Looks mean nothing.

not really, consider all those hair metal bands, they all looked the same and also sounded the same. if a band doesent give a fuck usually their appearance will show it.

Yes, I have seen them lately. I've been seeing them live since Empire came out. I first saw them in 1989 with Def Leppard, but didn't pay attention to them. =(

Anyway, Geoff has always looked different. He's a HUGE Peter Gabriel fan, that's the music he loves. A look means nothing. And yes, the guitarist is different looking, again it means nothing.

Really?! You're not actually that naive. Are you? You think the look of a musician in commercial music means nothing? It might not mean anything to you in cataloging the musician's genre. But, it DOES mean something to many of the fans of that group. So, when I see them coming out looking like that I know exactly who they're trying to appeal to.

I don't agree that he's always looked different. When Queensryche was a metal band he looked metal. I saw them twice in concert and have the Livecrime video. I was a huge fan. They've changed. He's changed.

Looks mean nothing. It may mean something to you, but that doesn't make me naive at all. Geoff's metal look was that of a young man, that look was neither metal nor rock, but that look was the 80's in general! The guy is probably pushing 50 years old now and he's balding! Should he go with a skullet like Devin or Hulk Hogan? Maybe he's not a Hulkamaniac.

Generally, band's from the 80's looked that way to sell that image you're referring to, they usually change that image when they get older and realize it means nothing. Unfortunately, that's usually when people take it the wrong way.

Slayer once wore striped spandex! Should they still?

No, that's not my point at all. You're suggesting that Geoff simply dresses the way he does 'cause it fits the time or he feels comfortable that way. I'm suggesting that as a commercial artist he's making choices in order to appeal to his audience. I didn't say it mattered to me, personally. But, it sure as hell does matter to a lot of people who pay money for albums, t-shirts, and concerts. Otherwise, why not just go on stage wearing whatever you have on that day. You think Slipknot goes around town dressed that way? 'Course you don't, that was a rhetorical question, don't hit the "quote button" yet. Most, if not all, bands and musicians have something particular that they wear when performing 'cause it's part of the image. That's all I'm saying. I think Geoff et. al. want to sell records.

Which is why, bankrupt of other ideas, they are returning to ground that was already richly mined. I mean, how much more craven do you have to be to keep hitting that same album? The toured twice on it and then the put out the Livecrime stuff. And, now this. It's kind of a bummer because that's a great album and now it starts to look silly.

Looks mean nothing.

not really, consider all those hair metal bands, they all looked the same and also sounded the same. if a band doesent give a fuck usually their appearance will show it.

Watch yer mouth, son! All those 80's bands looked the same, but they didn't sound the same. The 80's rock era was one of the most unique times in music history. Unlike today where it's like a million bands, one singer.

Sure, in the 80's there were vocalists that sounded similar, and there were some bands that did sound the same, you can't avoid that, but overall the 80's was a very unique time.......and I miss it.

Yes, I have seen them lately. I've been seeing them live since Empire came out. I first saw them in 1989 with Def Leppard, but didn't pay attention to them. =(

Anyway, Geoff has always looked different. He's a HUGE Peter Gabriel fan, that's the music he loves. A look means nothing. And yes, the guitarist is different looking, again it means nothing.

Really?! You're not actually that naive. Are you? You think the look of a musician in commercial music means nothing? It might not mean anything to you in cataloging the musician's genre. But, it DOES mean something to many of the fans of that group. So, when I see them coming out looking like that I know exactly who they're trying to appeal to.

I don't agree that he's always looked different. When Queensryche was a metal band he looked metal. I saw them twice in concert and have the Livecrime video. I was a huge fan. They've changed. He's changed.

Looks mean nothing. It may mean something to you, but that doesn't make me naive at all. Geoff's metal look was that of a young man, that look was neither metal nor rock, but that look was the 80's in general! The guy is probably pushing 50 years old now and he's balding! Should he go with a skullet like Devin or Hulk Hogan? Maybe he's not a Hulkamaniac.

Generally, band's from the 80's looked that way to sell that image you're referring to, they usually change that image when they get older and realize it means nothing. Unfortunately, that's usually when people take it the wrong way.

Slayer once wore striped spandex! Should they still?

