The Spectre Within

The Spectre Within is the second studio album by progressive metal band Fates Warning, released in October 1985 through Metal Blade Records.[1] It has been reissued three times: first as a double album together with Night on Bröcken (1984) in 1992,[3] followed by a remastered edition in 1994,[4] and again in 2002 with four bonus tracks as well as new cover art.[5]

The Spectre Within
Studio album by
Fates Warning
ReleasedOctober 1985 (1985-10)[1]
RecordedEldorado Recording Studios in Burbank, California; Track Record Studios in North Hollywood, Los Angeles
GenreHeavy metal, progressive metal
Length48:20[2]
LabelMetal Blade
ProducerFates Warning, Brian Slagel
Fates Warning chronology
Night on Bröcken
(1984)		 The Spectre Within
(1985)		 Awaken the Guardian
(1986)
Alternative cover
2002 remastered edition

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[6]
Sputnikmusic3.5/5[7]

Robert Taylor at AllMusic awarded The Spectre Within two stars out of five, saying that "Metal fans may enjoy this more than Night on Bröcken, especially 'Pirates of the Underground' and 'The Apparition', but there is very little, if anything, for the progressive fan."[6] Trey Spencer at Sputnikmusic gave the album a similarly lukewarm review, deeming it "for die-hard fans only". Some criticism was directed at John Arch's vocals, which were described as "slightly irritating due to the unchanging high-pitched nature of his voice", as well as the dated riffs and production. For new fans of Fates Warning, Spencer instead recommended their 1986 follow-up Awaken the Guardian as a better starting point.[7]

In contrast, Jeff Wagner in his Mean Deviation (2010: 56) book wrote that The Spectre Within "set Fates Warning apart from just about everyone else in the metal underground, although parallels could be drawn to Danish band Mercyful Fate, an early influence on [guitarist Jim Matheos]". Wagner also stressed that the album was "darker and more complex than even Iron Maiden or Queensrÿche, and it handled its fantasy imagery intelligently, passing over the clichéd traps of wizards, dragons, and ham-fisted, second-rate riffs".

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Traveler in Time"Jim Matheos, Victor Arduini, John Arch7:13
2."Orphan Gypsy"Arduini, Arch5:59
3."Without a Trace"Arduini, Arch4:49
4."Pirates of the Underground"Matheos, Arduini, Arch7:07
5."The Apparition"Matheos, Arch5:50
6."Kyrie Eleison"Matheos, Arch5:25
7."Epitaph"Matheos, Arch11:57
Total length:48:20
2002 reissue bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
8."Radio Underground (Live Underground)"6:57
9."The Apparition (Rehearsal 1985)"5:54
10."Kyrie Eleison (Demo 1985)"5:50
11."Epitaph (Demo 1985)"11:54

Personnel
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References
  1. The Best of Metal Blade: Volume 1 (vinyl gatefold). p. 1. Metal Blade Records. Retrieved 2014-07-16.
  2. The Spectre Within (CD release "Restless/Metal Blade 72088-2").
  3. "Fates Warning – Night On Bröcken / The Spectre Within". Discogs. Retrieved 2015-03-17.
  4. "Fates Warning – The Spectre Within". Discogs. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
  5. "The Spectre Within". fateswarning.com. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
  6. Taylor, Robert. "The Spectre Within - Fates Warning". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 2014-07-16.
  7. Spencer, Trey (2008-07-17). "Review: Fates Warning - The Spectre Within". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 2014-07-16.
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