Fates Warning guitarist JIM MATHEOS and original vocalist JOHN ARCH team up for new projec

Progator lent it to me today and I love the music but can't stand the vocals.

Chris Hinton


Cool interviews.  The interviewer reminds me of Chris Farley interviewing Paul McCartney.  "Remember when you played that guitar part on track 4?  That was cool".

'Remember that time you were in The Beatles?  That was awesome.'

Sparky


I HATE HATE HATE high-pitched singers, but maybe because most of them either sound like their trying to clone Tate or sing opera.  Never really have listened to pre-Alder Fates, either...

Having said that, Arch is the EFFIN' BOSS.  Seriously, as much as some folks hate his voice, I think it's great - it has almost a slightly manic type edge to it.  The guy can shred (vocally, that is...)

This. Plus, Arch fits so perfectly well and I can't believe I’m actually enjoying his singing big time. Tried to imagine some other kind of singing style or voice color that I'd like to have instead of Arch – nothing came.
Sympathetic Resonance is on my spin schedule for 4th evening now and I LOVE it!
I have noticed that some routines I have became good unconscious music test. In the evening I usually do some undemanding work or drawing/designing and if the music doesn't distract me and brings me to light tapping or catching melody, it's going to last for long time, it's what I call good/great. Everything out of this category calls for instant shut down and glory of silence 
 

TERIFFIC ALBUM!!!
 
Some people hate his vocals but I find it a nice departure from the norm. It's a different experience. Combine that with the unique riffs and songwritting and you have an epic record. Also GREAT drumming.

And great SOUND too, emtee. It could use a tad more on the low end, but the drum sound is still excellent, especially the cymbals. Makes this guitarist wanna pick up a pair of sticks!

This album is nothing short of amazing! I love it!!!!

I love the music, hate the vocal. I wish there was a way to pull the vocals out and add anybody else into the mix. He just doesn't fit the melody of the tune. It's like two completely different things happening at once and it annoys me.

To me it is no different than a Fates cd, but with out Ray....let Ray do vox and let people decide which is better. IMO

Musically, I love it though.

Finally got this last week! Amazing album!

Nevermore


I love the music, hate the vocal. I wish there was a way to pull the vocals out and add anybody else into the mix. He just doesn't fit the melody of the tune. It's like two completely different things happening at once and it annoys me.

That's what Arch does. It's what makes his style so unique to me.

Arch has a very distinct and original voice.  Think of the distinct voices in rock and metal...how many truly unique voices are there?  Honestly.  I tried giving it some thought awhile back, based on MY collection.  Here's the names I came up with which stood out to me.
 
Axl Rose - You know its him.
David Lee Roth - The classic Diamond Dave.  Those vocal harmonics he would hit were just amazing.  Still haven't heard anyone do it and sound that unique.  That said...on a VH tribute album, Jeff Scott Soto nailed them perfectly. 
Robert Plant
Chris Cornell
John Arch - it is unique and you know its him.  I haven't heard anyone else quite like him.  Not saying he's the best though.
 
I used to think Ozzy...but a lot of vocalists can do his nasally sounding vocals.  His ex-guitar player in fact sounds like classic Sabbath-era Ozzy.
 
Back to this album...the guitars sound like a huge wall of sound.  I love it.  Matheos rules....as do all the guys playing in the band.

Bought this yesterday... my first progressive metal purchase in a while, and Jimmy continues to deliver. Pure quality. It really feels to me like that creative spark is still there with both Jim and John and their chemistry is evident on this album. If Ray's voice is fading I could see this being a very successful alternative for the band.

I defy anyone to sing along with this and go where Arch goes. Sometimes I'm not
sure where...but he always seems to end up where he's supposed to. Very unique
vocal delivery.

Oh, you're 100% correct on that one, MT. Arch is nuts, just wish he sang a little less nasally. I'm still a fan, though.
 
I'm really enjoying this CD right now. The only track I don't dig much is the opener and I think "Stained Glass Sky" might be the best song of 2011 so far (I haven't heard the new Steven Wilson yet, even though I own the Blu Ray). Jarzombek KILLS it on the drums, and Matheos writes some crushing riffs. Frank Aresti is great, too, in his solo spots.

Still haven't received my copy yet... This is frustrating.
 
Question to those who ordered it online (especially if you're in Canada): When did your order ship and how long was it before you got it?

