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Favorite CD: Promised Land

Promised Land is my favorite Queensryche CD. This album explores the deeper and darker side of humanity, and is a personal statement by the band and the issues that were relevant at that period in their lives. It hit really close to home with me with tunes like I am I, Damaged, Bridge and Dis con nec ted. I was thankful to have this album with me at one of the most turbulent periods of my life. It comforted me in ways that I still to this day cannot fully explain.

Track List:

I Remember Now, Anarchy-X, Revolution Calling, Operation: Mindcrime, Speak, Spreading the Disease, The Mission, Suite Sister Mary, The Needle Lies, Electric Requiem, Breaking the Silence, I Don't Believe in Love, Waiting for 22, My Empty Room, Eyes of a Stranger/Anarchy-Xtra

Comments:

Queensryche's ambitious 1988 mini-opera, Operation: Mindcrime broke the band into the progressive metal big time. The Seattle based Quintet put together the ultimate package, an overpowering limited edition live version of their paranoid epic masterpiece that includes VHS and CD/Cassette, and a 44 page story/lyric booklet. The music is identical on both the VHS and the CD and was recorded over 3 nights in 3 Wisconsin music barns performed with passion, precision, and contagious intensity. As if the original recording of Operation:Mindcrime wasn't imposing enough, this live CD really brings out agression of the music while revealing the band's technical and musical brilliance. Then attach the hi-tech cinema of the laser and video decorated concert captured by director Wayne Isham in multiple images, razor sharp, lightning quick editing and oodles of camera and film styles. The opera reaches it's full hypnotic power, as the hour plus set captures 3 of the final full performances during the 1991 Building Empires Tour. The attraction of this video is that you can visually see every move the band makes, from the creation of Chris DeGarmo and Michael Wilton's dense, sensual, and aural magic, to the tight, omnipresent rhythm section provided by bassist Eddie Jackson and percussionist Scott Rockenfield. Vocalist Geoff Tate is in top form as you can see his melodramatic performance of lead character Nikki, who falls in love with the untouchable Mary (whose part is performed by original vocalist Pamela Moore)during his mental manipulation by the insidious Dr. X. For those of you who only recently have gotten into Queensryche, this is a package well worth looking for. If you can't find the vintage Operation:LIVEcrime box set, look for the CD re-release featuring bonus tracks "Roads to Madness" and "The Lady Wore Black" on September 25, 2001 with a DVD release to follow sometime in December.

Favorite Song: Take Hold of the Flame

Take Hold of the Flame is my favorite song by Queensryche. Recorded and released in 1984 in London, this song is a message of hope in these dark times. This song has a positive, uplifing message and is very relevant today. I really love the live versions of this song, as it is one of the songs that the crowd really gets into as fists raise into the air, shouting "TAKE HOLD".

In 1990, Empire was released. Built upon the success of Operation:Mindcrime, but lacking the concept, Empire propelled Queensryche to stardom and popularity that they hadn't expected.

Six singles were released from the Empire album, Empire, Best I Can, Jet City Woman, Another Rainy Night (Without You), Anybody Listening, and the wildly popular Silent Lucidity. Seven music videos were made to promote this album, one for each single, except Another Rainy Night, which boasted two completely different videos. In 1991, Empire was nominated for a Grammy Award, and Silent Lucidity picked up the People's Choice Award for best Hard Rock Video. The band played an extensive 14 month tour to support the album, and finished up with an episode of MTV Unplugged in April of 1992.