QueensrA¿che - The Warning

Com'on folks...let's be realistic and honest here,

While I used to love Queensryche back in the day, this album just hasn't aged well. Between the mid-'80s production (despite the remaster) and the relatively simple musicianship (by today's standards), this album is just not that good.

Yeah, it's good ol' Geoff Tate and all, but if you're looking for something more modern and very similar in sounding to classic Queensryche, check out the early releases of Kamelot. The first two [Eternity (1995) & Dominion (1997)] especially, with the vocalist Mark Vanderbilt, who sounds a lot like Tate. In fact, when I listen to those two albums, I swear I'm listening to a couple long lost Queensryche albums.

And before you all go off on me, I'll preface my review with the fact that I've been a metal head since 1987. However, I will admit that I didn't get into Queensryche until after the Empire album was released. It's just that as a mid-30 something aging metal head, as I go back and listen to some of these early '80s albums again, and even early '90s albums for that matter, they just don't hold up very well, in terms of production and musicianship by today's standards. I know that's a bit repetative, but let's face it, today's musicianships push their playing to the limit and these slower, less complicated albums of past just leave something less desired.

Anyway, May 9, 2008

Take Hold!

I have heard many Queensrÿche CDs, including Rage for order, Empire, Operation: Mindcrime 1 & 2 but I have to say that this is the best Queensrÿche I have ever heard! It has nine great songs - just music - nothing more. I still love Operation: Mindcrime but something tells me that this they had a true power. After all, this was their debut album. Most people probably have heard the songs "Take Hold of the Flame" and "Warning" but it has a lot more good songs to give. If you comprared this to any other album, I think it would be Iron Maiden's "Piece of Mind". Also Helloween is near this with their Keepers. I really love Tate's voice - he is one of the best heavy metal vocalists ever - this album is a proof of that. By the way, don't be afraid of the song "Roads to Madness" - it is an amazing song, not boring at all although it is more than nine minutes long.
Stars: Take Hold of the Flame, Warning, No Sanctuary March 18, 2008

Queensryche - Geoff Tate Hittin The High Notes

Queensrryche's first full length release is still a favorite of mine after all these year. They would go on to do better albums, but this one showed that these guys were going to be a force to be reckoned with in the metal world. Geoff Tate's voice was at its peak on this one. Some of the high notes he hits are mind boggling. The album is full of twin guitar histrionics and outstanding drumming. Yea, it all sounds a bit dated today, but for early 80's power metal this is a very nice sampling. The band would have an AOR hit with "Take Hold Of The Flame" which is still a concert staple to this day. Other highlights include "Warning", "En Force", "NM 158" and the progressive metal finale "Roads To Madness". February 1, 2008

Best Queensryche album ever

Without a doubt, this is the pinnacle of the Queensryche experience. The sheer energy of this album is remarkable. It's 100% solid, start to finish; there are no weak moments. It is perhaps one of the best albums by any band ever. Warning - this is a lot heavier than anything that comes after it. If you're looking for Silent Lucidity, look elsewhere. There are many shades of early Rob Halford here, and 80's Iron Maiden. Sorry folks, but it was all downhill after this, and fairly rapidly at that. A++++ This album is a "must listen" for all metal fans. October 24, 2007

More than the debut EP promised. 3.5 stars.

The 'Ryches full length debut is a fastidious hard rocker fiercely independant of much of what whas going on around them at the time. As such it is less stuck in an 80's timewarp. What also assists in this regard is the fact that the band never quit during the grunge years, their history has no gap. While not relevant to the music as such it is relevant to that indefinable 'feel' that a band gives off.

But enough of that - to the job at hand!

The Warning as it stands sets out the bands stall nicely. Plenty of tight, precise and seemingly heavily rehearsed 'thinking mans metal' - a tag that would both help and hinder the band. The pretentious stance n the way the band constructed this album grates a bit - leading to more comparisons with the prog rockers than was really justified. But the self assurance and swagger definitely adds flavour. As track after track unfolds the listener discovers that this band was something different. Not intrinsically awesome, but very different beast to much of what was going on around them at the time. The term progressive would be going to far - this is merely a band who gave due consideration to craft. And overall the differece between The Warning and other heavy music doing the rounds at the time (early hair metl) means that there are few reference point to guide the newcomer in getting a handle on th 'Ryche sound. Indeed this mob is a reference point in themselves!

On The Warning Queensryches' nicely played and precise metal that sounds self important is in the early throes of development. The bands conscious not yet able to put forth a coherent concept piece like Operation Mindcrime but Tates high register vocals and the bands solid attack land this album in the metal sphere whole heartedly and that gave them a springboard for further releases. For all the great and varied music you just know these guys listen to, when they get together this is a band that liked to rock out and still does.

As for this 'remastered' version, it sounds great. Not having heard the original recording I can't speak volumes about the pros and cons of the treatment this has been given. The bonus tracks are quite welcome though, not making the package overly long and adding overall value to the release. This album didn't rock me world but was a very interesting listen - if the price is right then pick it up pronto as this is a band worthy of respect and whose development is worn very much on their sleeves. August 20, 2007

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