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.[1] 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.[2]

Darkness in a Different Light
Studio album by
Fates Warning
ReleasedSeptember 30, 2013 (2013-09-30)[1]
RecordedApril–July 2013
StudioCarriage House Studios, Stamford, Connecticut; Jim Matheos' home studio, New Hampshire; The Bridge Recording, Glendale, California
GenreProgressive metal
Length56:57
LabelInside Out
ProducerJim Matheos
Fates Warning chronology
FWX
(2004)		 Darkness in a Different Light
(2013)		 Theories of Flight
(2016)

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.[3] 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.[4]

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.[5] On December 28, 2012, Matheos confirmed that the songwriting was complete.[6] Three months later, it was announced that Fates Warning would enter the studio in April to record the album.[7]

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"[2] and celebrated the lineup as "the best that Fates Warning has ever had".[2] He expressed his eagerness to tour extensively in support of the album.[2] During October 2013, the band performed in nine European countries.[8]

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".[9]

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 lyrics [to that song] seemed to make everything a common bond—going back between light and dark. I don't know why or how that happened. It was some subconscious thing that went on. So the title just seemed to make sense. Some of the songs have to do with hope and working your way through certain things. I mean, darkness to me seems more of a state of mind - it's not a physical darkness. But Darkness In A Different Light seemed to make sense. Again, it tied in with the lyrics. It didn't mean to, but it did".[10]

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 [laughs]."[11]

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com[12]
AllMusic[13]
Blabbermouth8.5/10[14]
Jukebox:Metal[15]
Loudwire[16]
Sputnikmusic[17]

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".[13] 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[ing] back and forth between complex progressive time signatures and straightforward crushing riffs".[12] 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).[14] 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".[16]

Around 2,700 copies were sold in its first week of release.[18] 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
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."One Thousand Fires"Jim Matheos, Ray Alder, Frank Aresti7:21
2."Firefly"Matheos, Alder4:59
3."Desire"Matheos, Alder4:00
4."Falling"Alder, Matheos1:34
5."I Am"Matheos, Alder, Bobby Jarzombek5:08
6."Lighthouse"Matheos, Alder5:25
7."Into the Black"Matheos, Alder5:09
8."Kneel and Obey"Matheos5:05
9."O Chloroform" (lyrics by Kevin Moore)Matheos, Alder4:13
10."And Yet It Moves"Matheos14:03
Total length:56:57
Limited edition bonus disc
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Firefly" (extended version)Matheos, Alder7:20
2."Falling Further"Matheos, Alder4:43
3."One" (live at Progpower USA; Atlanta, Georgia; September 12, 2009[19])Matheos, Alder4:41
4."Life in Still Water" (live at ProgPower USA; Atlanta, Georgia; September 12, 2009)Matheos5:21
Total length:22:05

Personnel

Fates Warning

Additional credits

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

Release history
RegionDateLabel
Europe September 30, 2013[1] Inside Out
North America October 1, 2013[1]

Chart performance
YearChartPosition
2013 Billboard Heatseekers Albums 5[20]
Billboard Hard Rock Albums 10[20]
Billboard Independent Albums 32[20]
German albums chart 41[21]
Billboard Top Rock Albums 50[20]
Swiss albums chart 56[21]
Dutch albums chart 90[21]
Belgian albums chart 129[21]
Billboard 200 162[20]

References
  1. "Darkness In A Different Light" available September 30, 2013 in Europe / October 1, 2013 in North America" at the Wayback Machine (archived August 21, 2013). fateswarning.com. Archived from the original on August 21, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
  2. "Fates Warning To Release 'Darkness In A Different Light' In September". Blabbermouth. August 1, 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  3. "Fates Warning Working On New Material". Blabbermouth. September 23, 2009. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  4. "Fates Warning To Begin Work On New Album". Blabbermouth. June 23, 2011. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  5. "Fates Warning Singer: We Are Working As Hard As We Can To Finish The New Album". Blabbermouth. March 15, 2012. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  6. "Fates Warning Completes Writing Music For New Album". Blabbermouth. December 28, 2012. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  7. "Fates Warning To Enter Studio In April, Tour U.S. In The Fall". Blabbermouth. March 22, 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  8. "Fates Warning: "Darkness in a Different Light" Hits The Charts; European Tour Started!". Inside Out Music. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  9. McQueen, Gregg. "An Interview with Fates Warning: Searching For A Different Light". The Aquarian. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  10. Prato, Greg (September 26, 2013). "Fates Warning Singer Talks New Album, Looks To Make Up For Lost Opportunities - 'Just Tour As Much As Possible, And Take Advantage Of What Time We Have'". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. Retrieved 2014-02-08.
  11. Gehlke, David E. (September 22, 2013). "Fates Warning – Quite A Bit Left To Say". Dead Rhetoric. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
  12. Drago, Dan. "Fates Warning - Darkness In A Different Light Review". About.com. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  13. Heaney, Gregory. "Darkness in a Different Light - Fates Warning". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
  14. Van Horn, Jr., Ray (2013). "Fates Warning - Darkness in a Different Light". Blabbermouth. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  15. Cornell, Tom (2013). "Fates Warning - Darkness In A Different Light". Jukebox:Metal. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  16. DiVita, Joe (October 2, 2013). "Fates Warning, 'darkness in a Different Light' – Album Review". Loudwire. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
  17. Spencer, Trey (September 14, 2013). "Review: Fates Warning - Darkness in a Different Light". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
  18. "Fates Warning: 'Darkness In A Different Light' First-Week Sales Revealed". Blabbermouth. October 11, 2013. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
  19. "Fates Warning Concert Setlist at ProgPower USA X on September 12, 2009". setlist.fm. Retrieved December 30, 2013.
  20. "Darkness in a Different Light - Fates Warning | Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  21. "Fates Warning - Darkness in a Different Light (album)". finnishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
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