AMERICAN SOLDIER

This is a fairly dark album. As an overview, the songs tend to be sort of heavy, with good ripping solos. The main event is still Tate, however.

A noticeable effect within the majority of the songs would have to be the interview clips. Queensryche interviewed American soldiers and placed their responses into certain songs, so during some parts you'll hear clips of interviews come in. I think this actually adds to the overall theme of the music, and casts a haunting effect into the album. It also reminds me of another album... Dark side of the Moon. Another addition to the songs would be small acoustic snippets and sax solos. Geoff Tate has such a powerful voice, but he never lets it rip, content with a powerful mid range operatic style.

The thing I feared most about this record was the possibility of strong political themes. Luckily, this album is pretty much devoid of politics. It focuses on the horrors of war, and several songs are in the eyes of soldiers (and not just American soldiers, these songs could easily be seen through the eyes of any poor young kid caught up in his countries delusional wars) The songs never get extremely heavy, and never get extremely soft, but are powerful, operatic, and catchy.

In fact, the most political thing about the album is the name. There are no George W. Bush attacks, no pro or anti war sentiments (although the album is slightly anti-war, not anti-war in general but shows war and it's effects as negative and painful. The album is mainly an Anti-war but Pro-soldier. I was able to accept the song's messages, and it isn't anything to be worried about.) The whole' album is built around Soldiers and the psychological, social, physical, and family effects it has on them. Widows, dead men, social out casting, broken families, etc. The interview clips don't ever seem intrusive to me, and add a sort of harrowing atmosphere.

In the end, this is a very solid Queensryche album. Not as good as Mindcrime, for sure. Some of the mid tempo songs start to sound samey and drag a bit. And, I liked Mindcrime II a bit more, as well. But, it is most certainly a decent album.

My final rating is three stars. If you like it extra heavy, detract a bit. If you are annoyed by tape effects like added interviews, detract a bit. If you absolutely hate soldiers and find anything that portrays them in a positive light terrible... detract quite a bit.

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