No, that's not my point at all. You're suggesting that Geoff simply dresses the way he does 'cause it fits the time or he feels comfortable that way. I'm suggesting that as a commercial artist he's making choices in order to appeal to his audience. I didn't say it mattered to me, personally. But, it sure as hell does matter to a lot of people who pay money for albums, t-shirts, and concerts. Otherwise, why not just go on stage wearing whatever you have on that day. You think Slipknot goes around town dressed that way? 'Course you don't, that was a rhetorical question, don't hit the "quote button" yet. Most, if not all, bands and musicians have something particular that they wear when performing 'cause it's part of the image. That's all I'm saying. I think Geoff et. al. want to sell records.

Which is why, bankrupt of other ideas, they are returning to ground that was already richly mined. I mean, how much more craven do you have to be to keep hitting that same album? The toured twice on it and then the put out the Livecrime stuff. And, now this. It's kind of a bummer because that's a great album and now it starts to look silly.

I don't see how Geoff's current look is meant to sell records. The response has been negative even though he's looked this way for like 10 years now.

As for Mindcrime, yes they're clearly milking it, but in their defense they've always talked about a sequel, even when they didn't need the album. I worry that they're about 10 years later, but we'll just have to wait and see.

Promised Land had my favorite QR song on it: Someone Else? Of course, that was the only song I liked on it, which is more than I could say for any album after it. I want to believe that O:MC2 will be good, but there's a better chance of a talking moose and flying squirrel showing up to do my laundry on New Year's Day.

The full band version of "Someone Else" gives me chills!

I'm partial to the album version myself. Geoff and piano are all the song needs. Then again you know how I feel about piano. Hmm... now if only a chick would cover the song....

Promised Land had my favorite QR song on it: Someone Else? Of course, that was the only song I liked on it, which is more than I could say for any album after it. I want to believe that O:MC2 will be good, but there's a better chance of a talking moose and flying squirrel showing up to do my laundry on New Year's Day.

The full band version of "Someone Else" gives me chills!

I'm partial to the album version myself. Geoff and piano are all the song needs. Then again you know how I feel about piano. Hmm... now if only a chick would cover the song....

I said to myself, gurp, you're being unfair. Give that song a listen and be judicial about it.

I did. It made me want to cry. 'Cause I was listening to a once great band that was making mediocre music. So, I turned it off and felt better. I know that sounds mean and I don't mean to bag on you, but rather that album and that song. I've listened to both the Promised Land and Hear in the... and I just can't dig on them. Just kinda boring.

Give me Rage for Order or give me... something else to listen to pre-Empire. The rest is poor IMO.

Promised Land had my favorite QR song on it: Someone Else? Of course, that was the only song I liked on it, which is more than I could say for any album after it. I want to believe that O:MC2 will be good, but there's a better chance of a talking moose and flying squirrel showing up to do my laundry on New Year's Day.

The full band version of "Someone Else" gives me chills!

I'm partial to the album version myself. Geoff and piano are all the song needs. Then again you know how I feel about piano. Hmm... now if only a chick would cover the song....

Hey, I love the album version, but on the full band version when they do those runs before the chorus, that build up just kicks my ass! I know you like piano, check out Emm Gryner and her album Girl Versions, she covers "Pour Some Sugar On Me," "Crazy Train" and Fugazi's "Waiting Room" among others, all piano versions. It blows away Tori's Strange Little Girls album.

Back about "Promised Land"...the content of metal doesn't really indicate the quality of music...I guess I can say this since I've never been a metalhead, though I enjoy quite a few bands in that genre. To be honest, I've never felt 'Ryche was metal anyways...I've always considered them "hard rock with metal tendencies".

But seriously. "Promised Land" blows "Empire" away, and even though O:M rocks, it's got nothing on PL.

Back about "Promised Land"...the content of metal doesn't really indicate the quality of music...I guess I can say this since I've never been a metalhead, though I enjoy quite a few bands in that genre. To be honest, I've never felt 'Ryche was metal anyways...I've always considered them "hard rock with metal tendencies".

But seriously. "Promised Land" blows "Empire" away, and even though O:M rocks, it's got nothing on PL.

I wouldn't say Promised Land blows Empire away, but I do enjoy it more. It's moody and dark, and probably the only Queensryche album that I hear any progressive tendencies on. I agree, Queensryche to me have always been more of a metal-infused heavy rock band. Not quite metal, but not completely rock. Somewhere in the middle, but leaning more toward the metal end, you know?

Promised Land is indeed a great album.

OK, I must admit...this...is...a...GREAT!!!...album. No joke. I'm fucking SHOCKED! It is NOT like the old Queensryche by any means. There are nods to the old stuff, but only brief nods. There are solos and some of them are quite good. The album is more in line with recent albums, but MUCH better. The songwriting is better and more focused, the hooks are bigger and far more catchy! It's just an overall improvement in ever aspect over the past three albums.

