Theories of Flight

Last updated
Theories of Flight
Fates Warning - Theories of Flight.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJuly 1, 2016 (2016-07-01)
Recorded2015–2016
Genre Progressive metal
Length52:17
Label Inside Out Music
Producer Jim Matheos
Fates Warning chronology
Darkness in a Different Light
(2013)
Theories of Flight
(2016)
Long Day Good Night
(2020)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
SputnikmusicStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [1]

Theories of Flight is the twelfth studio album by progressive metal band Fates Warning, released on July 1, 2016 through Inside Out Music; their last release on the label with their re-signing with their longtime label Metal Blade Records in 2019. [2] Theories of Flight marked the first time since 2004's FWX that Fates Warning had recorded as a four-piece. Although guitarist Frank Aresti was still a member of Fates Warning at the time of the album's writing and recording sessions, he does not appear in band photos inside the album booklet and is credited only as a guest, for providing guitar solos on two tracks ("From the Rooftops" and "White Flag"); therefore, this is the last Fates Warning album to feature Aresti.

Contents

Critical reception

In his review of the album, Trey Spencer of Sputnik Music stated "Theories of Flight feels like a classic", arguing "when a band somehow manages to take the most solid and memorable moments of their breakthrough release and seamlessly mesh them with a sound they’ve been circling around for years, and do so flawlessly, then it is at least worth proclaiming that they’ve released a milestone within their own career. But is it worth stopping the discussion there; I don’t know? While it’s too early to start calling Theories of Flight another pinnacle of the progressive metal genre, in 10-years’ time that may very well be what this album has become." [1]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."From the Rooftops" Jim Matheos, Ray Alder, Bobby Jarzombek 6:52
2."Seven Stars"Matheos, Alder5:33
3."SOS"Matheos, Alder4:34
4."The Light and Shade of Things"Matheos, Alder10:14
5."White Flag"Matheos, Alder5:20
6."Like Stars Our Eyes Have Seen"Matheos, Alder5:13
7."The Ghosts of Home"Matheos10:31
8."Theories of Flight" (Instrumental)Matheos4:00
Total length:52:17
Acoustic bonus disc
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Firefly"Matheos, Alder3:15
2."Seven Stars"Matheos, Alder4:25
3."Another Perfect Day"Matheos3:25
4."Pray Your Gods" (Toad the Wet Sprocket cover) Glen Phillips, Todd Nichols, Dean Dinning, Randy Guss 3:45
5."Adela" (Joaquín Rodrigo cover)Joaquín Rodrigo2:25
6."Rain" (Uriah Heep cover) Ken Hensley 4:03

Personnel

Fates Warning

Guests

Charts

Chart (2016)Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [3] 32
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [4] 175
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [5] 192
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [6] 70
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [7] 12
Italian Albums (FIMI) [8] 80
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [9] 16
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard) [10] 2

Related Research Articles

Progressive metal is a broad fusion music genre melding heavy metal and progressive rock, combining the loud "aggression" and amplified guitar-driven sound of the former with the more experimental, cerebral or "pseudo-classical" compositions of the latter.

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References

  1. 1 2 Trey Spencer (June 26, 2016). "Review: Fates Warning - Theories of Flight" . Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  2. "Fates Warning To Release 'Theories Of Flight' Album In July". Blabbermouth.net. April 23, 2016. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  3. "Austriancharts.at – Fates Warning – Theories of Flight" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  4. "Ultratop.be – Fates Warning – Theories of Flight" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  5. "Ultratop.be – Fates Warning – Theories of Flight" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  6. "Dutchcharts.nl – Fates Warning – Theories of Flight" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  7. "Offiziellecharts.de – Fates Warning – Theories of Flight" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  8. "Album – Classifica settimanale WK 27 (dal 2016-07-01 al 2016-07-07)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  9. "Swisscharts.com – Fates Warning – Theories of Flight". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  10. "Fates Warning Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2016.