In progressive metal circles, the names of guitarist Jim Matheos and vocalist John Arch are spoken with due reverence. With the former having been a driving force in Fates Warning for thirty-five years, and the latter the original front-man of that band, they also have a single seminal work under the Arch / Matheos banner, 2011's
Sympathetic Resonance . In 2019, they have reunited to follow that record up with Winter Ethereal , a more stylistically varied and perhaps deeper collection that explores a lot of sonic territory over the course of nine immersive tracks. Upon completion of Sympathetic Resonance , the duo neither declared it a one-off work nor planned on making a follow up, and rather than force anything, they waited for the right timing to present itself, opening the door for a sophomore release. Having commenced writing for the record in the spring of 2017, nothing included was at any point destined for a Fates Warning record, and everything was penned specifically for Arch / Matheos. This contributes to the record's distinctive feel, and had it not come so naturally, there would be no Winter Ethereal.

Making the most of contemporary technology, almost all collaborators tracked their parts in their respective home studios, while guitars and vocals were laid down at Matheos' studio with him handling the production. Working this way was conducive to creativity and a process that was most agreeable to both Arch and Matheos. One thing is certain, with Winter Ethereal , fans of Arch / Matheos will feel that the long wait endured for new music has been worth it. The natural manner in which it all came together makes it all the more special.
Article number: 156572
Artist: Arch & Matheos
Barcode: 0039841565720
Distributor: Sound Pollution
Label: Metal Blade
Media: CD
Release date: 2019-05-10
Tracks:

• 1. Vermilion Moons
• 2. Wanderlust
• 3. Solitary Man
• 4. Wrath Of The Universe
• 5. Tethered
• 6. Straight And Narrow
• 7. Pitch Black Prism
• 8. Never In Your Hands
• 9. Kindred Spirits

Units in packaging: 1