EMPIRE

Queensryche's follow up to Their masterpiece Operation: Mindcrime. Some people even say that THIS is their masterpiece. I will have to kindly disagree, even though this is a very solid effort. One thing I noticed was the general gutting of most of the songs, in favor of a catchy mid tempo melodic metal sound. I also seem to have noticed how this has been the Queensryche staple for years afterward. Most of the songs are average melodic metal, and don't seem to challenge, but the highlights of the album make up for some of the samey mid tempo rock songs (like Best I can, one and only, hand on heart...etc.) The title track is a furious metal piece with hypnotic riff effects and politically inspired audio clips. The lyrics to the album aren't amazing, but in the albums standouts seem to be excellent. Then you have the ballad Silent Lucidity with excellent lyrics, hypnotic orchestration, and a very Pink Floyd feel. It is a shame that most of the album (Empire, Anybody Listening?, Silent Lucidity, Jet City Woman, Thin Line, Della Brown, Another Rainy Night) Has to be some of the best music Queensryche have recorded, while it is let down by One and Only, hand on heart, best I can, and resistance which are just mediocre MTV mid tempo melodic metal. (tongue Twister?) If it weren't for these few songs, I'd have no problem whatsoever in giving this album 5 stars...

As it stands, this is another excellent but not quite essential release from Queensryche, and the start of a road that seems littered with the brand of weak melodic metal... Four out of Five Stars.

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