A Pleasant Shade of Gray

A Pleasant Shade of Gray
Studio album by Fates Warning
Released	22nd April, 1997
Recorded	December, 1996 at The Carriage House, Stamford, CT
Genre	Progressive metal
Length	55:46
Label	Metal Blade Records
Producer	Terry Brown
Professional reviews
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Fates Warning chronology
Chasing Time (1995) A Pleasant Shade of Gray (1997) Still Life (1998)

A Pleasant Shade of Gray is a concept album by the progressive metal group Fates Warning, released in 1997 (see 1997 in music). It contains one song divided into twelve chapters. After the last track, there is a brief period of silence followed by 20 seconds of an alarm clock ringing.

The credits featured a special thank-you to longtime bassist Joe DiBiase, who departed the band in 1995; this was the first Fates Warning album to not feature him. In 2007 the album was re-released by Metal Blade Europe with a bonus DVD of the Pleasant Shade of Gray Live video, previously only on VHS.

A Pleasant Shade of Gray features elements of metal and New Age. The lyrics revolve around self-reflection and regret. The music and lyrics were entirely written by guitarist Jim Matheos. The album marked their first collaboration with Armored Saint bassist Joey Vera (who plays fretless bass on parts IV and IX) and features contributions from ex-Dream Theater keyboardist Kevin Moore. The sound is less accessible than Fates Warning's other works and many say that the album required repeated listens to sink in; critics and fans have often had mixed opinions as a result.

Track listing

All songs written by Jim Matheos, except where noted.

1. "Part I" 1:53
2. "Part II" 3:25
3. "Part III" 3:53
4. "Part IV" 4:26
5. "Part V" 5:24
6. "Part VI" 7:28
7. "Part VII" 4:51
8. "Part VIII" 3:31
9. "Part IX" 4:45
10. "Part X" 1:19
11. "Part XI" 3:34
12. "Part XII" 9:08

Credits

• Ray Alder – Vocals
• Jim Matheos – Guitar, guitar synth, music and lyrics
• Mark Zonder – Drums
• Joey Vera – Bass
• Kevin Moore – Keyboards
• Produced, recorded and mixed by Terry Brown at the Carriage House, Stamford, CT, November–December 1996
• Assistant engineers — Andy Katz, Joe Peccerillo
• Mastered by Eddy Schreyer at Oasis
• Pre-production at Bill's place
• Additional voices — Bill "shoot me" Metoyer, Lydia Montagnese, Mark Zonder, Terry Brown, Lindsay Matheos
• Catering — George Hideous, Fidel Horrendous and Arthur Letsgoberg at Salad Face International
• Art direction & design by Ioannis and Steve Jacaruso at Vivid Images Int.
• Photography by Ioannis and Heide Coyle