Originally called The Mob, this band came about when singer Geoff Tate was nicked from the band Myth, to sing on their first 4 song EP. The band were talked into changing their name, and when they couldn't decide, they used the title from the first recorded track, and rewrote it down to one word! They were pioneers of the progressive metal genre, together with bands like Fates Warning and Crimson Glory (Dream Theater didn't appear until almost 10 years later!). Hailing out of Bellevue, Washington (just outside of Seattle), this band had nothing to do with the grunge-movement! The band had a constant line-up for over 15 years. Geoff Tate has one of the genres defining voices.

QUEENSRÿCHE (1982/1983, 2003) EMI/CAPITOL (Remastered)

Queensrÿche came roaring into the metal scene, with a 4 track EP. And they made a huge impact on me. I love all the tracks on this release, and especially remember the video for "Queen Of The Reich"! VERY 1983, and similar to Dio's "Rock And Roll Children" video. The band later stated that they hate their looks on it, but HEY, everyone looked like this in the mid-80's! And ultimately it is about the music, and I say it has stood the test of time. Queensrÿche is hailed today as one of the best progressive metal bands of all time. And you could already during their humble beginnings hear that this band were a bunch pf very talented musicians. Their brand of melodic power metal was quite unique. According to the extensive liner notes in the remastered version of the EP, it was originally released on 206 Records in 1982, and that it was re-released on EMI the year after. The first CD issue of this EP, released in 1988, contained a bonus track, recorded in 1986 for the 'Rage For Order' sessions, entitled "Prophecy". But this 2003 remastered edition omits that studio track. Instead we get 10 other bonus tracks. Originally released on the 'Live In Tokyo' video from 1985, these tracks are of course recorded live. And it's great to have these tracks finally available on CD too. My old video copy is long since worn out. One of the songs they did play that night was "Prophecy".

THE WARNING (1984, 2003) EMI/CAPITOL (Remastered)

This is my absolute favorite Queensrÿche album! It was the first one I heard, and most of the tracks still sends shivers down my spine! It's actually hard to explain, but there are just some albums that I hold as favorites, even though these bands might have released better albums (Savatage's 'Gutter Ballet' is another example). I don't know if it's all nostalgia, or if the albums actually are this great, but I truly LOVE them, and never get tired of them. Nevertheless, Queensrÿche's brand of pummeling power metal, blended with progressive elements, topped with Geoff Tate's signature wailing vocals, just speaks to me. Too bad Queensrÿche didn't stay this way, but had to "mature". Crimson Glory did exactly the same. Don't mess with perfection! They don't make true heavy metal this good anymore. This remastered version contains 3 bonus tracks. "Prophecy" was written during the 'The Warning' sessions, but wasn't recorded until the 'Rage For Order' sessions. It was first released on the 1988 CD version of the "Queensrÿche" EP, but the on the remastered series, it is featured here. The 2 live tracks are somewhat cool too. "The Lady Wore Black" is an acoustic rendition of the classic ballad from the bands first EP.

Killer tracks: All of them, but "Take Hold Of The Flame" is a personal favorite.

RAGE FOR ORDER (1986, 2003) EMI (Remastered)

Uuuuuuuhh, WHAT?!!!! Synthesizer infested crap! These were my thought when this disc first entered my ears, some many years ago. I couldn't believe what a giant leap one of my favorite bands had taken. Their sound, and look, had drastically changed. This even lead me NOT to buy it on CD, for many, many years. But when I heard the acoustic version of "I Will Remember" on 'MTV Unplugged', I started to get curious about it again. I like the album much more now, but still cannot see the point of the style-change. The now infamous producer, Neil Kernon, might be the man to blame. He has done some great things for bands like Nevermore, but I dislike the job he did here. "Gonna Get Close To You" is a cover of a Dal Bello song, that was a hit 2 years earlier.

