The Spectre Within

About

"The Spectre Within" is the second studio album by American progressive metal band Fates Warning, released in October 1985 through Metal Blade Records. It has been reissued three times: in 1992 as a double album alongside the band's debut album, "Night on Bröcken" (1984); in 1994 as a remastered edition; and in 2002 with four bonus tracks and revised cover artwork. The album is predominantly heavy metal, with fewer progressive elements than the band's subsequent releases. Its musical characteristics include extensive use of falsetto vocals and harmonised guitar riffs. In his 2010 book "Mean Deviation: Four Decades of Progressive Heavy Metal", journalist Jeff Wagner described the album's sound as darker and more complex than that of bands such as Iron Maiden and Queensrÿche, while criticising aspects of its instrumentation and guitar riffs. The lyrics explore fantasy themes, including magic and dragons. "The Spectre Within" received mixed reviews from critics. Robert Taylor of AllMusic awarded it two out of five stars, stating that heavy metal fans might prefer it to "Night on Bröcken", particularly citing "Pirates of the Underground" and "The Apparition", but that it offered little to progressive metal fans. Trey Spencer of Sputnikmusic rated the album 3.5 out of five and described it as being primarily suited to dedicated fans. He criticised John Arch's consistently high-pitched vocals, as well as the dated guitar riffs and production. Spencer recommended the band's 1986 follow-up album, "Awaken the Guardian", as a more suitable starting point for new listeners. In contrast, Wagner argued in "Mean Deviation" that "The Spectre Within" distinguished Fates Warning from most other bands in the underground metal scene, although he noted similarities to the Danish band Mercyful Fate, which had influenced guitarist Jim Matheos.

via Last.fm