Awaken the Guardian by Fates Warning (CD, Apr-1994, Metal Blade)

This is an excellent CD. Blistering duel guitars, smashing drums, chest thumping bass and vocals out of this world. Band originated in CT, my home state. Fates Warning kind of reminds me of a mix between Iron Maiden and Queensryche. One of the original lead guitarists, Vic Arduini, was replaced with John "X" Aresti, but the Fates Warning sound pressed on without skipping a beat. This CD shows how the band's sound evolved from their first two CD's Night on Brocken and The Spectre Within. In my opinion, If you don't have this CD yet, you're way behind the metal power curve.