Post by jptheprofessor on Jun 8, 2006 17:11:15 GMT -5
QUEENSRYCHE – OPERATION: MINDCRIME II (Rhino Records) In the film industry, sequels are always an iffy proposition, especially sequels to established blockbusters. Sequels rarely ever happen in music, especially with an 18-year separation between the sequel and the original. In 1988, Queensryche released the original Operation: Mindcrime, a concept album that wove an Orwellian tale of media manipulation and brainwashing, assassinations, murder, biting social commentary and drama, set against a backdrop of compelling, progressive-geared heavy rock. Although their 1990 album, Empire, was their commercial zenith, Operation: Mindcrime has stood over the years as Queensryche’s ultimate defining work. But the original Mindcrime left loose ends regarding the various characters and the story’s outcome; and loyal Queensryche fans have hoped over the years that the group would someday bring closure to their masterpiece. Eighteen years after the original, the group has done just that with Operation: Mindcrime II. There was some artistic risk involved with Queensryche revisiting their masterpiece. After eighteen years, would the group be able to craft a viable, legitimate sequel to Mindcrime, or would they merely parrot the original work and fall short with a hollow effort? And could Queensryche adequately follow up the original Mindcrime, given that one of that album’s chief architects, guitarist Chris DeGarmo, departed the group in 1997? The answers unfold over Mindcrime II’s seventeen tracks. Portrayed by lead singer Geoff Tate, Mindcrime’s protagonist, Nikki, is released from prison eighteen years later, and comes to grips with a different world on the socially acidic rocker “I’m American.” The plot develops through a succession of strong rockers such as “One Foot In Hell,” “Hostage,” “The Hands,” “Speed of Light” and “Signs Say No,” as Nikki regains his memory and fully realizes how he had been manipulated by sinister power mogul Dr. X. Anger fuels revenge as the album progresses through the melodramatic “Re-Arrange You” to the climactic “The Chase,” where Nikki finally catches up with Dr. X, portrayed by Ronnie James Dio. In the aftermath of “The Chase,” the album changes tones from anger and revenge to remorse and self-doubt, as Nikki battles his own conscience and is visited/haunted by the voice of his former (now dead) lover, Sister Mary. From “Murderer” onward, Mindcrime II concentrates on Nikki’s internal struggle to come to grips with his life and mistakes; culminating in the ballad “All the Promises,” a duet featuring Geoff Tate and Pamela Moor (as Sister Mary). Musically, this is easily Queensryche’s hardest-rocking and lavish hour since the original Operation: Mindcrime. The group maintains some consistency between the urgent sound of the original Mindcrime and this sequel, but their current sound acknowledges that eighteen years have passed between the two albums, and some of the ethereal qualities of more recent Queensryche albums can be detected here, especially on the album’s latter half. There aren’t quite as many sound bytes, bells and whistles here as on the original. While Queensryche acknowledges the sound of the original Mindcrime, they do not replicate it, but progress from it, and Mindcrime II ultimately sounds like a logical progression from the original. Queensryche themselves have aged 18 years since the original Mindcrime, and Geoff Tate’s voice, while still displaying ample power, is more reserved and controlled. And while Chris DeGarmo’s absence diminishes the overall frequency of guitar fireworks, Michael Wilton and Mike Stone still give strong performances, particularly on “If I Could Change It All.” The songs are strong and hold their own, and the plot is cohesive and again compelling. Like the original Operation: Mindcrime, this is an album that grows stronger and reveals more intricacies with repeated listens. Ultimately, it works; Queensryche successfully answers its original masterpiece with Operation: Mindcrime II, a strong album on its own merits that does not desecrate or dishonor the original Mindcrime. It doesn’t eclipse the original, and is not as groundbreaking or urgent; but Operation: Mindcrime II is still the strongest and most clever Queensryche album since their early 90’s peak. For this fan of the original Operation: Mindcrime, this is a sequel that works.