January 2008: I've bought the remastered version of 'Rage For Order', and have to shed some new light to this write-up. I'm leaving my initial thought on the disc for me to remember how utterly wrong I was about this disc. First of all, in hindsight one can easily see how 'Rage For Order' was a logical step towards what was to become the signature Queensrÿche sound. The disc contains songs, such as "Walk In The Shadows", "The Whisper" and "The Killing Words", that could easily have fitted on 'The Warning'. But we also get a Queensrÿche that has evolved into a more "modern" band, using more keyboards that creates an almost electronic and/or industrial sound. "London", "Neue Regel" and "Screaming In Digital" are examples of that sound. But you know what? It works! There is not a dull moment on this disc, and it has become one of my absolute favorite albums, period! Yes, I still wish they had continued to shelve out more stuff in the vein of 'The Warning'. But that doesn't mean that this is any less of a masterpiece nevertheless. This remastered edition comes with 4 bonus track, where the remix of "Gonna Get Close To You" sees the band venture even more into the industrial territories. But the acoustic remix of "I Dream In Infrared" is my personal favorite.

Killer songs: Walk In The Shadows, I Dream In Infrared, The Killing Words, London, I Will Remember

OPERATION: MINDCRIME (1988, 2003) EMI/CAPITOL (Remastered)

I don't know why, but after the initially disappointing 'Rage For Order', I still was let down by this album also. I couldn't believe that this was the same band that released 'The Warning'. Luckily this album grew on me much easier than it's predecessor. So it soon became clear what a gigantic concept album Queensrÿche had recorded. The story is far to complicated to re-tell in just a few words, but the music is absolutely fabulous. There's hardly a dull second on this album, and one might say that this is the text book example of both a progressive metal album, and a concept album, done to perfection. It's simply a masterpiece, ranking alongside classics like Pink Floyd's 'The Wall', and The Who's 'Tommy'. The band have played this entire record live many times. It's an incredible experience, and showmanship in perfection. 'Operation: Mindcrime' is one of progressive metal's defining records, and it's a MUST in any metal lover's collection.

28.01.08 : I traded in the old version for the new remastered edition, w/2 bonus tracks. The booklet is far more extensive here, but the 2 extra tracks aren't really that exciting.

Killer tracks: All of them are amazing! 

EMPIRE (1990, 2003) EMI/CAPITOL (Remastered)

This band just keeps changing, and evolving, yet I know see that there is sort of a red line through all of their releases, and the big evolution I as a younger fan thought was so gigantic, was no more then logical steps towards a more mature sound for the band. But as a young fan it was very hard to accept any new release by this band, because they always sounded so different each time. This was the case with 'Empire' too. I hated what they had done, and thought they had gone overtly soft. But in time, this record also grew on me, becoming one of my all time favorites, not only by this band, but by any band! There is not one bad song on 'Empire'. It's diverse, played with great skill, and all of the songs are thought through to perfection. It might no longer be a power metal band, as they were when they started out. But one can easily hear that this is the same band that released 'Rage For Order'. The title track is simply amazing, and if you add the solemn ballad that is 'Silent Lucidity', then you have two of the finest songs ever written. 'Empire' shows a band that doesn't give a flying fart about trends or expectations (a quality that were about to ruin the band on latter occasions). And I truly LOVE every second of this masterpiece. A MUST!

28.01.08 : I traded in the old version for the new remastered edition, w/3 bonus tracks. The booklet is not that impressive, but the 3 bonus tracks are very cool additions. 'Last Time In Paris' was only available on the 'The Adventures Of Ford Fairlane' movie soundtrack prior to this. 'Scarborough Fair' is a cover of the old Simon & Garfunkel classic.

Killer tracks: All of them.

PROMISED LAND (1994) EMI

Queensrÿche are moving even further away from their metal roots. If you take the softest songs from 'Empire', and make a whole album out of these ideas, 'Promised Land' is what you get. I actually liked this album right away. But that had to be a bad sign, being that all other albums by the band, took a long time to get in to. And the album did ware of after a while. I doesn't have many songs that stand the test of time, and the album comes of as just boring after a while. The song 'Bridge' reminds me lyrically of the song 'Cats In The Cradle'.

Killer tracks: I AM I, Bridge, Someone Else?

