For those who are unaware, we are currently in the ‘interesting’ situation of having two bands using the same name, at least until a further court case to settle the dispute, which is due to take place in November. In April 2012 there was a backstage altercation at a show in São Paulo, Brazil, between original members drummer Scott Rockenfield, guitarist Michael Wilton and bassist Eddie Jackson with singer Geoff Tate. The band then fired Tate, who took them to court and there have been a few court appearances since then. Tate has released a solo album (which I reviewed with comments such as “There are little or no redeeming features to this album”) and an album as Queensrÿche Starring Geoff Tate The Original Voice, so now it is time for the ‘other’ band to release something. There is an argument that Scott, Michael and Eddie are the ‘true’ Queensrÿche as they had already formed a band and asked Geoff to join, but Geoff has for many been the face as well as the voice of the band, so how to replace him?
This version of Queensrÿche has been completed by singer Todd La Torre of Florida band Crimson Glory, and guitarist Parker Lundgren, who joined the band in 2009 before the split. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I put this on as not only is Tate an incredible singer, but the last album of theirs that I really listened to was ‘Tribe’ and I didn’t think a great deal of it at all. So, was this going to be a painful experience or something that would lift them back up to the heights of ‘Mindcrime’? Well, it was never really going to be the latter was it, but what we have here is an album of power and depth, something that made me smile the very first time I played it, and the only thing to do then was just put it on repeat.
It starts slow, with an atmospheric introduction, but it soon grabs the listener and the result is something that is dramatic and powerful, with progressive elements combined with the melodic metal. It is dark, it is brooding, and is the best thing this band have done for years. There is a quality that just pervades this album, it is in every song, and really the only negative about it is that it is quote short in length. It is only 35 minutes long, which is just like being in the old days, but that was when bands were restricted by vinyl so it is certainly unusual in the digital age.
However, what we have here is of the highest quality and it is highly recommended.
