Parallels is the sixth studio album by American progressive metal band Fates Warning, released on October 29, 1991, through Metal Blade Records. The album reached No. 20 on the U.S. Billboard Heatseekers chart.[2]

Parallels
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 29, 1991 (1991-10-29)[1]
RecordedMid-1991
StudioMetalworks Studios in Mississauga
GenreProgressive metal
Length45:27
LabelMetal Blade
ProducerTerry Brown, Brian Slagel
Fates Warning chronology
Perfect Symmetry
(1989)
Parallels
(1991)
Inside Out
(1994)
Singles from Parallels

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.[3][4]

Critical reception edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [4]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal9/10[5]
Rock Hard10/10[6]

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".[4]

In 2005, the album was ranked No. 371 in Rock Hard magazine's book of The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time.[7]

Track listing edit

All tracks are written by Jim Matheos

No.TitleLength
1."Leave the Past Behind"6:13
2."Life in Still Water"5:44
3."Eye to Eye"4:06
4."The Eleventh Hour"8:11
5."Point of View"5:07
6."We Only Say Goodbye"4:55
7."Don't Follow Me"4:40
8."The Road Goes on Forever"6:31
Total length:45:27

2010 deluxe edition bonus tracks edit

Disc 2
No.TitleLength
1."Leave the Past Behind"4:39
2."Don't Follow Me"5:19
3."The Eleventh Hour"8:09
4."Point of View"4:20
5."Eye to Eye"4:06
6."Nothing Left to Say"7:59
7."Quietus"4:00
8."Through Different Eyes"4:39
9."Leave the Past Behind"5:50
10."Eye to Eye"4:06
11."The Eleventh Hour"7:39
12."Point of View"4:50
13."Don't Follow Me"4:17
14."The Road Goes on Forever"5:43
  • Tracks 1–8 were recorded at the Palace Theatre in Hollywood, California on January 23, 1992.
  • Tracks 9–14 are demos.
Bonus DVD
No.TitleLength
1."Leave the Past Behind" 
2."Static Acts" 
3."Don't Follow Me" 
4."Part of the Machine" 
5."The Eleventh Hour" 
6."Point of View" 
7."Silent Cries" 
8."Life in Still Water" 
9."Eye to Eye" 
10."Nothing Left to Say" 
11."Quietus" 
12."Damnation/In a Word" 
13."Through Different Eyes" 
  • Filmed live in concert in New Haven, Connecticut on February 13, 1992.
  • Features current interviews with all band members as well as acclaimed producer Terry Brown and Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel.
  • Rare and exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes footage from the 1992 U.S. tour.
  • Includes music videos for "Eye to Eye" and "Point of View".

Personnel edit

Fates Warning edit

Additional credits edit

  • James LaBrie – background vocals (track 2)
  • John Bailey – computer sequencing
  • Terry Brown – engineering, mixing, production
  • John Bailey – computer sequencing, engineering assistance
  • Stu Young – engineering assistance
  • Trevor Sadler – engineering assistance
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering
  • Brian Slagel – executive production

Chart performance edit

Year Chart Position
1991 Billboard Top Heatseekers 20[2]

References edit

  1. ^ "Fates Warning "Parallels"". Metal Blade Records. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Parallels – Fates Warning | Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  3. ^ "Parallels". fateswarning.com. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Parallels – Fates Warning". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  5. ^ Popoff, Martin (2007). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 153. ISBN 978-1-894959-62-9.
  6. ^ Stratmann, Holger. "Review" (in German). Rock Hard. issue 55. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  7. ^ Best of Rock & Metal - Die 500 stärksten Scheiben aller Zeiten (in German). Rock Hard. 2005. p. 60. ISBN 3-89880-517-4.