I gave my CD copy of Tiamat's Sumerian Cry a spin the other day, and sadly I only own the horrendous 2005 Blackend reissue. It lacks the killer original art, has no lyrics, and apparently they didn't even get the tracklisting right. There must be other examples of offensively bad reissues like this,...

N - Never Surrender

Can anyone vouch for whether this band, and their 1986 album Forever and Ever, is any good?

That's it really, just intrigued by them and wonder whether I should pick up the LP.

Always thought this took the piss, even if he was in the band once...

The world's a much emptier place, but his voice will live on forever. THANK YOU for your music Dio!

Yeah, it's inconceivable! One of my favourite vocal melodies on AtG is the first verse-and-a-bit of Giant's Lore - totally glorious. Arch doesn't sing it quite the same later in the song, but the opening section gets me every time. Works so brilliantly over the quite open guitar work too.

Yeah, I get that a lot ;) Especially concerning Arch vocals. I really wish he could make something happen in the lower or at least mid registers too, but its insanely high pitched vocals from start to finish and thats allright in power metal, but not enough in progressive music. Thats why I put Mid...

pan_Heathen wrote:I dont really fancy Arch vocals though. Too one dimensional when compared to singers like Geoff Tate. I like Ray Alder better.

Best cover: No Exit. magnificently disturbing.

I don't think I could agree less with those two points haha!

Ok, poll added. Can't see anyone voting for their later offerings, but hey! I went for Awaken the Guardian.

The Erlking wrote:How about adding a poll here to see some numbers

Thought about it, but wasn't sure whether to feature all 10 studio albums... could do.

'Spectre' has never really clicked with me; take away the amazing 'The Apparition' and I actually prefer 'Brocken'. I know exactly what you mean. Awaken was the first Fates album I got, and for at least a year Spectre didn't even come close. I didn't like the production as much, didn't think Arch's...

I've just signed up to this place, love it already! Thought I'd get some discussion going on people's favourite Fates album, and why. John Arch era goes without saying, surely. For me, I find it almost impossible to choose between The Spectre Within and Awaken the Guardian - both contain some of my ...