Morte


Still haven't received my copy yet... This is frustrating.

Question to those who ordered it online (especially if you're in Canada): When did your order ship and how long was it before you got it?

Well not really answering your online question, but I'm in Ottawa and got mine from HMV. 15$

I ordered mine a while ago -- probably right around the time preordering was announced.  So long ago, in fact, that I forgot about it.  It actually came in the mail the day before its release date -- along with a signed CD booklet.

Well, looks like I should have waited one more day before posting my question...
It arrived in the mail yesterday!
 
I'll be giving it a good listen very soon.

Amazing album. I kind of resisted at first because of the vocals, but they are really pretty good and the music is fantastic, heavy, progressive and it has feeling as well.
 
ps. Amazon mp3 to smart phone is addicting! I bought Mastodon's The Hunter through it as well(which is also great, they only get better). Also very much looking forward to the new Redemption on Tues! The Fates Warnings guys make some great music.

Great CD best prog metal release so far in 2011.

http://www.hailsandhorns.com/interview/jim-matheos-of-archmatheos-talks-about-the-the-new-archmatheos-project-the-status-of-fates-warning-and-future-plans/
 
new interview with Jim about the record, the status of the band and Fates Warning, etc.

Thanks for the link. Nice read.
 
I play this album EVERY day. So far it's my favorite album of 2011.

So yeah, this album is pretty awesome and stuff.
One of my top played from this year now, after Heritage and Grace for Drowning.

official video for Midnight Serenade:
http://www.ultimate-guitar.tv/misc/arch__matheos_-_midnight_serenade.html

Bought it yesterday... WOW! Definitely one the best prog albums of 2011. Must have!

I forgot how much John Arch looks like Matt Barlow.
 
Cool video!

Nice video. Not too bothered about the omission of the intro, but was it really necessary to cut the melodic lead at the end of the song? Great part if you ask me.

Cool video. I know they are playing a festival in Europe next year. I would love to see them play the states but some how I just
don't think it's going to happen. Hopefully they will film the show
for a DVD. I would kill to hear them play some old fates song with
Arch!!!

Just bought this on itunes.
Anyone know where I can find the album credits?

credits as in, who wrote each song and lyric?
because the basic list is on their homepage in the Biography
http://www.archmatheos.com/

Was just looking to find out who played the solos. Just read an interview with Matheos and he says it's the other guy who does the shreddin'.

Frank Aresti, yeah he would take more of the solos back in the old days as well.

The news couldn't be better: headlining the Keep it True Festival in Germany, April 2012.
http://www.keep-it-true.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=35&Itemid=56&lang=en

we'll see how much they actually play live. My guess would be very few dates due to John's availability/interest. Although if that festival goes well, perhaps his interest will go up.
 
Here's an interview Jim refers to that:
http://www.metalunderground.com/interviews/details.cfm?newsid=72770
 
Cowan: Do you have any touring plans? Might we see you double up with OSI or Fates Warning?

Matheos: Unfortunately, no. There is a lot of interest out there. It really comes down to John’s schedule. It’s up to him if he wants to do some things. Looking at it right now, we’re scheduled to do one festival next year. We’re looking at the possibility of doing more. Certainly, there is no extended touring for this. It’s just not going to happen because of his schedule. He’s got a regular day job and a family to support. Also, he’s not totally taken with performing live. He hasn’t been on a stage for twenty-five years or something like that, so it’s pretty daunting.
Cowan: But you do have a festival date, though.

Matheos: We’re doing one show in Germany next year. That’s one hundred percent confirmed. We’re looking at doing a couple more over there, maybe a couple here next year, but no intentions of doing extended tours. That’s unfortunate because I would love to, but it’s just not in our cards. Our festival appearance is at Keep it True Festival on April 28th of next year.

12" Vinyl coming 1/31/12
 
$18.99 (+ shipping presumably)
Pre-order:
http://www.indiemerch.com/metalbladerecords/item/13388

bump.
http://www.hit-channel.com/sinenteuxeis/xenoi-kallitexnes/english-version/item/5773-interview-jim-matheos-fates-warning-osi-arch-matheos
 

this interview with Jim Matheos is from a Greek music-media site I believe, and some of the english/grammar/typos are present. But it's a pretty thorough interview that a lot of up-to-date questions are answered about Arch/Matheos live schedule, Fates Warning album/re-release/vinyls/touring-tours-in-the-future, OSI, what he's been listening to, old solo music, and even question about working with Mike.
 
