Fates Warning are the Connecticut pioneers who, alongside Queensrÿche and Dream Theater, helped invent progressive metal — marrying the heaviness of heavy metal to the ambition of Rush and Yes. Here is our fellow fan’s ranking of their finest songs.

The short version

If you only hear a few, make them “Eye to Eye”, “Point of View”, “The Ivory Gate of Dreams” and “Guardian” — the anthemic high point, a melodic classic, the twenty-minute epic and the magical heart of the John Arch era. The full ranking is below.

The architects of progressive metal

Formed in Hartford, Connecticut in 1982, Fates Warning are rightly regarded as one of the founding bands of progressive metal — the trio, with Queensrÿche and Dream Theater, who married the power of heavy metal to the complexity and ambition of progressive rock. Across four decades, guitarist and chief songwriter Jim Matheos has guided the band through two distinct eras: the labyrinthine, fantasy-tinged power metal sung by John Arch in the mid-1980s, and the introspective, emotionally complex progressive metal that followed with vocalist Ray Alder. These fifteen songs span both.

How we ranked them

This is one fan’s order, weighing songwriting, ambition, musicianship and lasting impact across both of their eras. The facts are accurate; the order is a starting point for the debate.

The essential six

At the top sits “Eye to Eye” (1991), the polished, anthemic high point of their most beloved album. Beside it stands “Point of View” (1991), an irresistible, melodic prog-metal classic. With them: “The Ivory Gate of Dreams” (1988), the breathtaking twenty-minute epic that closes No Exit; “Guardian” (1986), the magical, acoustic-laced centrepiece of the John Arch era; “Part of the Machine” (1989), the bold, stuttering opener that announced their full progressive leap; and “Monument” (1994), a soaring highlight of Inside Out.

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Reliably great

The next tier is essential too. “We Only Say Goodbye” (1991) is one of their most affecting songs; “Giant’s Lore” (1986) shows John Arch in full storytelling flight; “Silent Cries” (1989) is a brooding Perfect Symmetry epic; “The Eleventh Hour” (1991) closes the first side of Parallels in style; and “A Pleasant Shade of Gray” (1997) is their most ambitious statement — a single, hour-long, twelve-part suite.

Deeper cuts

For the dedicated, these reward repeat listens. “Pale Fire” (1994) is a driving Inside Out gem; “Still Remains” (2000) is a highlight of the atmospheric Disconnected; “Seven Stars” (2016) marked a triumphant late-career return to form; and “The Destination Onward” (2020) is a sprawling epic from their most recent album.

Every song at a glance

All fifteen songs, in chronological order — each linked to the album it comes from, so you can hear it in context.

Where to start

Begin with “Eye to Eye” and “Point of View” — the most accessible way in. From there, the whole of Parallels rewards a listen, before you dive into the riches of Awaken the Guardian and No Exit.

The players

Fates Warning have always centred on guitarist and songwriter Jim Matheos, the one constant across every album and the architect of their ever-evolving sound. Their story has two great voices: John Arch, whose soaring, high-register wail defined the fantasy-tinged early years, and Ray Alder, whose more grounded, emotive delivery has fronted the band since 1988. Bassist Joey Vera and a series of gifted drummers, including Mark Zonder and Bobby Jarzombek, have completed the line-up across the decades. Their most recent album, Long Day Good Night, arrived in 2020.

Why they still matter

Fates Warning never had the mainstream profile of some of their peers, but their influence on progressive metal is immense — a band’s band whose restless, intricate songwriting helped define the genre. They stand with fellow pioneers Queensrÿche and Dream Theater at its very foundation, share the genre with American kindred Symphony X and Crimson Glory, and their fingerprints are on countless bands who followed. Few groups have evolved so far while keeping their identity so intact.

Go deeper

Keep exploring: rank their records with our guide to the best Fates Warning albums, find an entry point with where to start with Fates Warning, or dig into the underrated Fates Warning albums. You can also place them in the bigger picture with the best progressive rock songs of all time.

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