Customer Reviews

No Exit

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I read all the previous reviews and wondered...who actually listened and understood the greatness of this disc...

No Exit began the Ray Alder era...now the history...when Jim was auditioning singers...Ray inquired about the job and Jim sent him the melody section to "Quietus" from 'ivory gate,' and basically what you hear on the finished cd is the audition tape Ray sent him...so I guess he was hired instantly.

I like the changes of tone...the intro part to the cd...to the tensive screams of "Anarchy Divine" both "Silent Cries" and "In a Word" are strong passion plays, deep with emotion strong and guitar crunches.

But you buy this disc for "Ivory Gate." A fantastic foray into a seemingly mythologic look...I was told that Jim based it roughly on Homer's "Odyssey." So when the last reviewer said something about the relation to "Mindcrime" (which I love...the ryche is so cool) I was stunned. I don't like to compare stories...because "Mindcrime" is a real-life based story...and "Ivory Gate" is a fantastic dreamscape...

"Ivory Gate" has such a great flow to it...the only stumbling part for me was "Daylight Dreamers" it didn't seem to fit for me...but when "Quietus" followed...I quickly forgot about the weakness of the previous track...

What I like about "Ivory Gate" and the rest of Fates longer tracks (i.e. APSOG, Something from Nothing, Still Remains) the songs take on an epic story feel...and there's a tensive build-up to a powerful dramatic ending feel to the song...on this disc you can feel it with "Acquiesence," when Ray sings the final lines.."Hope leads to final destination/ when reality obscures the dream/ makes the mind a grave of memories/ that wanders like the lonely breeze/ whose whispers echo through ruins rust/ of towers torn and dreams turned to dust..." The feel of that last movement still sends chills through me when I listen to it...some 12 years since I've heard it the first time.

So I say buy this cd for the progressive roots that it sprouts...the vocals of Ray Alder...his beginnings...and the impressive group that is Fates Warning...

There are only 6 songs on this album, but this album rocks harder than any I've ever heard. There are some terrifyingly good guitar riffs on this CD, and the vocals, bass, and drums are top notch. Jim Matheos is a God when it comes to guitar! He has an excellent sense of melody, but also can rip face melting solos and riffs. He writes most of the music and lyrics of No Exit, and he single-handedly wrote 'The Ivory Gates of Dreams'. And let me tell you, that song rocks. Chock full of every guitarists best dream, 20 minutes of pure shred but also great acoustic playing and some great piano playing.

Ray Alders vocals are very unique, and very good. I had never heard him until buying No Exit, but I must say: he is one of the, if not THE, best progessive metal vocalist I've ever heard. His voice is very powerful and he has incredible range (he can hit notes higher that Tate or Halford easily.) His vocals add a powerful presence to the music and it really "opens" it up.

In closing, if you haven't bought this album already go get it immedietely. This CD is worth 'Ivory Gate of Dreams' alone, but yet you get 4 more killer songs on the CD. The song no exit isnt really a song. More of an intro.

It rocks. Buy it!!

I bought this album way back in '87. It was amazing back then, and perhaps more amazing now. The production is very powerfull. I can't belive how strong the bass drums sound on all of my stereos(car, personal, home) The guitars, vocals, and bass blend together so well. The songs are very well wriitten. The Balance between Heavy and progressive is just right. All of this I speak of is based on the origimal cassette release I bought about 14 years ago! I dug out my cassette of no exit this weekend, it's a liittle bit worn, ,but manages to sound as fresh as ever. I am finally upgrading to "No Exit" on CD. Do yourself a favor......BUY THIS CD if you are into 80's or 90's metal. Great vocals, and great music make this album a well added piece to anyone's collection.

I can still remember when I heard this one for the first time, I was so excited I could not stop looking at that cassette tape. I could feel the power. No Exit is perhaps THE best power metal album of the whole 80's, a milestone in the complete meaning of the word. Sheer metal perfection. Song by song the guys put together one hell of a musical experience. You only have to listen once to The Ivory Tower of Dreams to recognized it as pure art. Is one of the best metal recordings ever, if you don't have had the pleasure of listening to this album do yourself a favor and buy it right now.

This is the first album for their second singer, Ray Alder, who is a world-class metal singer! This is his first Fates effort and it really kicks butt!!!

The album is heavy instumentally, so if your not spooked by very heavy, progressive metalmaniaisms, then this album will suit you. If you are a fan of REAL singers, you MUST buy this album....

The vocals are young, high, powerfull, dynamic, and breaching genius levels.

This is the only Fates Warning CD I have as of now, and this has got to be one of the greatest from any power metal band I've ever heard. Unfortuneatly I am too young to have ever remembered seeing their videos from No Exit on MTV, I had just been reccomended this CD from numorous people on the Internet. It is also amazing how band's earlier CDs are also there creepiest, especially if there were recorded in the 70's or 80's. The band's 21 minute "The Ivory Gate of Dreams" makes me wonder "what happened to the energy of the 80's?". Well I'm babbling, so I better shut up. So buy this CD!

After buying and liking Awaken the Guardian I also picked up No Exit. I wasn't disappointed -- No Exit is great, too. The singer changed, but the new singer is in the same vein/style. The singing isn't really what draws me to this band, in any case.

This is not your basic, predictable metal. These guys are great at surprising you with interesting musical tangents. Their sound and production is good, too.

In 1988, Fates Warning left the rest of the metal pack behind them with No Exit. From the brief and creepy title to the last phrase of The Ivory Gate of Dreams this disc is for the true metal fanatic.This was the first disc to feature vocalist Ray Alder who didn't thimk he had a shot at making it into Fates Warning. Musically, this disc goes from extreme quiet to extreme heaviness seamlessly and shows the intelligence of Jim Matheos' lyrics and the tastefulness of his leads.

No Exit is a solid and energetic album from Fates Warning. I still like to listen to it from time to time. The musical direction of the disc is metal with a melodic and progressive edge. The album's musicianship is very precise and skilled. The guitar playing is heavy, cool, and meticulous. I also really like the drums--they are very noticeable and sound great. The album's production is impressive and sounds dynamic and clean. Ray Alder does a good job with the vocals--he also does well with hitting the falsettos. There are plenty of heavy and infectious guitar riffs throughout this disc. I also think that the album's songwriting is pretty good. There is a total of six tracks. One track ("The Ivory Gate of Dreams") is over twenty minutes in length. The tunes that I like the most are "Anarchy Divine" and "Silent Cries." The lyrics to "Anarchy Divine" are interesting, too. "Shades of Heavenly Death" is another cool tune that sports a lively intro. Fates Warning did a nice job with this album. Worth a listen.

What can i say about an album that is close to brillant. These guys go back a few years and i still listen to this album like it was released yesterday. If you like progresive rock then this is an album you want to check out. The solid composition of technical sound blended with lryics that describe and feel thoughts of genuis musical writing, push you through an oddessy of rock and ballad...As i said, these guys are old and this is one of the bands that paved the way to progessive rock. I recomend this to the young and upcomig progressive fans as well. If you like Dream Theater or any other Fates Warning album...give this one a listen, you won't be dissapointed.