On the second  day of this year we had the pleasure to talk with Jim Matheos, the creative soul of Fates Warning, O.S.I and Arch/Matheos. 

Happy new year Jim, I'm really happy that I have the chance to talk with you this day. I really couldn't think a better way to start this year.
Happy new year, it’s a pleasure for me also. 
First of all congratulations for the new album. I think it’s brilliant and one of my favorite records for 2011. I know it started as a Fates Warning album but I can hear elements from all your previous work, as a mix of Fates Warning, O.S.I and your personal albums was that intentional? I guess it's kind of hard to avoid as I'm the one writing it. I don't know how that happened, it started down that way and we continued. There's no reason or explanation.
 What's the feedback that you got for this record? 
It's great so far, John and I spent a lot of time working with that record and we had no idea what people were going to think, what the responce would be, if people remember who John was. We had no idea, we just really did it for ourselves and wrote music we enjoyed and we're happy. To have it be appreciated and well received is great for us.
 
A new record with John Arch is something that a lot of the old fans were waiting for a long time. Yeah, people say that but we had no Idea. I don't think it sounds particular like old Fates Warning, other than John's vocals, so we weren't sure that people who were looking for Awaken the guardian part 2 were gonna be happy with it. But for most part that people seem to be embracing it, which is great for us.  
 
I want to use the title of the album, Sympathetic resonance (sympathetic resonance is a harmonic phenomenon wherein a formerly passive string or vibratory body responds to external vibrations to which it has a harmonic likeness). You have the luck to work with 2 brilliant singers, John and Ray, with quite different but distinctive voices. With which one do you sympathetic resonate more in terms of music composition.

Obviusly their voices are completly different, for me the real difference comes from the writing style. I love both of them and love to work with both of them. Ray has really got it down to a "style" as far as creating a lot of emotion with his voice and writing catchy melody lines. John is pretty much the complete opposite. He is crazy with his melody lines and likes to take things to the edge and that's fun too. It took me a while to embrace that again having denied that kind of music and not working with John for sometime now. I kept at first wanting to tell him about it and make it a simple like I've been used doing with Ray but once I got over that I started getting back to this thing again I was back to it. It was a pleasure to hear those kind of acrobatic vocal lines picking all over the place. It's like night and day, completely different and I can't say which I like better, I enjoy both a lot. 
 
Your're playing live at the Keep it true festival with John at April, is that going to be the only show in 2012? Any other dates? That is most likely, we haven't officially announced that yet but we're probably going to do one more show in the USA but that's probably gonna be it. 
Are there discussions for any show in Greece? You know that Greek fans love you. I know, I'd love to play there. Believe me it's up to John at this point. He hasn't been on a stage for a long long time and he's pretty anxious about it, so we figured the best way to start it is to try one show and see how it goes. If he enjoys it and has good time I think the rest of us in the band would love to make as many as possible. But realistically with that show being at the end of April, if we decide at that point that we want to do some more shows it's going to be 5 or 6 months before these shows can be booked. So it's pretty realistic to say that there's nothing else for 2012 anyway. But that's not to say that it's not going to happen. He have to take baby steps and make John comfortable being in the stage. And if we do and do some more shows I can guarantee that Greece will be among them because it's my favorite place to play. 
I had the luck to attend all your shows since '99 and every single one is a unique experience. For me too. I can remember each one of these shows. I love it and I tell everybody it's my favorite place to play. 
You last live in Larisa was amazing despite being hot as hell in there. You really looked like having a great time while being your first time there.  I was surprised by that show, we had so much fun there. He had no idea what to expect, everyone told us that its kind out in the middle of nowhere, it's a smaller town and I didn't know what to expect but the fans where absolutely amazing. 
Can you tell us about the new Fates Warning album? It's really early going at this point but we're working on it, assembling ideas. It's hard starting writing a new record just after worked all this time on Arch/Matheos and then we did the O.S.I record.  Feeling a little bit of writers block right now but it's starting to come together and we'll see but it's to early for me to say how it's going to sound like or how is going to come out. All I can say for sure is that there is going to be a Fates Warning 11 with Ray and basically with the live line up that we've been playing the last couple of years.  
 
