Fates Warning are an influential heavy metal- progressive metal band from Connecticut, USA. Though their early works are more in the vein of traditional Iron Maiden-influenced heavy metal, by Awaken the Guardian (1986) they, along with Dream Theater and Queensrÿche, had become one of the pioneering bands of the then-emerging progressive metal genre. Their first three albums are best known for lead singer John Arch's unusual vocal approach, and the lyrics deal mainly with fantasy themes, but John Arch left after the third album and as new vocalist Ray Alder joined the band the lyrics took a more introspective turn. Their later works (Perfect Symmetry and after) go more in a progressive rock/ progressive metal direction and their lyrics turn to more personalized style.
