So, sometimes, a band decides "Hey, we've been generally failures ever since this one album, why not make people think we're making a return to the past?" Queensryche, despite finding fame and fortune with arguably one of their worst albums (
Empire), have not been the same since the progressive masterpiece that was
Operation: Mindcrime. So, they decided they would continue the concept they left off with, and supposedly create a part two. What was the result? Well, it sounds like a bad Metallica album. Uninspired riffs, minimalist drumming with few interesting fills or even cool rhythms, and bass that generally just follows whatever the guitars are doing.
Even so, it's not like
Operation: Mindcrime was an outstandingly technical album, although it was undoubtedly better than this. How is the amazing concept this time around? It is frankly indecipherable. I guess Queensryche thought that confusing the listener is the best way to craft a story, as unless you extensively research/give the concept a huge amount of thought, you just wont understand it. And even after all that, it really is completely under whelming, leaving me wondering why bother to make this album?
It isn't to say the album is completely bad, as Queensryche does still have a certain charm about them. The vocals are fairly standard rock affairs, but even with the bland musicianship, there are interesting moments where a chorus comes in, and they still can make interesting songs as wholes, as evidenced by the dynamic "The Hands." However, this is a very disappointing release, and reserved only for fans of Queensryche.
