Theories of Flight

Theories of Flight is the twelfth studio album by progressive metal band Fates Warning, released on July 1, 2016 through Inside Out Music; their last release on the label with their re-signing with their longtime label Metal Blade Records in 2019.^[2] Theories of Flight marked the first time since 2004's FWX that Fates Warning had recorded as a four-piece. Although guitarist Frank Aresti was still a member of Fates Warning at the time of the album's writing and recording sessions, he does not appear in band photos inside the album booklet and is credited only as a guest, for providing guitar solos on two tracks ("From the Rooftops" and "White Flag"); therefore, this is the last Fates Warning album to feature Aresti.

Theories of Flight
Studio album by Fates Warning
Released	July 1, 2016 (2016-07-01)
Recorded	2015–2016
Genre	Progressive metal
Length	52:17
Label	Inside Out Music
Producer	Jim Matheos
Fates Warning chronology
Darkness in a Different Light (2013) Theories of Flight (2016) Long Day Good Night (2020)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Sputnikmusic	[1]

Critical reception

In his review of the album, Trey Spencer of Sputnik Music stated "Theories of Flight feels like a classic", arguing "when a band somehow manages to take the most solid and memorable moments of their breakthrough release and seamlessly mesh them with a sound they’ve been circling around for years, and do so flawlessly, then it is at least worth proclaiming that they’ve released a milestone within their own career. But is it worth stopping the discussion there; I don’t know? While it’s too early to start calling Theories of Flight another pinnacle of the progressive metal genre, in 10-years’ time that may very well be what this album has become."^[1]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"From the Rooftops"	Jim Matheos, Ray Alder, Bobby Jarzombek	6:52
2.	"Seven Stars"	Matheos, Alder	5:33
3.	"SOS"	Matheos, Alder	4:34
4.	"The Light and Shade of Things"	Matheos, Alder	10:14
5.	"White Flag"	Matheos, Alder	5:20
6.	"Like Stars Our Eyes Have Seen"	Matheos, Alder	5:13
7.	"The Ghosts of Home"	Matheos	10:31
8.	"Theories of Flight" (Instrumental)	Matheos	4:00
Total length:			52:17

Acoustic bonus disc

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Firefly"	Matheos, Alder	3:15
2.	"Seven Stars"	Matheos, Alder	4:25
3.	"Another Perfect Day"	Matheos	3:25
4.	"Pray Your Gods" (Toad the Wet Sprocket cover)	Glen Phillips, Todd Nichols, Dean Dinning, Randy Guss	3:45
5.	"Adela" (Joaquín Rodrigo cover)	Joaquín Rodrigo	2:25
6.	"Rain" (Uriah Heep cover)	Ken Hensley	4:03

Personnel

Fates Warning

• Ray Alder – lead vocals
• Jim Matheos – guitar
• Joey Vera – bass and backing vocals
• Bobby Jarzombek – drums

Guests

• Frank Aresti – guitar solos on "From the Rooftops" and "White Flag"
• Mike Abdow – guitar solo on "White Flag"
• Carina Tinker – spoken word samples on "Theories of Flight"

Charts

Chart (2016)	Peak position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[3]	32
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[4]	175
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[5]	192
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[6]	70
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[7]	12
Italian Albums (FIMI)[8]	80
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[9]	16
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[10]	2