Customer Reviews

No Exit: 25th Anniversary Edition (Bonus Dvd)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Metal blade did a fabulous job w/ the re-release of "awaken the guardian". No Exit does not get quite the elaborate roll-out that Awaken did but the extras are pretty cool. On the cd you get 3 unheard tunes. One is a vocal audition that Ray mailed back to the band. The other two are 'lost' instrumentals that belonged in the Ivory Gate epic but the parts that were left out sound similiar to riffs that are already in the song. The dvd is cool at 45 min long but a bit frustrating since they always give you a fade in/fade out version of songs mashed together. You never do see one complete song from back in tha day w/ the exception of them doing Valley of the Dolls (a track from a previous album) and that quality is from a many-times dubbed VHS source. Also, the graphics and colors on the cd cover are just horrendous. It's almost like FW is an inside joke at Metal blade. First they spell their sophmore release "Spector" incorrectly and now the No Exit cover almost looks like a black and white image that was done by a fourth grader at computer camp. But, FW have proved that it is not the album covers (or videos) that makes this band unique it is the music that lays imbedded in the cd.
I remember seeing these guys on the No Exit tour at the thirsty Whale in Chicago. It was one of the last tours Ray would sing John Arch material and the crowd was just electric with joy while FW played. FW even hung in the pkg lot before the show and drank w/ us! Some of the greatest prog metal ever comes from the fingertips of this band. These guys are a bit more like a 'serious' and somber Dream Theater. Check out this classic release but all FW discs are good but the '92 era and before was when they were at their prog peak.

If you thought that No Exit sounded good, well this version is going to blow you away, The best part is that now you can actually listen to the different parts of Ivory Tower as individual songs. Also you have really cool footage of the tour and behind the scenes stuff of the recording of the music videos. If you love classic Fates you must own this version of No Exit.

The album itself was fine but there was no bonus dvd!!!!! It would be nice if there was one but there was not. I have been a fates warning fan. anybody who would like this cd will but there may not be a dvd in there.

This album still blows me away after all these years. There's so much going on, you have to hear it a few times to catch it all. If I had to describe it, I would call it 'orchestraded hard rock/metal'. Emotionally high and low, between sadness and despair to hope and triumph. The music backs it all up like a sound-score. Not a weak link in the musician department, or vocally for that matter. Alder did a great job in the 1st post-Arch Era album. Matheos and Arresti are amazing soloists who also know when to reign it in for melodic effect as well as turn it loose for full-on mayhem. A very underrated band; this was maybe their finest to date.

First off, let me start by saying that this is a 5-star album. Absolutely love this record, so I had to get myself a physical copy to blast in my car. My problem however is with what actually arrived in the mail from amazon. I was expecting the cd + bonus dvd, but the bonus dvd was nowhere to be seen. Another reviewer noted that he had the same problem as well. I would avoid getting this item from amazon.com because you may not get the bonus dvd.

I am trying to get into Fates Warning. I have Awaken the Guardian, and a later Fates cd that doesn't sound like metal at all. I like this "No Exit" cd better than "Awaken". Why? Mainly because the quirky vocals, and wierd time changes are gone on "Exit". Here you have some decent heavy metal with a slightly progressive bent. The vocals are very high--quite similar to the Queensryche dude. If you are a lover of all things metal, and like some intelligence added to it--try this cd.

Ordered this item on 3/28, arrived on 3/31. Was expecting the remastered edition of No Exit with the bonus dvd (2 discs). Although Amazon web site reflects discs: 1, the CD arrived and did, in fact, only include 1 CD (no bonus dvd). What was even more peculiar was that the product was shrink wrapped with the packaging reflecting "bonus dvd included." I contacted Amazon for a replacement, hoping that this was a packing error. They're overnighting me a replacement (and return label). Am anxious to see what I will get since this is a relatively rare item. Has anyone else failed to receive the bonus DVD w/ their order?

I really like this re-release of No Exit, it has what you would expect from a special edition: better artwork (it is still the original but with different shades and tones), bonus tracks and remastered sound, plus a bonus DVD. The booklet contains all the photos of the original release plus new ones from that era of the band, all additional information from lyrics to original thanks and credits in a better and more elegant layout, along with a few lines commenting on the bonus tracks. I'm not a sound expert but I have the original release and this sounds louder, brighter and cleaner. What was a great and welcomed surprise was that now the Ivory Gate of Dreams suite is separated in 8 tracks, making it easier to enjoy your favorite parts of the song. As another reviewer wrote the bonus tracks are the original Quietus demo (Ray's audition tape) and two pieces of music that were not used for the Ivory Gate of Dreams. I'm not that much into DVD's so I haven't watched this one, but the music alone warrant the purchase of this cool edition.

For those of you that haven't heard No Exit it is a powerful trash/prog metal hybrid, heavier and less melodic than the John Arch releases but excellent none the less.