essence" of their music and creativity. Progressive sound with beautiful melodies, accompanied by heavy metal groove. From the very first time I explored the album I remember myself saying: "Ok, we have a classic piece of metal art here!" Honestly, I cannot trace a song that could be possibly valued as a mediocre one. We can find songs that suit our mood, fast and slower ones. Even the slower ballads are very characteristic and your spirit travels with them! The guitar parts are crystal clear and all the tunes are mixed in a way that could be described as "a nice orchestration"! Something that is worthy to mention is that I can't spot "exaggerative" performance parts in the album (don't forget that progression may result in overreaction, sometimes). The drums are also "the heart" of each song, precisely giving the rhythm that is needed. The voice of Ray Alder is the key element, which unfolds all the ingredients and emotions.

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published 10.10.2009 | Comments (6)

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Comments

Comments: 18   Visited by: 608 users
03.03.2012 - 16:48
Rating: 10
tea[m]ster
Au Pays Natal
Alright, I'll break the seal...
No comments? Ugh...sad face. Maybe Fates Warning is an acquired taste, maybe you don't like progressive metal. The fact is they made this album sooo accessible that anyone who digs Queensryche, Dream Theater and the like should give this a try. Back when it was released I actually heard two songs from this on radio!
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rekt
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12.12.2012 - 19:30
Rating: 9
Urs Blank

It took me a while before I was able to appreciate Fates Warning, mainly due to the high-pitched vocals and sometimes cheesy melodies. But then I listened to Parallels and completely changed my mind about this band. Nowadays I like many of their albums but this one is still my favourite.
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17.02.2016 - 21:53
Rating: 10
tea[m]ster
Au Pays Natal
"Leave The Past Behind" is the best song they have ever done...Spun this again today.
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rekt
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19.10.2018 - 22:04
Rating: 7
metalriff

The album felt much more enjoyable listening in the alphabetical order somehow.
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1001 Metal albums to hear before you die
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17.05.2020 - 22:54
Rating: 7
Mountain King
K i K o
Nice prog album similar to early Queensryche or early Dream Theater with nice clean production and quality musicians. The downside of this album is the missing wow factor in all areas and hence I think it's a little overrated. By today's standards it I would give it a 7 but given the release date, it is a nice and very good album.
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18.11.2020 - 11:13
Rating: 7
majormalfunction

I don't consider this a masterpiece but it's a solid prog metal work and The Eleventh Hour is one of Fates Warnings best tracks. Mark Zonder is an fantastic drummer
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Everything's twice as bright with money in your hands
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03.09.2021 - 15:38
Rating: 9
JoHn Doe

Written by Mountain King on 17.05.2020 at 22:54

Nice prog album similar to early Queensryche or early Dream Theater with nice clean production and quality musicians. The downside of this album is the missing wow factor in all areas and hence I think it's a little overrated. By today's standards it I would give it a 7 but given the release date, it is a nice and very good album.


you can't say "very good album" and still rate it a 7, which means only "good".

I see people using "by today's standards", i've never known what it really means...

Also FW was an influence on DT, not the other way around.
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I thought the two primary purposes for the internet were cat memes and overreactions.
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03.09.2021 - 23:40
Rating: 7
Redel

Written by JoHn Doe on 03.09.2021 at 15:38

Written by Mountain King on 17.05.2020 at 22:54

By today's standards it I would give it a 7 but given the release date, it is a nice and very good album.


you can't say "very good album" and still rate it a 7, which means only "good".

But he can.
Plus, he put the rule: a 7 by today's standards, "very good" given the release date.
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04.09.2021 - 00:02
Rating: 9
JoHn Doe

Written by Redel on 03.09.2021 at 23:40

Written by JoHn Doe on 03.09.2021 at 15:38

Written by Mountain King on 17.05.2020 at 22:54

By today's standards it I would give it a 7 but given the release date, it is a nice and very good album.


you can't say "very good album" and still rate it a 7, which means only "good".

But he can.
Plus, he put the rule: a 7 by today's standards, "very good" given the release date.


it's not what I meant
but then again, there are users that say and album is "good" and give it a 10.

