JOHN ARCH

I'm not going to deny, prior to hearing this disc I wasn't the biggest Arch fan. Whilst I enjoyed his early contributions to Fates Warning, I've always preferred Ray Alder's vocals. In fact, although Arch was good, there were times when I found his high-pitched vocals quite grating. However, 'Twist...' has changed that. Because the years have been kind to his voice, or perhaps modern production has been, but either way, this EP is something very special!

Despite featuring only two tracks, 'A Twist of Fate' is an absolute delight to listen to. Both songs, 'Relentless' and 'Cheyenne' are overflowing with emotional vocals and tasty guitar riffs, and are almost unique in their own special ways. Clocking in at about half an hour, this EP features some of the most beautiful musical passages I've ever heard, particularly in 'Cheyenne', which is probably one of the best progressive metal songs that you've never heard of.

Featuring a "who's who" of musicians, Arch has recruited some of the finest players in the genre. These include his former Fates Warning brethren Jim Matheos on guitar, drummer Mike Portnoy, best known for his work with Dream Theater and Transatlantic, and bassist Joey Vera of Armoured Saint and Fates Warning fame. Impressive, right?

Fantastic music, intelligent lyrics, told through one unmatched and totally unique voice. It doesn't matter if you don't like Fates Warning. It doesn't even matter if you don't like progressive metal, because this simple EP is so much more than that! Let's hope Mr. Arch plans on sticking around this time!

Oh what a pleasant surprise this one is! John Arch was the original vocalist for the classic Prog Metal band Fates Warning. He provided the lead vocals on that band's first three albums (1984's Night On Bröcken, 1985's The Spectre Within and 1986's Awaken The Guardian) before leaving the position to Ray Alder. To be honest I am not a fan of these early Fates Warning albums and in my opinion they did not take things anywhere beyond what Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden had already done. I greatly prefer the Alder-era of Fates Warning (with such strong albums as Perfect Symmetry, Parallels and A Pleasant Shade Of Gray). The present John Arch solo EP is an entirely different beast though.

As far as I understand, after leaving Fates Warning in the 80's, John Arch retired from the music business altogether only to return with the present EP in 2003 - that's a twist of fate for you right there! For this recording he enlisted fellow Fates Warning alumni Jim Matheos on guitars and Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater on drums and thus created a little Prog Metal super-group.

The EP consists of only two long tracks, but they are both excellent. There still is that Judas Priest/Iron Maiden influence that dominated early Fates Warning, but I also hear some Alder-era Fates Warning and (Images And Words-era) Dream Theater as well as traces of American Symphonic Prog like Neal Morse and Kansas. The latter is especially apparent in the symphonic, 15 minute plus Cheyenne that also features some violin and cello to great effect. There is overall a strong acoustic presence here with acoustic guitars and grand piano. I am also reminded of Ozzy Osbourne a few times (who made some really excellent music in the 80's).

I don't normally give EP's one of the higher ratings, but this one of definitely worth it! Highly recommended!

How a singer could disappear for that many years and gives this perfect album and then disappear again...??? strange but unique, top of quality, great in between the greatest, this short EP is really what prog-metal is all about... a most have to anyone who enjoys prog metal...

John Arch was the first singer of Fates Warning but was kicked out in early 90's, and he disappear from the musical scene, and until 2003 he comeback with a great idea under his sleeve. He rejoined with the talented and underrated guitarrist Jim Matheos (Fates Warning/O.S.I.), who brings all his prog-metal knowledge in the perfect mood. Joey Vera, also from FW joined this production, so you get what it seems to be a FW 2.0, but the difference is the greatful Mike Portnoy in the drums, who proves once more he is one of the most significant figures in prog in the last 20 years, doing another collab. The mix is perfect. It's not just a FW kind of songs, this are different, much more modern and has a lot of sense, soul and technical abilities... this is what you can expect from the very best musicians of the sub-genre. Portnoy and Matheos rules the album with a lot of different moods and riffing... and the voice of Arch is better than in the earlier days... he is more focus and has not lost the power and range.

These is for those who love or enjoy Dream Theater and Fates Warning, but be aware, this is MUCH MORE than the average prog metal that has saturated the scene in the last years... brilliant music which deserves a better place... com'n... try it... it's just great...

I hope John Arch will find the time to release more albums now and then! Please, John, please! ;-)

I really find it amazing that someone could return after seventeen years of complete absence from the music world and manage to come up with something so splendid and refined right away. Both songs go through many different moods and show a lot of variety; there's simply an abundance of great musical ideas on display here, and the performance just sounds so passionate. Musicianship is as excellent as is to be expected from the people involved, and the production is flawless.

All of this combined makes this the single most impressive piece of modern Prog Metal (in the narrower sense) that I've heard yet - a genre that I have a curious difficulty getting into given my overall tastes, but on this release it just all falls into place for me. If you love Dream Theater, you'll probably love this also; if, like me, you don't really like Dream Theater but think they have their moments, you might very well like it nonetheless.

Not sure where the guy has been all these years, although I’m sure those familiar with Fates Warning have all the details. No matter, his reemergence on this EP shows the guy hasn’t lost anything in the vocals department. I went back and played a couple of my kid’s early Fates Warning albums just to confirm this, and it’s true. If anything he seems to have developed a bit more control over his voice in the ensuing years since his hiatus.

The lineup is an all-star cast featuring Mike Portney and Fates Warning alumni Jim Matheos and Joey Vera, as well as the very talented Andy Happel on violin and cello. Of the two tracks “Relentless” is the more aggressive and spectacular, although Happel really shines on “Cheyenne” and reminds me a bit of David Ragsdale (Kansas), especially his work guesting on Salem Hill’s ‘Mimi’s Magic Moment’.

Portney is also stunning, and even though I’m not a particularly big fan of either progressive metal or Dream Theater I have to admit the guy is at the top of his craft.

Too bad Arch hasn’t seemed inclined to do more since releasing this five years ago, but it is good to hear him in the studio again and good to know he still has the pipes to pull off a serious and first-rate production. Not essential as far as I’m concerned, but this is an excellent EP and a nice story to boot. Recommended for all metalheads as well as those who appreciate a guy with an incredible range and a strong natural voice.

peace

The music isn't bad, I have a problem with the vocals. They annoy me slightly and that destroys a lot of the fun. Instrumentally it's a lot better and also the compositions are ok but I expected more on that department as well.

So all in all not a bad effort by John Arch and I wonder what I would have concluded if I would have gone into this one without the foreknowledge. Maybe I just would have been a bit more enthusiastic but I doubt if it would have led to a 4 star rating, I give it three stars (3,3).

John Arch was the frontman of Fates Warning on their first 3 albums. Fates Warning wasn´t a progressive metal band at that time, at least not to my modern ears. The three first albums were more traditional metal mixed with power metal. John Arch high pitched vocals were always very defining for early Fates Warning as Ray Alder´s voice it it for the second era of Fates Warning.

This EP is a great deal more progressive than the Fates Warning albums John Arch sang on. But the two epic songs this EP consists of are still very much driven by John Arch fabulous voice. That man has got a really impressive voice. The music is really good prog metal too, and it is easy to hear that such brilliant musicians have contributed. Does it sound like Fates Warning ? Not really, surprisingly enough, allthough with three members ( former and present) it´s hard to run away from your roots. And really why should you ?

This is highly recommendable to prog metal fans. Try this one out instead of the thousand mindless Dream Theater clones. If this is the last we will ever hear from John Arch, it will be a nice testimony. If this is not the last we will hear from him, please don´t let 16 years pass before we hear something new ( it´s already been almost 5).