There's a good amount of orchestration, Dio and Geoff do a great trade off on "The Chase," Pamela Moore is on multiple songs and she's great, sounds just like she did on the original.

I don't care much for "I'm American," though I can see it growing on me in time. Bad choice for a single if you ask me.

"Speed Of Light" is another one that just kind of passed by every time without leaving an impression other than KASHMIR!! I don't like the weird ending much either.

"If I Could Change It All" is a good, ballad-type song, but Geoff hits this weird note in the first verse it catches me off guard every time I hear it. He's NEVER hit this note before. I don't know, it's weird, but I swear it's out of tune. Anyone else hear it? It's the part when he sings, "through...(and he puts an ooh-ooh-ooh trill in it)...I'll say anything...".

"Convict" is 8 seconds long. Totally worthless. The voice acting sucks in it, too, and it's like one line. Totally retarded and inconsequential.

My complaints end there. The standouts for me are "The Hands," "Hostage," "Signs Say Go," "Re-Arrange You," "The Chase," "A Murderer? (such a weird song, it's all over the place)," An International Confrontation (too short, though)," and "A Junkie's Blues." Those are the songs I like best, but the rest I didn't mention are very good.

I think the album would have benefited from a song like "Suite Sister Mary," or something a little more epic in scope, sort of climaxing and bringing everything together. As it is the albums end on a mellow note with "All The Promises." It's a good song with Geoff and Pamela Moore, but they could have build it up a little somewhere in there. I don't know, I didn't pay attention to any lyrics yet, so maybe it makes sense!

All in all, right now I would give this a solid 75/100 after repeated listens. I think in time with the actual CD and lyrics and visuals (if they include any DVD or whatever) I will bump the score up to 85 or a little higher. This is definitely their best since Promised Land, it's different, even different from the last three albums. The addition of Slater and Stone to the songwriting team no doubt having an impact on that, but to these ears—ears that have enjoyed their latest output—it was a good change. I can speculate on how it would sound with Wilton, Jackson and Rockenfeld having more to do with the writing, but at this point the only thing I can assume is that they had more to do with the sound on the latest albums than Geoff did. I've always blamed him. Maybe I was wrong.

Anyway, give it a shot with no expectations.

I'll have this album on release, it'll be hot cakes for me even if my brain bubbles with cynicism.

Thanks for the reassurance Eyesore, I can't wait.

I am just wondering when the hell Queensryche was ever considered metal?! Pre-Empire or post-Empire doesn't even matter...to me they have never been anything other than a decent hard rock act. Metal never even entered the equation for them.

In a time when hair bands were a plenty there was certainly a definite line between metal and priss rock. There was also a definite line outside the two which is where QR happened to fall. They were not prissy glam, nor were they metal. They were a decent hard rock band - nothing more nothing less.

Don't get me wrong I grew up during that time period and I miss it dearly. I just can't stand to hear anyone call QR metal!

I am just wondering when the hell Queensryche was ever considered metal?! Pre-Empire or post-Empire doesn't even matter...to me they have never been anything other than a decent hard rock act. Metal never even entered the equation for them.

In a time when hair bands were a plenty there was certainly a definite line between metal and priss rock. There was also a definite line outside the two which is where QR happened to fall. They were not prissy glam, nor were they metal. They were a decent hard rock band - nothing more nothing less.

Don't get me wrong I grew up during that time period and I miss it dearly. I just can't stand to hear anyone call QR metal!

There is a good amount of metal in there early stuff for me to not be concerned with the metal tag. I also feel that they had a lot of rock in their music, but an equal amount of metal, they kind of sat in limbo between the two.

RE-ARRANGE YOU

One of the best songs they've done in years!

ehh...not to offend you but I'm sorry - I didn't even make it through the whole song. I couldn't. It was dreadful! Suddenly I am a lot less excited for O:M II. I certainly hope they grow their balls back otherwise they will be in trouble for sure! I hope the rest of the album is better than that!

ehh...not to offend you but I'm sorry - I didn't even make it through the whole song. I couldn't. It was dreadful! Suddenly I am a lot less excited for O:M II. I certainly hope they grow their balls back otherwise they will be in trouble for sure! I hope the rest of the album is better than that!

Well, what were you expecting? Old school? You won't find it here. If you thought that song was dreadful I suggest you don't buy the album.