HEAR IN THE NOW FRONTIER

It's hard for me to give a album less than 4 stars for a band, who created the prog metal genre in general with their debut ("the warning") and always sound different from album to album and have earned to describe them as one of the pioneers of innovation in the music scene, but since "HITNF" they only produce average alternative records. On "Hear In The Now Frontier" Queensryche walk on new musical ground again, but the songwriting of the album sank into average. I'm not tired to say, that the album before "HITNF" ("Promised Land") was also critizised by fans and press, but it was drastic underrated, 'cause the songwriting on "Promised Land" was excellent. The problem was, that it was the darkest record of the band, it was also very Pink Floyd-influenced (what makes it very interestening to Pink Floyd-and Prog-fans) as you can hear. But all the critics to "Promised Land" were unfair, it was an very strong, dark soundtrack and the last really great rocord of the band. But the hard critics for "HITNF" are correct, because the band sound on this, as would they try to earn the fast money. You can call it an alternative/grunge album with Beatles-influences, which sounds interestening in general, but the songs make this one not to an enjoyable, exciting, innovative rock album as on past 'ryche records, it all gets down in boring frustation. The best of this album is the really good performance of Geoff Tate (his voice is the reason that I don't only give 1 star), but all in all this record is an dissapointment. The twin guitar playing was always a winner to any past 'ryche album (remember "Operation: Mindcrime"!), but the guitar playing here is far too powerless and grunge-oriented. Ok, this album has also some good moments and ideas in it, but the complete listening of the album sounds like a burn-out production of outbranded rockmillionaires. It seems, that Queensryche have forgotten their roots and they want to catch trends. It's sad that the following albums "Q2K" and "Tribe" aren't much better, the strange alternative-trademarks are still intigrated (well, on "Tribe" it all sounds heavier), so I only can hope, that they will sepperate with it and bring out an record, which can reach the brilliance of "Rage For Order", "Empire" or "Promised Land". The heavy "The Warning" or "Mindcrime" days are over since long time, we must take this fact. I only recommend this to hard-Queensryche fans. New listeners should start with an classic ("Queen Of The Reich (Queensryche EP)", "The Warning", "Rage For Order", "Operation: Mindcrime" or "Empire").