Website: Queensryche
The Inside Pulse:
What has been heralded as one of the greatest concept albums ever made — never mind one of the top-tier metal albums in its era — Operation Mindcrime fueled an entirely new universe of metal back in 1988. Even the band itself had revamped its focus from previous work to create their masterpiece.
So when it was announced that Operation Mindcrime II was being recorded, the reaction was mixed. Of course fans would kill for a part two to the album they adored. But Queensryche had gone quite downhill since the mid-90s with the absence of Chris DeGarmo and anything remotely resembling a hit; would they create sonic heresy?
Upon listening to the disc, the reaction remains mixed. Mindcrime II is easily the best ‘Ryche disc since 1990’s Empire, but it doesn’t have a lot of competition. The steadfast holding to the story, themes, and tone of the original is a welcome sigh of relief as well. While the songs aren’t as tightly written as they could be and the complete absence of an “I Don’t Believe In Love” or “Eyes of a Stranger” definitely hurts, in its own right, it’s not bad.
Positives: “One Foot in Hell,” “The Hands,” and “If I Could Change it All” are as close to hit-material as Queensryche has released in ages. Lovely harmonies by Geoff Tate and Pamela Moor were exactly what this disc needed for credibility as a sequel, and they’re right where they need to be. It’s also nice to see Queensryche maintaining a prog element to their music that doesn’t overwhelm their hooks.
Negatives: Well, it’s not the original. Is that fair? Hey, they’re the ones that decided to make a sequel. But as its own beast, it tends to plod. “Hostage” feels like it’s never going to end (it’s only four and a half minutes long!) and there’s a lot of filler to complete the storyline.
Crossbreed:
Take the original Mindcrime and give it nearly twenty years of alcohol consumption and road wear.
Reason to buy:
Very highly recommended to disenchanted former Queensryche fans who gave up on the band; also highly recommended to Rush and Styx connoisseurs. Anyone else? It’s definitely a matter of taste; approach with caution or just go buy the original.