You've worked for many years with 2 of the best drummers of the metal scene, Bobby Jarzombek and Mark Zonder with quite different approach in drumming between them. Does this impact the writing of the songs, the recording?  You know it does not affect the writing of the songs at all. I write what it's going to be Arch/Matheos or O.S.I or F.W. I just write what ever it feels right  at the time. Obviously at the creation of the drum parts between Mark and Bobby there's a vast difference, again it gets down to the differences I mentioned in Ray and John. They are completely different, I enjoy both of them. I think Mark is probably more jazz oriented drummer, Bobby comes more from metal world. We think that the songs that we play now have a new energy with Βobby live but Mark's drumming was incredibly important to those records that he played on. Now it feels like Bobby adding a little more punch to the songs.. I agree, that kind what it feels coming from the stage when performing them.   
Is Kevin Moore going to participate to the new album, as in A pleasant shade of gray and Disconnected? I don't think so, it's really early to say cause I haven't written all the tunes yet. Kevin and I both agree that after staying together for so much time for O.S.I it's best to keep everything else separate at this point, otherwise they will start becoming mixed up too much I think. OSI will sound like Fates Warning and Fates Warning will sound like OSI. I'd rather keep them separated this time but you know, nothing's on the table, we’ll see.   After the release of the new album do you have plans for a Tour? Will it be an extensive or in selected countries? 
We're probably going to do some European dates on March just to keep ourselves in shape and warmed up but at this point there's nothing scheduled.  
A lot of the bands nowadays usually release live DVDs after each tour. Your last  live release was the Live in Athens back in 2005 , are you going to film something this time or perhaps the keep it true show? At this point there's nothing planned, the Live in Athens DVD was on 2005 and we don't have a new record yet. It's going to be weird for us to film another show, not with the same setlist but with nothing new in there. We'll have to wait to have at least another record out before we do another live record or another live DVD. As far as John goes with Arch/Matheos this will be his first show in 25 years or something like that, so I don't think he will really want that to be recorded. We need to work the bugs out of the show first.  
 
You’re a great lyricist, in sympathetic resonance the majority of the lyrics was written from Jonh and Ray has written also a lot of songs in the last 2 records, what about the new one? I think it will probably be as in Disconnected where I wrote a lot of them and then Ray the rest, yet again it really remains to be seen, lyrically, vocally. To enjoy the end results and be happy from them. It's not something I enjoy doing it, it's hard to me, a lot harder than writing the music so I have to be inspired or somebody else has to do it. 

You are ready to release the new OSI album, can you tell us some things about it? When it will be ready? 
You know it's coming out in March and there supposed to be a press release coming from Metal Blade next week and basically the ask me not to tell anything about before the press release cause I guess they want get all the attention when it comes out.. I really don't know. It's coming out in March, Kevin and I are really happy with it,  but that's all I can say. There will be a bunch of information released next week as far as titles, pictures and some samples coming out next week on O.S.I website and on Metal Blade as well.

You moved from Inside out to Metal blade? Actually we actually did a switch there, now OSI is on Metal blade and Fates Warning is on Insideout .

Do you have Gavin Harrison again as drummer?
Yes Gavin is the drummer and bass was done by my self so its basically just myself and Kevin doing everything and the Gavin playing drums.  

Will there be any other participants like Steven Wilson and Mike Akerfeld in the past?       Not in this one. We decided for this one that Kevin and I we're gonna take care of everything, except for the drums that neither of us can do. It just turned out that way, we felt comfortable with the material that we were writing and  he felt comfortable with all the vocals. You know a lot of times in the past we liked some of the songs that Kevin didn't felt comfortable doing lyrics and vocals for them for whatever reason so we brought a guest vocalist here and there. For this one it didn't work out that way so it's just Kevin, Gavin and I.  
Do you consider working again with Mike Portnoy.
Yeah, you know I have to find the right project and certainly I would love to. We still remain good friends, I talk to him frequently. We may in fact, I can't say officially, but we may be doing a show sometime in the coming month. We have an offer to do a Fates Warning show somewhere and Bobby is not going to be able to do it cause he has another commitment  so we're talking to Mike about maybe doing a show or two over the year.   
We saw a Parallels lineup reunion, is there a chance for something similar in the future, maybe about A pleasant shade of gray? is there a chance ever again to be performed in its entirety? I think so. Right now we actually scheduling the inside Out re-release for 2012, so we're looking maybe doing some shows for that and then of course  after inside out maybe next year or the following year will be the re-release of the Pleasant Shade of Gray. I haven't really talk to anybody about this but for me personally I would love to do that, I'd love to get Kevin to come out with us and do a whole string of dates playing the whole record. There's a lot of planning and it's pretty far away but that's my plan at this point. 
There is a Vinyl revival for some years now, is there a chance for any reissues of the old stuff or the ones that never printed on vinyl, APSOG was never printed IIRC and Inside Out and Disconnected were printed in a very limited edition from Massacre records. You know that kind of decisions it's pretty much up to the record company. I'd like to do it, we did a couple of different  versions of Arch/Matheos record, we did a double record and then a single record in the states. I'm not sure but I think also O.S.I will be on a limited vinyl release but it's all up to the company. If they ask me if I want to do this I'll always say yes.


