OPERATION: MINDCRIME

My first encounter with Queensrÿche was an interesting and intriguing experience.It happened with "Operation Mindcrime". Interesting because at that time it was the first material I had ever heard of this band, and intriguing because of the theme of this album and the way the musicians approached it. A concept album was something less common in the rock/metal arena. For me, the mixture of this album's sounds and lyrics signifies if not the born of progressive metal, the raise of it. The story behind this album is exciting, suspenseful but sad and tragic; it's about drug addiction and the power of manipulating people through their weaknesses, about love and deceit, about religion and prostitution, faith and loosing hope, about conspiracy and terrorism ending all in madness. We have to admit that the story is very present nowadays when the idea of terrorism is on high tide and especially what is behind it. Queensrÿche is no stranger in sending politically-charged statements, and the message of "Mindcrime" is of that sort.

"Operation Mindcrime" is the pearl of Queensrÿche in terms of musical value. The voice of Tate is ranging high and low and is very distinctive and clear (you can really understand each word). Guitar playing by Chris DeGarmo and Michael Wilton is at high level delivering good solos. Excellent background rhythm maintained by Scott Rockenfield and Eddie Jackson. A special plus is for Pamela Moore. I can highlight "Suite Sister Mary" as the "piece de resistance" in term of progressive and "Eyes of a Stranger" as the commercial hit of the album.

Being mentioned by critics alongside other notable concept albums like Pink Floyd's "The Wall" and The Who's "Tommy", "Operation Mindcrime" deserves his place as a landmark for the progressiveness of metal. It is a MUST for every listener interested in prog-rock.