Ex-Fates Warning Singer Reteams With Guitarist As Arch/Matheos For Webster Show

By Eric R. Danton On May 2, 2012 · 6 Comments

Former Fates Warning bandmates Jim Matheos, left, and John Arch have reteamed as Arch/Matheos. (Photo by Jeremy Saffer)

More than two decades after leaving Hartford progressive metal band Fates Warning, original singer John Arch is making music again with guitarist Jim Matheos.

The pair reconvened in 2010 to record “Sympathetic Resonance,” which they released last year as Arch/Matheos. They perform their first American concert Saturday at the Webster Theatre in Hartford.

“We’re really excited about this,” Matheos says by phone. “The last time that John and I played together was the first or second incarnation of Fates Warning, which was back in 1986 or 1987.”

They’ve worked together once since then, recording an EP in 2002, but no live dates followed. Although Fates Warning carried on when Arch left after the band’s third album, 1986’s “Awaken the Guardian,” Matheos says he always kept in touch with Arch and occasionally asked his old friend whether he wanted to collaborate.

“Whenever I have some time or material, I check in with John to see if he’s ready,” Matheos says. “This record took probably a year and a half to put together. It’s not something we take lightly, and John is never sure whether he wants to commit to that kind of time.”

For “Sympathetic Resonance,” Matheos sent Arch, who works now in carpentry, musical ideas. Arch added lyrics, and they spent a considerable amount of time shaping and reshaping the songs.

“What it comes down to is that both of us are kind of perfectionists, and when you put the two of us together, there’s no one there to say, ‘OK, enough, stop,’” Matheos says.

Eventually, they recorded six virtuosic new songs with current Fates Warning members Bobby Jarzombek, Joey Vera and Frank Aresti.

Working with someone once every 10 years makes for an unusual collaborative relationship, but the two quickly find their footing together.

“I think we have a really interesting chemistry,” Matheos says. “When we got together in 2002 to do that EP, it had been a long time. I think the last time we had worked together was maybe 1986. So that went a little odd at first, but it really only took a couple of days to fall right back into that old chemistry. This time around, it had only been 10 years, which didn’t seem that long.”

Although Arch/Matheos plans to focus on “Sympathetic Resonance” on stage, the band will dig into material from Fates Warning’s first three albums with Arch, too.

“I think there’s a lot of Fates Warning fans from the early days who kind of fell out of love with the band when John left, because he has a very unique style of singing and writing melody lines and lyric writing,” Matheos says.

With Arch/Matheos, he says, “I think a lot of those fans have come back, and we’ve maintained a lot of the fans who have been with us from day one.”

Arch/Matheos performs Saturday, May 5, with Freedoms Reign, Magus Beast, Agrippa 93, Kali Ma, Mile Marker Zero, Crossing Rubicon and Enemy Remains at the Webster Theatre, 31 Webster St., Hartford. Tickets are $18 in advance via www.webstertheatre.com. Information: 860-525-5553

6 Responses to Ex-Fates Warning Singer Reteams With Guitarist As Arch/Matheos For Webster Show

Guardian says:

May 3, 2012 at 1:21 am

I envy all you East Coaster that get to see A/M live – the YouTube clips from the German show last weekend are magical. So great to see Jim and John back to together again making music – ‘Sympathetic Resonance’ is amazing!
Geoff says:

May 3, 2012 at 10:17 am

Great to see a recent article/ show about the some of the current/past members of the greatest progressive metal band of all time, Fates Warning.
Mark says:

May 3, 2012 at 10:58 am

The return of John Arch. If I hadnt seen the videos posted from the Keep it True festival show in Germany from last week or had not purchased the album Sympatheic Resonance and seen for myself the Arch/Matheos band is really John Arch and Jim Matheos togeather again I wouldnt believe the Arch is back and I would still think my ticket for Saturday wasnt real.John were all confident you didnt write the lyrics to the song Guardian knowing you would be absent from the music world for soooo many years but that said those beautiful lyrics from the chorus”I will remember you, will you remember me?” Umm John we remember you. Umm John we need you…so John please put down the hammer…put down the chisel…turn off the table saw and put a cover on your planer…dont make this a two show stint. There has been such a void in the world of music without you please keep that void filled…more shows…more new albums with Jim Matheos and the rest of the band….And John one more thing…think about this…when have you ever seen a musician accomplish what you have? Three albums of music that helped create a genre some twenty odd years ago that are considered masterpieces and sound as fresh today as they did in the 80′s only to reappear now in 2012 with a new album that is beyond comprehension. You and Jim must know…you must feel whats happening on Sympatheitc Resonance. That magic its back. Its as if its 1987 and you all just released the follow up to Awaken the Guardian. Please John keep this going. And should you guys wish to add Kiss of Death, Orphan Gypsy, On the fence and Traveler in Time Saturday night none of us will mind. We love you John. Welcome back!!!
Alyson says:

May 3, 2012 at 12:06 pm

The Twist of Fate EP was released in 2003, not 2002.
- Eric R. Danton says:
  
  May 3, 2012 at 1:52 pm
  
  True enough, though they recorded the EP in 2002, which is what the story says.
Scott W. says:

May 16, 2012 at 8:14 pm

As someone that saw Arch/Matheos (and the incomparable Frank Aresti from RHAM high school) at the Webster that evening I can attest to how incredible this band is live. As much as I love Ray Alder’s contributions to Fates Warning if Arch is not a full time member of Fates by the end of this year I’ll be extremely disappointed.