QUEENSRYCHE
Operation: Mindcrime II
Rhino Records 2006
www.queensryche.com

Sample it here

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Live Queensryche pics

What’s the 4-1-1?
In 1988, Queensryche released their landmark masterpiece, Operation: Mindcrime and put them on the hard rock/heavy metal map like never before. The tale of revolution, love and betrayal brought in a gigantic following who clamored endlessly for more of the tale of Nikki, Sister Mary, and Dr. X. After 18 years, Queensryche returns to the mindcrime universe for a new tale that finds Nikki seeking revenge for all the wrongs done to him by Dr. X.

Genre
Hard rock / heavy metal

The Good
The first thing you notice about this album is that while Geoff Tate’s vocal style is dramatically different from 1988, this is the most interesting and INTERESTED he has sounded in years. He’s delivering spitfire vocals on “I’m American” and unleashing metal fury in “Signs Say Go,” “Re-Arrange You” and “The Chase.” I was stunned, having given up hope of ever hearing “that” Geoff Tate ever again. The return to the mindcrime universe has energized the group like I never thought would happen again.

Michael Wilton and Mike Stone are phenomenal on guitars while Scott Rockenfield lines himself up for assault charges by beating the crap out of the drums. Eddie Jackson provides bass that helps build that rhythmic foundation to heighten the songs to new heights. THIS IS WHAT QUEENSRYCHE SHOULD BE! What makes both Operation: Mindcrime albums great is how theatrical they are and it’s not hard to imagine them as movies.

The music and vocals are assisted by guest performances by the legendary Ronnie James Dio as Dr. X on “The Chase” and the return of Pamela Moore vocalizing the role of Sister Mary. Pamela Moore is simply perfect, and my love of all things Dio should be well known. I wish they had gotten more use out of him, but the one song is a pure vocal battle between Tate and Dio.

There’s even a nod to the first album when you can hear in the music, themes from the songs “I Don’t Believe In Love” and “Eyes Of A Stranger.”The same company that did the art for the first Operation: Mindcrime CD did the art chores on this album and once again they crafted an album art package that really stands out. Jason Slater’s production job brings back the Queensryche sound that’s been absent from recent releases that sounded more like an attempt at being a grunge act.

The Bad
I thought the main thrust of the story ended far too soon for the number of tracks on the album. It’s not that it’s necessarily bad, but the last portion of the album, save the song “An Intentional Confrontation” and perhaps “Fear City Slide” is a bit weaker than the “meat” of the album. I am a big proponent of the album lyrics in the CD booklet matching the lyrics that are actually being sung on the music. When there is a difference it’s a bit jarring. It’s bad enough when that happens on a regular album. It’s downright WRONG and disturbing when the lyrics don’t match up for a concept album’s booklet. The words of the story are very important here and greater care should’ve been given. Who knows when a dropped word or rearranged sentence could play a part in the understanding of the story.

The Verdict
In the interest of full disclosure, I should let you know that I’m not simply a fan of the first Operation: Mindcrime album. I think it’s the greatest album ever recorded by any artist at any time in any genre. Yes, I believe it’s that good!
When I first learned that a sequel was going to be recorded, I was very concerned that the legacy of the first album would be perverted if the band turned out an album that sounded like their last three studio albums. Those were just awful.

The album can be divided into three parts. You have the standard brief opening that sets up the plot, which leads to the second act where we get the main plot, and then we get the closing third act, which while not as satisfying as the middle of the story, is still pretty darn good. While the album stands a bit lower on the pantheon of Queensryche releases compared to the first CD, I’m very happy to report that all bias in favor of the band/CD aside, Operation: Mindcrime II is a worthy successor to the band’s legacy!

Did You Know?
Singer Geoff Tate was once rumored to be under consideration to become the new lead singer of Journey. The direction of this sequel reportedly came to Geoff Tate while he was working on a screenplay for the first Operation:mindcrime tale. Various members of Queensryche have their own side projects outside of the band. Geoff Tate has released a self-titled solo album, Michael Wilton has a band called Soulbender, and drummer Scott Rockenfield is a member of Slave To The System.

Rating: out of 5

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-- Jay Roberts