It has been almost 20 years since Queensrÿche first imparted the story of Nikki and Sister Mary on their unsuspecting fans via their brilliant heavy metal concept album of 1988, Operation: Mindcrime. Is it me, or does time speed up exponentially as you get older? Three years later, while touring in support of their follow-up to Mindcrime, the equally impressive Empire (and my personal Queensrÿche favorite), the band performed a full-blown, theatrical concert performance of the entire Mindcrime album, which was all captured on video and released the same year as Operation: Livecrime.
Since then, Queensrÿche have gone on to release a string of comparatively mediocre albums, no help in part to the resignation of founding guitarist, and apparent best songwriter, Chris DeGarmo from the band. In 2003, DeGarmo briefly rejoined his old bandmates in the studio to co-write and play on about half of the new Tribe album. Unfortunately, this would not be a permanent reunion, as DeGarmo declined to tour with, or officially rejoin, the band.
Queensrÿche have always remained a vital live act during this time, and this is documented by two other pretty decent concert videos; Live Evolution in 2001, and The Art Of Live in 2004 — although the latter was marred by some serious production blunders. Back in 2003, when Dream Theater was still my favorite progressive-metal band, Queensrÿche opened for them on one particular night of their amazing co-headlining tour that I attended, and proceeded to simply outclass their east coast counterparts. I gained a whole new respect for them that night.
As with Queensrÿche's previous few efforts, I have not been very impressed with the new Operation: Mindcrime II album. 2003's Tribe is the only post-Empire album that I still listen to occasionally. I have certainly given the new Mindcrime it's due amount of spins, patiently waited for it to grow on me, but it simply lacks any real standout tracks to reach out and grab you like the original Mindcrime does. This becomes painfully obvious during this concert performance, when the much weaker Mindcrime II material has to follow the utterly amazing first set.
Now, don't get me wrong. Just because Mindcrime II does not quite live up to its predecessor, that does not mean that it is a bad album — it is just not a great album. This makes the flow of the concert seem as if the headlining band had opened for the opening act; kind of anti-climactic. With that said, the reason that this video still gets such high marks from me is that, although it was already done brilliantly back in 1991, this new performance of Operation: Mindcrime was absolutely mind-blowing.
Article comments
1 - Chris Beaumont
Nice. Been meaning to pick this up....
2 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
"and proceeded to simply outclass their east coast counterparts."
I don't buy it... I saw Queensryche when they opened for Halford & Maiden @ the Tweeter Center, I think it was back in 2000, and they were horrible. Geoff Tate didn't have the range & the band lacked any kind of presence or performance. I saw DT on their"Six Inner Degrees" & "Train of Thought" tours(2001,2003) & they were freaking great. Still kicking ass after the 10+ years when I first heard "Images & Words" and never missing a beat.
Honestly, Queensryche needs to give it a rest.
Sure, "Operation: Mindcrime" was a brilliant album but you could already see a decline in Mr. Tate's performance on their 1991 live video and that new sequel completely blows chunks!! I'm all set w/ seeing this blunder on DVD.
3 - Tom Johnson
I'll both agree and disagree - I didn't see the DT/QR tour in question, but I still think they outclass DT, at least performance-wise. They're just a classier act, that's all. Musically, well, yeah, nothing besides Tribe has been all that great in a very long time (although I have some strange soft spot for Hear in the Now Frontier, or at least it's stronger songs.)
But I'll disagree that this is the beginning of some big new start for the band. I think this is the end. With this tour and now the "greatest hits" tour (as I've actually seen it being billed) it sounds to me like Queensryche is out playing what the people want to hear one last time. They've wrapped up the Mindcrime saga (which didn't need a sequel at all,) toured for both albums once again, now there's another best-of coming out at the end of the summer for which they're touring, and presumably will be recording that for release as well. Those things sound like the actions of a band getting ready to hang it up. This would be a good point to call it quits. It has to happen sometime, why not now while they have some semblance of integrity?
4 - Paul Roy
I just wasn't crazy about Dream Theater's Train of Thought tour, just like I wasn't crazy about the album. Queensryche played all the hits that night - and they rocked. "Outclassed" may have been a little harsh, but I definately enjoyed Queensryche's set more. I also think that DT has certainly been in as much of a decline as Queensryche during the last decade. And Tom, I didn't mean to imply that I though Queensryche were on the verge of some big, new start. I am just hoping that they are. Maybe Mike Stone has some songwriting chops, and can infuse some new life into the band.
5 - Triniman
I have to agree with Tom Johnson's sentiments that QR are on their way out. Mindcrime II was a let down. QR peaked back in the '80s, about 20 years ago. They have not been able to recapture their brilliance on record since then. I saw them a couple of years ago and while they were excellent, I couldn't help but feel that they were creatively spent, having to ressurect the Mindcrime concept to garner some interest. Iron Maiden came back and in a strong way with their last album. I hope QR can find a producer who is willing to tell it like it is and then make a comeback.
6 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
"I also think that DT has certainly been in as much of a decline as Queensryche during the last decade."
Comments like this make me laugh because you can't be serious. And these statements about Queensryche being Classier?! What are you talking about?
Sure, it's one thing to like Queensryche but to say they are better or classier than DT is just plain out retarded. I mean *WTF*..DT hasn't had to review an old release until "Score" and they did that to thank the fans NOT because their ship is sinking or because their latest release sucks balls like OMII.
This is absoloutley ridiculous and really doesn't rate any more responses from me
7 - Paul Roy
Jesus, I'm devistated that I don't deserve any more responses from the resident Blogcritics music expert. Try reading what I actually said, not just what is convenient to slay me with. Dream Theater has been my favorite prog-metal band since Images and Words, but if you have been happy with their output since Scenes From A Memory, then let's just agree that our tastes our very different.
8 - Mark Saleski
i actually thought that Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence was killer, though i admit that i'm no expert on their discography.
9 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Just so that I am not trying to conveniently slay you...
"Back in 2003, when Dream Theater was still my favorite progressive-metal band.."
Obviously, you lean towards Queensryche(even though they aren't prog metal)and that's fine.But, I'll tell you something... Music has been my life since I was 8 y/o & Iron Maiden's "Killers" was the first tape I had owned.At 10, I picked up the drum sticks. Since then, I have listened to everything in the metal spectrum which gives me a kind of a "taught" ear. So, with that being said, you can like Queenryche all you want but "Six Inner Degrees" & "Train of Thought" have far more solid & stronger material than QR has put out in a decade. "Live at Budokan" shows how these guys are still tight & have great showmanship.
NO, I may not be thrilled with "Octavarium" or "Systematic Chaos"(DT isn't one of my favorite metal bands at the moment) but right there that is more original material than QR has put out in a long time. To be honest, "Systematic" sounds like they are trying to do something different & maybe even appeal to the younger crowd. Hell, why not??
All in all, Queensryche's latest releases have been poor.QMII isn't even Metal in my mind it sounds like Hard Rock.BUT, If their studio work is poor, I don't buy that they could "outclass" a world reknown live band on stage. Your point doesn't have any validity to it..