Fountain of Tears - Fate
  Genre: Gothic/Progressive Metal
  Release Date: 2007
  Label: Nightmare Records
  Band Web Site: http://www.fountainoftears.com

Fountain of Tears was formed in 1995 by bassist Erik Ney and keyboardist Jeff King in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Joining them was guitarist Mike DiDonato (who played with Ney in the thrash metal band Sacrament) and veteran drummer Joey Daub, who was formerly a member of the Dove Award (Christian music equivalent of the Grammy) nominated Christian metal act Believer. Believer was a household name in the Christian metal world, as the band toured Europe and the USA, selling over 50,000 records. Fountain of Tears’ self-titled debut recording was released in 1999 with vocalist Anna DeRose, who left soon after. Vocalist Vonnie King joined the group a few years later. Vonnie’s credentials include being a former member of the band R Angels, who was on the Motown label and had a song and video on the Stuart Little soundtrack with the song “I Need To Know“! Another EP followed in 2003. After that, Fountain of Tears put all of their energy and passion into making a record which would truly capture their unique brand of gothic metal with a progressive twist. That album would be titled Fate and was released in 2007.

Now, I know you are reading that first paragraph right now and thinking…wow! This band has some very impressive credentials…I can only imagine what Fate will sound like! Well, believe me, as “fate” would have it, I am about to tell you! Trust me, you will find it is an album that is destined to become a classic. Now, read on and pay attention!

Now, it has taken me a long time to get to this point for various sundry reasons which I will not discuss here, and I don’t want to bore you with details of my personal life in the past year. However, there has been many a time where I have felt depressed or overburdened during the past 12 months, and I have many albums in my collection that I turn to in those times. Fate has been one of those albums that has seen the inside of my car’s CD player on many occasions. It has also been selected on my personal iPod frequently. It is an album that I cannot describe in the traditional track by track manner in which I normally review albums. For me to do that would be a grave injustice to the album and the musicians who crafted it.

Also, many people who do my job – people who review metal albums – have unfairly pigeonholed Fountain of Tears alongside contemporaries such as Nightwish, After Forever, Lacuna Coil, and many other gothic female-fronted metal bands. While the aforementioned bands are all spectacular in their own right, there are many small ingredients mixed into the Fountain of Tears recipe that makes their music stand apart from the bulk of the femme metal scene.

Let us review said ingredients, shall we?

First off, the vocalist – many femme metal groups look for a singer who is either balls-on powerful or operatic. Fountain of Tears have taken an extremely different approach. They recruited a vocalist whose previous band was an all-girl R&B pop quartet. Yes, I know! Many metal fans may scratch their heads after reading this, and upon first spin of the album will expect a Destiny’s Child meets goth metal hybrid – well, don’t be so small minded! Let me finish! Anyways, Vonnie King brings something that I feel is desperately needed to this fast growing genre of heavy metal – she brings soul. She brings passion. She brings emotion. Her Motown influence is evident every time her wonderful voice washes through your home stereo. It’s just so full of depth and richness, and also quite seductive as well. It might not be an operatic songbird or a full fury metal banshee, but frankly, I don’t give a damn. The voice of Vonnie King is absolutely incredible.

Now…the music.

Bigger and more epic is better in the minds of stalwarts like Nightwish, Epica and After Forever – no question about it, and the music they make is remarkable. Other bands like Lacuna Coil, Lullacry and Flowing Tears opt for the more accessible route of going straight ahead and rocking out. Nothing fancy, nothing complex. Nothing wrong with that approach either! But, Fountain of Tears have decided to write their own playbook when it comes to writing music. You cannot classify this group as a normal gothic metal band. The guys and gal have concocted a type of metal music that escapes traditional definitions. Is it goth? Is it prog? Is it metal? Well, all I can tell you is that many elements come together to create a soundscape symphony for your ears and all of your senses. The vocals of King are literally dripping in soul and tug at your heart with emotion. Add to the mix the neo-progressive riffing of guitarist Mike DiDonato and the ethereal keys of Jeff King, and under it all is the foundation of the stalwart bass work of Erik Ney and the sticks and feet of drummer Joey Daub, dancing across the skins in a fashion that brings to mind the superb drum skills of drummers like Steve Gadd and Gene Hoglan. You end up with a marriage made in heaven, a veritable clashing of the best of femme-fronted goth metal meeting the time bending and virtuoso displays of vintage Yes. It’s a symphony of sound that just needs to be heard to believed. It may take the average listener a few spins to comprehend, but it will be time that is well spent, I guarantee you!

The tracks on this amazing album compliment each other with perfection. From the beginning track, “Weeping Sky”, to the final notes of “Fate”, your heart, mind and soul will be washed in audio beauty. Pain, love, loss and the trials of every day life march across the landscape painted by the music. Listening to this album is very therapeutic for the soul and the mind. You’ll feel it all because this album is as true and real as it gets – everything is genuine. Fate has the ability to make you smile one minute or cry the next. As I said before, writing a track by track review of the album would not accurately describe how I feel about the music. I figured it would be more beneficial to you all to describe how the album makes me feel. In short, every time I listen to this album I feel cleansed inside afterwards. I have no doubt that you will feel that way, too.

In conclusion, if RFUSA handed out awards for Best Album each and every year, I would definitely nominate Fate as the 2007 Album of the Year. It is truly an album not to be missed and will change everything you know about goth metal or progressive metal. This is one of those rare albums and rare musical groups that deserve their own category. Fate is absolutely a stunning example of music as an art form.

Review written by: Matt B.        
Date: June 18, 2008             
Rating: 5 stars out of 5