HEAR IN THE NOW FRONTIER (1997) EMI

And there you have it: The ruin of a perfectly good metal band! Nothing here reminds me of the greatness of these Seattle boys. The metal is almost absent, and all you have left is a bunch of boring pop/rock-songs. Man, this stinks! I don't even think I've managed to listen through the whole record at once. And to think that even this was not to be their all time lowest. *shudders*

Killer tracks: I wouldn't call it killer, but 'Sign Of The Time' is the only listenable track.

Q2K (1999) ATLANTIC

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Nothing on this album sounds like the Queensrÿche I love. NOTHING! This is modern pop/rock that doesn't even sound good. I can understand change but why create less than mediocre music? At least have the decency to write memorable stuff. This is only sad. Why is it that when every time the name Kelly Grey shows up, things start to go downhill with a band?

Killer tracks: Yeah, right!

GREATEST HITS (2000) EMI/CAPITOL

I'm one of those collectors that doesn't mind these best-of deals. It's always a treat if they have something extra on them. On this one we get 2 tracks from most of their releases so far (1 from the last, and 3 from 'Empire'). All tracks have been digitally remastered, so the sound quality is good. A fine collection indeed, and as always, one can only discuss the choice of songs on it. The 2 bonus tracks were previously only available on the Japanese pressings of 'Promised Land' and 'Here In The Now Frontier'. All the songs are in chronological order.

LIVE EVOLUTION (2001) METAL-IS

After 2 disappointing albums, Queensrÿche return with another live documentation. The album is recorded in a way that makes it almost chronological. This band is just phenomenal live, and this is the album to prove it! All I can say that the first disc is just about the best live-record I've ever heard, and that disc number 2 would be so too, if it hadn't been for the awful songs off of the 2 last records. 

THE ART OF LIVE (2004) MAYAN/SANCTUARY

3 years, and only 1 studio album after the last live album, Queensrÿche return with 'The Art Of Live'. Quite frankly, I don't see the point of this release. More than half of the songs are from the latter era of the band, with 6 songs off of the atrocity that is 'Tribe'. And not only are the songs less then mediocre, but the band also sounds very uninspired. My eyes lit up when I saw that the fantastic "Roads To Madness", from my favorite Queensrÿche album 'The Warning', was included. But sadly the band ignore their metallic background, and play the song acoustic. Another thing that bothers me with this album is the sound. I'm all for a raw live recording, but when the crowd interaction is put on a low, and the fact that Geoff Tate voice was not at all good that night, it is almost a mystery that the band would even consider releasing this. It's painful to listen to him struggle through "Anybody Listening?" If it wasn't for the completist in me, this CD would never have graced my collection. Might also mention that this is Mike Stone's first official stint with the band, although he is not listed as a member in the booklet.

TAKE COVER (2007) RHINO

Guess it is time for another covers album. Everyone else have already done them, so why not Queensrÿche too, right? Well, if nothing else, this album shows you why this band is no longer a heavy metal force to be reckoned with! Save for the Black Sabbath number, there is absolutely nothing on this record that shows the bands metal legacy. And in the case of the cover of the song from the movie 'Jesus Christ Superstar', the original is almost heavier than this cover version!! So either this band is once again ignoring their heavy metal background, and try their best to cover up the fact that they were there to start off both the US power metal scene, and the prog metal scene, or they are showing their real roots. A sticker on the cover says this is the bands favorite songs. Now, this would all be fine and dandy if they had at least done the numbers some justice. But sadly I can't even say that they have done that. Most of the tracks sound very flat against the original artists. And the album sounds more like something they rushed together, rather than something they actually gave some effort and initiative. Can you even imagine a grandiose number, such as Queen's "Innuendo", being butchered by a band that uses some lame effects on the vocals, and didn't even bother to tune their guitars before playing?! Only the opening track, the Pink Floyd cover, is at least amusing. And the U2 number would be cool too, if it hadn't been for Sepultura's cover version of this track, that blows Queensrÿche's attempt right out of the water! 'Take Cover' is another let down in this bands career for me.