Old school Fates Warning fans, rejoice! Guitarist Jim Matheos and singer John Arch have linked back up to deliver the second Arch / Matheos album, Winter Ethereal and you can hear the first single, "Straight and Narrow," in the video below.

Arch still has the skyscraping range he displayed so masterfully more than 30 years ago as his piercing, nasal-toned voice contorts around Matheos' fluid grooves. True to its title, "Straight and Narrow" isn't the winding progressive piece fans may expect, but it's still a scorcher.

"This stems from both of us trying to step out of our comfort zones a bit, sometimes voluntarily, sometimes being pushed," states Matheos of the album. "Having worked together so many times, it would be easy to fall into the same way of doing things, and I think we were both interested in exploring some new areas."

"Each song is notably different from the next, and nothing sounds repetitive," adds Arch. "It is not a concept album, but somehow after a full listen from start to finish, there does seem to be continuity between the songs that I can't describe. At over an hour long, I think the fans will agree that it is a full listening experience."

Winter Ethereal comes out May 10 on Metal Blade. Pre-order your copy here and take a look at the album art and track listing below.

Arch / Matheos, Winter Ethereal Artwork + Track Listing

Arch / Matheos, 'Winter Ethereal'
Metal Blade
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1. "Vermilion Moons"
2. "Wanderlust"
3. "Solitary Man"
4. "Wrath of the Universe"
5. "Tethered"
6. "Straight and Narrow"
7. "Pitch Black Prism"
8. "Never in Your Hands"
9. "Kindred Spirits"

See Fates Warning in the Top 25 Progressive Metal Albums of All Time

 

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