If there is demand out there I'm sure they're going to do it.  Is there plans for any personal record? 
If I have time I would love to do it. There's so much time in the day for the Arch/Matheos, O.S.I, Fates Warning and getting ready for the live shows and I have no spare time but I would certainly love to. If time allows I think that maybe will be some time later this year or early next year to start looking on one of those but I have nothing planned at this point.
 
Is there a chance for a reissue of your personal CDs as it's very difficult to find them anymore even as used. Especialy the first as it was released from Dream Circle records and not Metal Blade as the second one. I haven't talked to anybody about that, I do have some extra material from those records that I never released though, and we we're thinking maybe making a re-release of the two records in one package, just another thing to add to my list.   I thine I've read that you took classical guitar lessons back in the early-mid 90s, did that influenced the way that you compose your songs or on your musical approach? No, I never had any lesson. There was a time maybe early '90s or late '80s that Frank and I would get together and play classical guitar together, I think he was taking lessons at some point, so he was coming at my place and we were playing together but that's it pretty much.
 
What are your influences? They were pretty wide ranging, anything from my favorite metal bands when I was kid, Black Sabbath, Rush, and UFO and some of the more progressive bands like Yes, Marillion, Genesis ELP and those kind of things 
 
Do you listen to anything particular these days, any band that seems interesting to you? I listen to a lot of different stuff. I don't listen to a lot of metal, I listen to anything from acoustic stuff, bluegrass, electronic music and some progressive stuff. I love the last Steven Wilson record, I love the Opeth record. I try to listen to a lot of different things, different music. I try not to listen to a lot of the stuff that sounds like what I do, there's not something that I want to listen in my spare time, i want to listen to different things.   
 
Well, I think our time is up, is there anything that you’d like to add? As I said before Greece is my favorite place to play, the fans there is just amazing. Thank you so much for supporting everything I've done over the years. I can't wait to come back and play for you guys whether it would be FW, OSI or Arch/Matheos. We'll be back at some point.

Is there really a chance for an OSI tour?  You know it's like the Arch/Matheos thing. It's hard to put together. We're talking about it, we may do a couple of shows this year but we've talked about it in the past also and has never happened so far and I can't make promises. I will do everything I can to do it cause I think it will be a great show. 
Indeed, but I thought that Kevin doesn't feel very comfortable playing live any more, right? He hasn't done it. It's the same with John, he hasn't done it in a long time and the music O.S.I put out is a lot more difficult to produce it live. There's a lot programming and things that have to get together. It's not impossible, a lot of bands do it but it's something we haven't done before and it's going to take a lot of preparation . 
Jim I’d like to thank you for this conversation. Take care and I hope to see you again soon  I thank you too, bye.   ?http://www.fateswarning.c...ttp://www.osiband.com/

 

He likes Grace For Drowning and Heritage?  WIN!
 
And I'm definitely looking forward to another album with Ray.  
 
And a show or two with MP?  They did that for a song or two when I saw FW and DT on tour together in Baltimore years ago and it was pretty great, so "yes, please" to that also.

Effing metal bump!
 
I am still spinning this album almost every day. Just righteous, complicated, bad ass
metal that grows better and better with time. LOVE IT!!
 
I really hope this band makes a follow up.

Tried really hard to get into this album but...
I just can't deal with the vocals.

There is a unique quality to his vocals I really like...most of the time. There are times,
like on the 4th track that I don't think he ever gets where he's going and it can be
a little rough. But on the whole I like him because he sounds so different than everybody out there.