Darkness in a Different Light is the eleventh studio album by progressive metal band Fates Warning, released in 2013 through Inside Out Music. 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 only 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."Fates Warning To Release 'Darkness In A Different Light' In September". Blabbermouth. August 1, 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-01.

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."Fates Warning Working On New Material". Blabbermouth. September 23, 2009. Retrieved 2013-10-01. 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."Fates Warning To Begin Work On New Album". Blabbermouth. June 23, 2011. Retrieved 2013-10-01.

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."Fates Warning Singer: We Are Working As Hard As We Can To Finish The New Album". Blabbermouth. March 15, 2012. Retrieved 2013-10-01. On December 28, 2012, Matheos confirmed that the songwriting was complete."Fates Warning Completes Writing Music For New Album". Blabbermouth. December 28, 2012. Retrieved 2013-10-01. Three months later, it was announced that Fates Warning would enter the studio in April to record the album."Fates Warning To Enter Studio In April, Tour U.S. In The Fall". Blabbermouth. March 22, 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-01.

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" and celebrated the lineup as "the best that Fates Warning has ever had". He expressed his eagerness to tour extensively in support of the album. During October 2013, the band performed in nine European countries."Fates Warning: "Darkness in a Different Light" Hits The Charts; European Tour Started!" . Inside Out Music. Retrieved January 24, 2014.

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".McQueen, Gregg. "An Interview with Fates Warning: Searching For A Different Light". The Aquarian. Retrieved February 8, 2014.

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 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]."Gehlke, David E. (September 22, 2013). "Fates Warning – Quite A Bit Left To Say". Dead Rhetoric. Retrieved 2013-10-07.

Reception

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". 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". 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). 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".

Around 2,700 copies were sold in its first week of release."Fates Warning: 'Darkness In A Different Light' First-Week Sales Revealed". Blabbermouth. October 11, 2013. Retrieved 2013-12-30. 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

Personnel Fates Warning Ray Alder – lead vocals, production Jim Matheos – guitar, engineering (vocals, guitar) Frank Aresti – guitar, background vocals Bobby Jarzombek – drums Joey Vera – bass, engineering (bass)

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

Release history Region Date LabelEuropeSeptember 30, 2013Inside OutNorth AmericaOctober 1, 2013

Chart performance Year Chart Position2013Billboard Heatseekers Albums5"Darkness in a Different Light - Fates Warning | Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved January 24, 2014.Billboard Hard Rock Albums10Billboard Independent Albums32German albums chart41"Fates Warning - Darkness in a Different Light (album)". finnishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 24, 2014.Billboard Top Rock Albums50Swiss albums chart56Dutch albums chart90Belgian albums chart129Billboard 200162

References

External links Review by Nick at When Prog and Power Unite