QUEENSRŸCHE – Queensrÿche

Anyone familiar with the recent events transpiring within the band Queensrÿche knows that Susan Tate was removed as manager of the band, which ticked off Geoff Tate, leading to an altercation between Tate and the other band members, causing Michael Wilton, Eddie Jackson, and Scott Rockenfield to hold a double secret probation meeting whereby the vote came through to fire Tate as vocalist. A legal battle ensued, and the overwhelmed judge came through with a “no decision” allowing Geoff Tate and the other band members to both independently use the name “Queensrÿche” until November 2013. The end result is fans now have Queensrÿche – Rockenfield, Wilton, Jackson, and Parker Lundgren … along with “Geoff Tate’s Queensrÿche” — the band that was actually first out of the chute in April 2013 with a new album entitled Frequency Unknown, followed now by Queensrÿche issuing a self-titled album in June 2013 – not to be mistaken with the band’s original Queensrÿche EP from 1983. Confusing? You betcha …

What isn’t confusing, however, is the quality of Queensrÿche (the LP). Wilton, Jackson, and Rockenfield recruited former Crimson Glory singer Todd La Torre (who, as a side note, had first sang with Crimson Glory in Atlanta, USA as part of ProgPower X in September 2009, and was announced as Crimson Glory’s frontman in May 2010), and at first listen of Queensrÿche you have to pinch yourself, because he sounds so similar to Geoff Tate, it’s scary. Tate, however, as the “leader” of Queensrÿche (pre-firing) had taken the band away from their Progressive Hard Rock/Metal roots in favor of a Modern Rock approach, which was frowned upon by Queensrÿche fans of old and the music industry as a whole. Today’s manifestation of Queensrÿche (with Torre at the microphone), sounds much more like the Progressive Hard Rock/Metal band that fans came to know and love so dearly.

Queensrÿche contains 9 full length tracks (along with a couple short instrumentals) and by and large every song has merit and purpose. As touched upon above, Torre does an absolutely outstanding job of “fitting in” with the band while still somehow keeping and demonstrating his own identity. He shows impressive range, sounds relaxed (yet inspired), and adds incredible melody to each composition. Musically, the whole band performs well, and although the sound is retro-Queensrÿche, it comes across fresh and each track is an easy listen.

The only drawback with this Queensrÿche album is its length, coming in at about 35 minutes! Truth be told, most fans would prefer 35 minutes of pure quality vs. 60 minutes of so-so material filled with wadding … and without a doubt, Queensrÿche (with Torre) has delivered one of the most promising albums thus far in 2013.