DEDICATED TO CHAOS

Queensrÿche's last effort, American Soldier, was one that, despite all of the negative hype surrounding it, I actually enjoyed quite a bit. Although nowhere near the heights of Operation: Mindcrime or Empire, I thought it was a generally high-quality concept album with a few excellent songs that were on par with the band's classic material. Dedicated to Chaos has been met with even more negative attention than 2009's American Soldier, and (unfortunately) I agree with it this time around. This is an extremely weak effort that is far too uninspired and generic to impress even the most die- hard Queensrÿche fan - really a shame after the massive step forward that was American Soldier. Dedicated to Chaos is a very low point in Queensrÿche's discography, and I can only hope that they recover from this artistic disaster next time around. Unless generic metal riffs, straightforward song structures, and uninspired lyrics are your preferred poison, I'd have a tough time recommending this to even the most hardcore Queensrÿche fans.

The music on Dedicated to Chaos is similar to Queensrÿche's sound on their previous few albums. Expect grunge-tinged alternative metal with very few influences from progressive metal and traditional heavy metal - this truly sounds nothing like the band that made Operation: Mindcrime, and those who are expecting a traditional/prog metal album should look elsewhere. Although I'm certainly open to the band's ever-evolving sound and change in direction, I can't help but feel that they've lost a bit of their inspiration along the way. The vast majority of Dedicated to Chaos consists of generic riffs and surprisingly uninspired vocal performances from Geoff Tate - a bit shocking when considering what a powerful and emotional vocalist he can be. There really are only a few songs on this album that are decent ("Around the World", "Hard Times", and "Big Noize" come to mind), and even they aren't great or anything. Dedicated to Chaos also sports some of the band's most horrendous lyrics to date - just take one listen to "Hot Spot Junkie" and you'll catch my drift. How could this be the same band that previously wrote genius concept albums with stories that compete with the best ever written?

One annoying feature about Dedicated to Chaos is the horrible-sounding production. The mix sounds just terrible to these ears, with everything (particularly the drums and bass) mixed so loud to the point that it lacks emotion. Guitar parts are nearly inaudible at times, and the vocals are mixed too high as well. Giving already generic music an uninspired and generic production is not a plus in my book.

Dedicated to Chaos is not a successful album from almost every aspect. The uninspired arrangements, weak lyrics, terrible production, and simplistic compositions make this possibly the worst Queensrÿche effort to date. It will take a real boost of inspiration to recover from this disaster. I hate to do this to one of my once-favorite bands, but the most I can give out here is 1.5 stars. If not for the few decent tracks, you could easily subtract that extra half-star. Dedicated to Chaos is only for the most die-hard of Queensrÿche fans, and I have a feeling that even they will be disappointed. Along with Morbid Angel's recent disaster, this can currently be considered the biggest let-down of 2011. Sorry guys - I really wanted to like this album. Maybe next time.

"Dedicated to Chaos" is the 12th full-length studio album by US hard/rock metal act Queensrÿche. The album was released in June 2011 by Roadrunner Records.

The music on "Dedicated to Chaos" is hard rock/metal with an at times accessible commercial feel. The album is yet another example of the fact that you never really know what you´re gonna get when a new Queensrÿche album is released. The band have since the early nineties been swinging back and forth between releasing semi-progressive metal albums and more easily accessible hard rock/ metal ditto. To the great despair of some fans but also to the great joy of others. Queensrÿche were never known to please. They are rather known for making exactly the albums they want to, when they want to. "Dedicated to Chaos" is no different and it belongs in the more commercial camp. So hardcore progressive metal fans, read it and weep!

