OPERATION : MINDCRIME II

QR had rebounded off of the double failure of Hear in theNow Frontier and Q2K with the lyrically excellent Tribe. The pressure was on to deliver, and, once again missing Chris DeGarmo, announced they were releasing a follow-up to their finest and, in my opinion, prog metal's finest album, Operation Mindcrime. The fan community immediately split between those who believed messing with such a masterpiece after the band had passed it's prime was blasphemy and those who were intrigued.

When I picked up OMII, I wasn't impressed at first. I gave it one or two spins then moved on to some other albums I had recently purchased. Then, I saw QR live and they performed OM and OMI back to back. The theatrical nature of the show explained parts of the concept that hadn't clicked yet fell into place. I went back and listened to the album and suddenly, it blossomed. The albums sound as if they were recorded bsck to back with the exception of Geoff's diminished voice, though he acquits himself nicely. The guitars and drums all bring back memories of classic Ryche.

The album opens with Nikki's release from prison after 18 years (the time between the two albums). He must now try to adapt to modern life, but he wants revenge on Dr. X. Nikki soon falls back on old habits, and the album may be even darker than the original. Songs like "I'm American," "Signs Say Go," and "Re-Arrange You" are urgent, fueling Nikki's desire for revenge. The standout track is "The Chase," which features a vocal battle between Geoff and Ronnie James Dio, who voices Dr. X.

This album is a worthy follow-up to its mighty predecessor. At first, this seems like an attempt to cash in on former glory. However, the album is fresh and the band isn't doing this for money, since fans will buy any album and non-fans and those who have never heard of teh band won't. Fans might be uneasy after DeGarmo's second departure. However, the lyrics are just as sharp. After all, OM was Geoff's brainchild. The musicianship is high without being overwhelming, and new guitarists Mike Stone is a worthy replacement for Chris, unlike Kelly Gray. Overall, this album deserves three stars, but it's very close to four, like a C+. Fans should own this album, but newcomers should hold off until you've gotten the classics.