There is a rating guideline, but it seems it does not matter.
A very good album gets a 7, an OK album gets a 9, etc...
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I thought the two primary purposes for the internet were cat memes and overreactions.
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04.09.2021 - 00:24
Rating: 7
Redel

Written by JoHn Doe on 04.09.2021 at 00:02

There is a rating guideline, but it seems it does not matter.

Mountain King said he would rate it a 7 by today's standards, but given the release date, it is a nice and very good album.
Why can he not rate it a 7 then if, let's assume, he solely rates it by today's standards, ignoring the release date in his rating criteria?
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04.09.2021 - 01:52
Rating: 9
JoHn Doe

Written by Redel on 04.09.2021 at 00:24

Written by JoHn Doe on 04.09.2021 at 00:02

There is a rating guideline, but it seems it does not matter.

Mountain King said he would rate it a 7 by today's standards, but given the release date, it is a nice and very good album.
Why can he not rate it a 7 then if, let's assume, he solely rates it by today's standards, ignoring the release date in his rating criteria?


"Today's standard"? I just admitted I don't know what that is, maybe an excuse to diss something made earlier in the past.

Mountain King's post bothered me so I reacted, maybe lame maybe not, but he should disagree with me...
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I thought the two primary purposes for the internet were cat memes and overreactions.
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04.09.2021 - 09:36
Rating: 7
Redel

Written by JoHn Doe on 04.09.2021 at 01:52


"Today's standard"? I just admitted I don't know what that is

Whatever Mountain King refers to by "today's standards", possibly production, I dont see a contradiction or violation of rating guidelines in his words and rating on this album.
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04.09.2021 - 12:17
Rating: 9
JoHn Doe

Written by Redel on 04.09.2021 at 09:36

Written by JoHn Doe on 04.09.2021 at 01:52


"Today's standard"? I just admitted I don't know what that is

Whatever Mountain King refers to by "today's standards", possibly production, I dont see a contradiction or violation of rating guidelines in his words and rating on this album.


still don't understand what is it you want from me. I disagreed with someone else and yet you are arguing with me.
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I thought the two primary purposes for the internet were cat memes and overreactions.
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04.09.2021 - 12:34
Rating: 7
Redel

Written by JoHn Doe on 04.09.2021 at 12:17


still don't understand what is it you want from me. I disagreed with someone else and yet you are arguing with me.

Well, since you didnt put your conversation into PM I thought they might be intended for open discussion. And I just had some questions coming up.
But fair enough, I dont want to bother you with my questions of course.
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04.09.2021 - 12:50
Rating: 9
JoHn Doe

Written by Redel on 04.09.2021 at 12:34

Written by JoHn Doe on 04.09.2021 at 12:17


still don't understand what is it you want from me. I disagreed with someone else and yet you are arguing with me.

Well, since you didnt put your conversation into PM I thought they might be intended for open discussion. And I just had some questions coming up.
But fair enough, I dont want to bother you with my questions of course.


When I quote someone, it means (or so I thought) I want to interact with the person I'm quoting specifically. But as MK does not seem bothered by what I said, all I did was much ado about nothing.
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I thought the two primary purposes for the internet were cat memes and overreactions.
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05.09.2021 - 12:13
nikarg

Ok guys, it seems that this conversation has run its course. For what it's worth, I believe this album is a 9 at the very least, by any era's standards. But, as we often say, taste is subjective.
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05.09.2021 - 12:57
Rating: 9
JoHn Doe

Written by nikarg on 05.09.2021 at 12:13

Ok guys, it seems that this conversation has run its course. For what it's worth, I believe this album is a 9 at the very least, by any era's standards. But, as we often say, taste is subjective.


the conversation was over, your comment is a day too late.
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I thought the two primary purposes for the internet were cat memes and overreactions.
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05.09.2021 - 12:57
Rating: 7
Redel

Written by nikarg on 05.09.2021 at 12:13

For what it's worth, I believe this album is a 9 at the very least, by any era's standards. But, as we often say, taste is subjective.

I like Leave the Past Behind and Point of View quite a bit. The rest did not stay with me though. I would rather go to Awaken the Guardian.
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