EMPIRE

While many may not see Queensrÿche as prog rock or metal, they are still a band worthy of a spot in most anyone's music collection. Empire is the album that introduced many to Queenrÿche, back in the day when rock and metal were at the top of the musical mountain before grunge stormed to the top angrily, only to be toppled by rap and hip-hop, and the music it engulfed as its own.

Certainly, Empire was a commercially friendly album, but that isn't neccessarily a bad thing or a sign of "selling out". The band recieved some heavy rotation on MTV and the radio, which kind of burned a couple of the songs out. Still, Empire is a great album, though not without its flaws.

"Empire" is certainly a highlight from the album, and got a few nods for "heaviest song". Take note: loud, fast and brutal doesn't neccesarily mean "heavy". "Best I Can", "Jet City Woman" and "another Rainy Night" round out the best portions of the album. Myself, I couldn't stand "Silent Lucidty" from the start, and when it became a single, then an overplayed single, I decied to play only the first side of the album for a while. But of course, it was common practice to go with a ballad (or the lightest song) as a single in support of an album then, usually released second.

It's not a perfect album, but still a fairly good effort from a band that went unnoticed by most for years. It's commercial success helped the band, and turned many on to their earlier outings, gaining fans along the way.