Oh boy, are you guys ready for some news that will blow your minds? 🤯 I mean, I’m still trying to process it myself, and I’ve had three beers to help me cope. So, here it goes: Ray Alder and Jim Matheos from Fates Warning just dropped a new acoustic video of their song “Under The Sun” from the album “Long Day Good Night”, and I’m not sure if I should be excited or just plain confused. I mean, who needs electricity when you can just strum some acoustic guitars and call it a day, right? 🎸
So, what’s the story behind this acoustic rendition? Well, according to Alder, they were just messing around and thought, “Hey, why not play a song for the fans?” And thus, this beautiful, stripped-down version of “Under The Sun” was born. I guess it’s sort of live, as Alder puts it, but I’m not sure if that’s just a nice way of saying they couldn’t be bothered to plug in their amps.
The Background
Fates Warning has been a stalwart of the progressive metal scene for over 35 years, and they’ve never compromised their integrity or lost relevance. I mean, who needs to sell out when you can just keep on keeping on, making epic albums like “Long Day Good Night”? 🤘 That album, by the way, is a rollercoaster ride of emotions, with electronics, ethereal feels, and some pretty heavy songs. It’s like they took all their favorite genres, threw them in a blender, and hit puree.
Alder previously said, “The styles of music we’ve written distinguish this record from the rest of our catalogue.” Yeah, no kidding. It’s like they decided to take all their influences, put them in a big ol’ pot, and stir. And the result is something truly special. But hey, who needs a cohesive sound when you can just experiment and see what sticks, right? 🤪
North Sea Echoes: Because One Band Isn’t Enough
But wait, there’s more! Alder and Matheos also have a side project called North Sea Echoes, which is set to release a new studio album called “How To Cast A Shadow” on July 24 via Metal Blade Records. Because, you know, one band isn’t enough for these guys. They need to spread their creative wings and fly, or in this case, cast a shadow. 🔮
Their debut album, “Really Good Terrible Things”, got rave reviews, with songs that possessed “liberating sonic space and emotional vulnerability”. Yeah, because that’s exactly what I look for in music – sonic space and emotional vulnerability. Said no one ever. 😒 But hey, who am I to judge? Maybe that’s exactly what the world needs right now.
Alder has been the vocalist and main co-writer for Fates Warning for 37 years, and he’s also had time to work on other projects, like Redemption, A-Z, and his solo records. I mean, the guy’s a machine. He’s like the metal version of a Renaissance man, except instead of painting the Mona Lisa, he’s writing epic prog metal albums. 🎨
And then there’s Matheos, the revered guitarist and producer, who’s been with Fates Warning since the beginning. He’s also worked on numerous other projects, including OSI and Kings of Mercia. I guess when you’ve been in the business for as long as these guys have, you start to accumulate a few side projects. It’s like they’re collecting bands like they’re Pokémon or something. 🎮
So, what’s next for Fates Warning? Well, they haven’t performed live since 2019, so maybe it’s time for them to dust off their instruments and hit the road again. Or maybe they’ll just stick to acoustic videos and call it a day. Either way, I’m sure their fans will be thrilled. 🤩
In conclusion, this acoustic video of “Under The Sun” is a nice little treat for Fates Warning fans, and it’s a great reminder that even after all these years, the band still has it. But let’s be real, who needs electricity when you can just strum some acoustic guitars and call it a day? 🎸 It’s like they say: you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but you can teach an old prog metal band to play acoustic. 🐕🎸
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
