The Warning ('84) ***
This is Queensryche's first full length album, after their intial
five-song EP. Made in 1984, the guys of course like to show off how
much hair they have, and how high Geoff Tate can sing, but also expose
quite a bit of musical ability. The album has quite a feel of
paranoia about it, as evidenced by the title. "NM 156" is one of my
favorite Queensryche songs, with all its robots and computers, and
Tate does some great singing on the long "Roads to Madness."
Certainly nothing groundbreaking about this disc, but it's a good
piece of metal.
Rage For Order ('86) ****
This album is completely and totally depressing, and that's what's so
good about it. No other album I've heard can convey such a singular
feeling so strongly. Thus, I listen to it very rarely, mostly on
rainy days because I don't like it ruining my mood. The amazing
thing is that they don't do it like many bands today would, with
plodding drums and dark tones. It simply comes out in the feeling
and atmosphere around the music. It's 1986 now,
and apparently the idea is to look like women, because that's what
the band does. Their skills are still top-notch though, and
lyrically, the band is a little more human than in "The Warning."
Operation: Mindcrime ('88) *****
This was the first CD I ever bought, and still one of my favorites.
It is not only a peak in the career of the band, but a defining
point in metal history. It is more than a concept album, telling
a clear story rather than simply linking vague ideas together.
Yet unlike other concept albums, it doesn't include
a textual background; the listener must figure out the events for
himself. In that lies the beauty of this album. For many listens,
new discoveries about the plot are made, and along with them come
discoveries about the music. The themes that appear are nothing
surprising (man vs. government, man vs. religion, man vs. himself)
but when combined with the lyrics and music, "Operation: Mindcrime"
is one of the most powerful and memorable statements metal has
ever made.
Empire ('90) ****
Queensryche enters the new decade still going strong. Although
there still are some links between songs, the band wisely
did not try to make a second "Mindcrime." Overall, this album
has an urban theme to it, discussing homelessness, gangs, and
pollution. There's a lot of good songs on this disc, but it was
out at a time when metal radio was big around me so several of the
songs have been ruined due to overplaying. The wildly popular
"Silent Lucidity" was the reason bazillions of copies of "Empire"
were sold. It's definitely the Queensryche album with the most
commercial appeal, but still manages to be excellent musically.
The final track, "Anybody Listening?" is my favorite Queensryche
song. Hopefully it's not the last great thing we'll hear from the
band.
Promised Land ('94) **
After a four year break (maybe they wanted to be Metallica?)
Queensryche finally resurfaces with a new album. After years of
sucess with albums focusing on themes and issues outside of
themselves, the band decided to turn inward. It clearly was
a turn for the worse. I think the band tried to be a little
to artistic and trendy for their own good. I mean, I'm sure it's
all emotional for them and everything, but I'm not really
interested in Chris DeGarmo's relationship with his father, or how
the guys are all confused about their place in the world. There
are a couple of good songs, such as "I Am I" and "Someone Else,"
but many of them are just slow and uninteresting. I probably
would think a little better of this album if it didn't take four
years to create, but if this is the best they can come up with in
that time, it doesn't offer much hope for the future.