To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of their 3rd album Awaken the Guardian, Fates Warning guitarist/founder Jim Matheos brought together the line-up that recorded that album, vocalist John Arch, bassist Joe DiBiase, drummer Steve Zimmerman, and guitarist Frank Aresti for two 2016 festival appearances at Keep It True XIX in Germany and Prog Power USA XVII in Atlanta, Georgia. Captured in both audio & video at the Keep It True festival, Awaken the Guardian Live is available on CD, DVD, Blu-ray, and double gatefold vinyl formats.
Playing the entire Awaken the Guardian album from start to finish, this classic version of the band were in fine form, Arch especially showing that all the powerful vocal might that he had back in 1986 is still there, his high pitched wailing perfectly soaring on classic tunes like "The Sorceress", "Guardian", "Exodus", and the irresistible "Fata Morgana", the latter seeing the energetic and adoring crowd singing right there alongside him. The band even dip father back into the past by revisiting the Night on Brocken and The Spectre Within albums, playing the stellar cuts "The Apparition", "Damnation", "Night on Brocken", and the epic "Epitaph". What's really great here is how fresh these early progressive metal classics still sound today, played in all their gloomy, doomy glory.
If you are a longtime fan of Fates Warning and especially the Awaken the Guardian album, you'll be thrilled to hear & see the original line-up who recorded that album playing it once again live on stage. It's definitely an anniversary worth celebrating!
Track Listing
1) The Sorceress
2) Valley of the Dolls
3) Fata Morgana
4) Guardian
5) Prelude to Ruin
6) Giant's Lore
7) Time Long Past
8) Exodus
9) The Apparition
10) Damnation
11) Night on Brocken
12) Epitaph