The tracks are generally simple vers/chorus structured with memorable choruses that probably won´t offend anyone. Hard rocking riffs, a pounding rocking rythm section and Geoff Tate´s unique vocals on top. At times the band take the music in an almost funky glam rock/metal-like direction. "Got It Bad" is the best example of this. The band are definitely trying out new things on "Dedicated to Chaos" and while some work better than others I respect what Queensrÿche are trying to achive. "Dedicated to Chaos" is most likely a water divider but I´m actually mostly positive about the more commercial musical direction. Since the release of "Promised Land" back in 1994, Queensrÿche have released quite a few grey and mediocre releases that haven´t impressed me much. "Dedicated to Chaos" won´t change my general opinion that the best years of the band´s life are behind them, but as a nice and easily accessible hard rock/metal album featuring a positive vibe, a professional production, excellent musicianship and pretty decent songwriting, "Dedicated to Chaos" ain´t too bad. A 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is warranted.

Let's face it: if you are familiar with the world of metal, then the name "Queensryche" is a household name for the band whose early works are well-regarded. Yet, everything since 1997's Hear in the Now Frontier has been extremely polarizing to old and new fans alike. There WERE signs of hope in the year of 2009 with American Soldier, an album that contained tracks with promising glimmers of the old style. So, we reach the biggest question of them all: What the hell were they thinking with this album???

Here's the thing; the band's recent output might have been lackluster, but nothing compares to the murderous peak they reach here. Dedicated to Chaos is a essentially a lengthy, boring tour of all that has gone wrong with Queensryche. Even a half-tolerable song in the form of the radio-friendly "Get Started" can't save the record from complete mediocrity in any case.

So, the biggest problem? Geoff Tate. You might be wondering: "How does Queensryche's general figurehead become the worst aspect of the album?" The problem is twofold: In his vocals and his lyrics. Most of his vocal output consists of weird off-key wails and spasms that don't sum up to much of anything (except getting incredibly annoying after a while); even his softer side has random out-of-place melodies and dynamics that don't even up with the sound. The lyrics, on the other hand, are ridiculously simple on the record, from the concept of (are you ready for this?) driving (*gasp*) to trying to unify the world in peace. Tate's subjects are overall very limited here, and the lyrics don't expand well on the premises.

The best song here is the aforementioned opener "Get Started," a very straightforward rock track with typical choruses and semi-decent vocals. The song isn't anything extraordinary, but at least the band seem to know what they're doing, and the track is fun to listen to now and again. Let it sink in, because this feeling doesn't last for too long.

When firing up the other tracks, one of the huge issues with the album is that it just drags and drags and draaaaaaags. It's understood that the band wanted to create an album with more rhythm (and that they did), but the rhythms could have at least been more exciting or stimulating; Instead, the band are content with using and recycling bored, tired drumming. Because of stuff like this, the 53:55 runtime truly feels like an eternity.

Another predicament is that there are some more experiments this time around, often with unfavorable results. The worst of this appears in "Hard Times" which mixes soul, reggae, space rock, and a couple of other genres into a mixing pot, but instead it ends up being very dispassionate-sounding and unconvincing with its influences. The atmosphere that is created only serves to drain any energy the song might have possessed.

This album is not an album where you see a bump in the road; In this album, you see a dark abyss with a small crevice of light seeping out of it. In other words, Queensryche are getting fewer and fewer chances to redeem themselves, and with this album, they just might have killed their career for good. What a shame.

(Note that this review was from 2011, and my thoughts regarding the final paragraph have since changed because of the band's new material with Todd LaTorre)

(Originally published on Sputnikmusic)

In it for the money?

Wow, what a mediocre steamy piece of..er..music. I hardly believe it's only 8 years old because it sounds OLD and TIRED. What goes through your mind when you release uninspired material? Having trouble sleeping or maybe bad digestion? Even if I'm part of their fans, this sounds like a I Mother Earth/ Live/ Dishwalla/ U2 dud. Major bore with garbage lyrics ('go it bad for you'...'on youtube, youtube', 'all around the world,all you need is love'), it's really, really not good.

Is this really made in 2011? No kidding?! I'm never listening to this ever again.

I guess every band has their 'Test For Echo'.