FROM THE CRYPTS - CELEBRATING PAST ALBUM RELEASES in the HISTORY of HARD ROCK & HEAVY METAL…
On October 28, 1991, Progressive Metal band Fates Warning released their sixth full-length studio album Parallels via Metal Blade Records.
The album reached No. 20 on the U.S. Billboard Heatseekers chart.
Background:
The album artwork for Parallels was designed by Hugh Syme, who had later gone on to do the album cover for Megadeth’s Youthanasia.
James LaBrie, who had recently joined Dream Theater, contributed background vocals on the song Life in Still Water. On March 16, 2010 a special edition of Parallels was released through Metal Blade. This included a remaster of the original album, a bonus disc of live and demo tracks, as well as a DVD.
The word "YOU" is typed in all caps in certain songs on the original lyric sheet. Jim Matheos explained in interviews that on those instances he's addressing the listener.
The album was originally titled The Eleventh Hour and the artwork was designed with that title in mind.
Since the band members lived scattered around the US at the time, they agreed to all move to Canada for the writing and recording sessions. Jim Matheos brought several songs along, and the rest was composed there.
Fates Warning:
• Jim Matheos - Guitars
• Ray Alder - Vocals
• Mark Zonder - Drums
• Frank Aresti - Guitars
• Joe DiBiase - Bass
Guest:
• James LaBrie - Backing Vocals (track 2)
Production & Layout:
• Dimo Safari - Band Photography
• Bob Ludwig - Mastering
• Brian Slagel - Executive Producer
• Terry Brown - Producer, Mixing, Recording
• Trevor Sadler - Assistant Engineer
• Hugh Syme - Art Direction, Design
• Stu "Rue" Young - Assistant Engineer
• John Bailey - Assistant Engineer
• All tracks are written by Jim Matheos.
• Recorded at Metalworks Studios, Toronto during the summer of 1991.
Pre-production studios:
• Bill's Place Rehearsal & Recording N. Hollywood
• Street Brothers Studios, Toronto,
• Metalworks Studios, Toronto.
• Pre-production recording at Metalworks and at Inn on the Lake Studios.
• Mastered at Masterdisk.
• Dedicated to the memory of Ann DiBiase.
• Videos were made for the songs Point of View and Eye to Eye.
Critical Reception & Accolades:
Eduardo Rivadavia at AllMusic gave Parallels three stars out of five, calling it Fates Warning's "biggest commercial if not artistic success" and "an ideal first purchase for fans of traditional '80s metal." Highlights noted were Eye to Eye, Point of View and We Only Say Goodbye.
In 2005, the album was ranked No. 371 in Rock Hard magazine's book of The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time.
Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells
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