John Arch
Encyclopedia
John Arch is an American progressive metal
singer of partial Native American
descent, most notable for his work with his band Fates Warning
.
, and was the band's sole lyricist. After their third album, Awaken the Guardian
, was released, Arch was asked to quit his job or leave the band. Financial obligations made it impossible for Arch to quit his job, and he argued that he had shown 100% commitment to the band throughout the years. However, the band informed him that they had to let him go and started to look for another singer. In one interview with John Arch, he said that he would have quit his job if he was asked, but the rest of the band never asked him to.
and a few others. He decided to get out of music and pursue other interests. He made his return in 2003, when his EP A Twist of Fate was released. The EP includes musicians Jim Matheos
, Mike Portnoy
and Joey Vera
, all of whom Arch worked with at some point in the past. The EP shows that Arch's unusual vocal ability has not dwindled over the years. The album contains only 2 songs, although these total nearly half an hour (one written solely by Arch, one co-written by Arch and Matheos - marking the first time the two wrote a song together since Awaken the Guardian
).
His style is similar to the quasi-operatic stylings of Geoff Tate
of Queensrÿche
and Midnight of Crimson Glory
in that all three prefer singing in a tenor range appended with a well-developed head voice
, not falsetto
as is often assumed to be used by these singers.
On the 19th of January, 2011, it was announced that Arch had reunited with Jim Matheos and the rest of the members in Fates Warning (minus Ray Alder) to record a full-length for a new band, simply titled Arch/Matheos. The band's debut full-length album, Sympathetic Resonance, was released on the 9th of September.
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
singer of partial Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
descent, most notable for his work with his band Fates Warning
Fates Warning
Fates Warning is an American progressive metal band, formed in 1982 by vocalist John Arch, guitarists Jim Matheos and Victor Arduini, bassist Joe DiBiase, and drummer Steve Zimmerman in Hartford, Connecticut. Fates Warning has experienced numerous line-up changes...
.
Fates Warning
He co-wrote the majority of the band's songs with guitarist Jim MatheosJim Matheos
Jim Matheos , is the American guitarist and primary songwriter for the progressive metal band Fates Warning. As of bassist Joe DiBiase's departure in 1996, he is the band's only permanent member...
, and was the band's sole lyricist. After their third album, Awaken the Guardian
Awaken the Guardian
Awaken the Guardian is the third album by Fates Warning. It was first released in 1986, and was later re-released as a double album with "No Exit" in 1992...
, was released, Arch was asked to quit his job or leave the band. Financial obligations made it impossible for Arch to quit his job, and he argued that he had shown 100% commitment to the band throughout the years. However, the band informed him that they had to let him go and started to look for another singer. In one interview with John Arch, he said that he would have quit his job if he was asked, but the rest of the band never asked him to.
Later career
Arch kept himself out of the metal scene for seventeen years (he now works crafting custom furniture), with the exception of an audition for upcoming progressive metal band Dream TheaterDream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
and a few others. He decided to get out of music and pursue other interests. He made his return in 2003, when his EP A Twist of Fate was released. The EP includes musicians Jim Matheos
Jim Matheos
Jim Matheos , is the American guitarist and primary songwriter for the progressive metal band Fates Warning. As of bassist Joe DiBiase's departure in 1996, he is the band's only permanent member...
, Mike Portnoy
Mike Portnoy
Michael Stephen "Mike" Portnoy is an American drummer primarily known as the former drummer, backing vocalist, and a co-founder of the progressive metal band Dream Theater, as well as the temporary drummer for the hard rock band Avenged Sevenfold. Known for his drumming prowess and technical...
and Joey Vera
Joey Vera
Joey Vera is an American heavy metal bassist for heavy metal band Armored Saint. He is also a member of the progressive metal band Fates Warning. In 2004-05 he replaced Frank Bello in Anthrax as the band's bassist. He appears as part of the project Engine, as well as on the OSI album Free. His...
, all of whom Arch worked with at some point in the past. The EP shows that Arch's unusual vocal ability has not dwindled over the years. The album contains only 2 songs, although these total nearly half an hour (one written solely by Arch, one co-written by Arch and Matheos - marking the first time the two wrote a song together since Awaken the Guardian
Awaken the Guardian
Awaken the Guardian is the third album by Fates Warning. It was first released in 1986, and was later re-released as a double album with "No Exit" in 1992...
).
His style is similar to the quasi-operatic stylings of Geoff Tate
Geoff Tate
Geoff Tate is an American singer and musician, who rose to fame in the 1980s with the progressive metal band, Queensrÿche...
of Queensrÿche
Queensrÿche
thumb|250px|right|Queensrÿche's classic line-up performing at the [[Sauna Open Air Metal Festival]] 2011 in [[Tampere]], [[Finland]]. Left to right: bass Eddie Jackson, lead vocals Geoff Tate, drums Scott Rockenfield and guitars Michael Wilton....
and Midnight of Crimson Glory
Crimson Glory
Crimson Glory is an American progressive metal band that formed in 1982. They broke up in 1992, but decided to reform six years later.-Formation and debut album :...
in that all three prefer singing in a tenor range appended with a well-developed head voice
Head voice
Head voice is a term used within vocal music. The use of this term varies widely within vocal pedagogical circles and there is currently no one consistent opinion among vocal music professionals regarding this term...
, not falsetto
Falsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
as is often assumed to be used by these singers.
On the 19th of January, 2011, it was announced that Arch had reunited with Jim Matheos and the rest of the members in Fates Warning (minus Ray Alder) to record a full-length for a new band, simply titled Arch/Matheos. The band's debut full-length album, Sympathetic Resonance, was released on the 9th of September.
With Fates Warning
- Night on BröckenNight on BröckenNight on Bröcken is the debut album by Fates Warning, released in September 1984. In 2002, Metal Blade Records released a remastered version of this album which contained bonus tracks....
(1984) - The Spectre WithinThe Spectre WithinThe Spectre Within is the second studio album by Fates Warning, released in 1985. It was re-released by Metal Blade Records in 2002 with four bonus tracks.-Track listing:#"Traveler in Time" - 7:12...
(1985) - Awaken the GuardianAwaken the GuardianAwaken the Guardian is the third album by Fates Warning. It was first released in 1986, and was later re-released as a double album with "No Exit" in 1992...
(1986)