EMI Denmark has compiled a 19 track disc celebration of
Fate titled "25 years The best of
Fate". The disc covers all line ups of
Fate including 2 brand new songs introducing
Fate's third singer Dagfinn Joensen.
During their career spanning 25 years
Fate only released 5 albums. Especially the first 2 albums and "Scratch N' Sniff" made a huge impact on me and most fans of this genre. Playing this "Best of" disc from start till finish shows the progression of a band and almost comes full circle since the 2 new songs are back to
Fate's starting point. The new songs once again welcome keyboards and pick up the thread where the original
Fate line-up left.
The first two albums "
Fate" (1985) and "A Matter Of Attitude" (1986) included former Mercyful
Fate guitarist Hank Sherman and future Mercyful
Fate drummer Bjarne Holm (Bob Lance). The music of
Fate was typical for the time era; Polished Hard Rock with hooks, but still
Fate had edge perfectly executed on the high class melodic rockers
Fallen Angel and
(She Got the) Devil Inside from the debut.
While Hank Sherman co-wrote most songs from first album it was bassist Pete Steiner and singer Jeff Lox Limbo who where kingpins behind "A Matter of Attitude". The album was the commercial peak of
Fate pushed by the hit single
Won't Stop. Producer Svein Dag Hauge was brought in to provide
Fate with a commercial sound that would catapult an international breakthrough.
Playing this CD I found newfound respect in singer Jeff "Lox" Limbo. His tone is great and he sounds great on all tracks. Jeff "Lox" Limbo also had charisma like David Lee Roth and was always in-your-face when the band was in the spotlight. Limo's strong vocals are missed and it was a waste that he quit the business after "Crusin' For A Brusin'".
After 3 albums
Fate was reduced to only drummer Bjarne Holm and bassist Pete Steiner. The band rose loud N' proud with the amazing disc "Scratch N' Sniff" dominated by fantastic virtuoso guitar playing from Matthias Eklundh, who only was 18 years when the album was recorded.
Fate took on a harder and crunchier sound with new singer Per Henriksen up-front along with Eklundh's guitars.
This line up toured heavily in Denmark and even thought the disc is the most timeless and strongest record in
Fate's career "Scratch N' Sniff" went nowhere but becoming a cult Hard Rock album among collectors.
In 1993
Fate broke-up and reunited in 2006 without Eklundh but sadly they changed their style. The album "V" was a huge disappointment. The only song that brings associations back to the old
Fate is
Everything About You and luckily that is the only inclusion on this "Best of".
In my wildest expectations I never thought that reliving
Fate made such an impact on me. This is first class commercial Hard Rock, which has sentimental value because the first 8 years of
Fate's 25 year career is a big part of the soundtrack to my youth. This is like reliving your old cassettes and records. The 2 new songs sound quite promising and certainly gained an appetite on an up-coming
Fate album.
The booklet is only 2 pages, but includes an album discography and list of band members. Furthermore the album is priced "midprice" so no excuse not to purchase this piece of Hard Rock history or replacing your vinyls with re-mastered CD versions of these hits!
"25 Years The best of
Fate" puts you in a good mood and makes you reflect on the past, but also have high hopes for the future of
Fate.
Do your duty and buy this album!
Written by
Michael Monday, April 5, 2010
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