Two decades after Queensryche stormed onto the music scene garnering multi-platinum album sales and the kind of critical acclaim that would make most bands blush, the group returns to celebrate 20 years of hard rocking with its first studio release in four years.
While their most influential days may be behind them, the members of Queensryche still have some life left in them as their new album Tribe can attest. Bringing together the original lineup of vocalist Geoff Tate, guitarists Chris DeGarmo and Michael Wilton, bassist Eddie Jackson and Scott Rockenfield on drums, the band has crafted a worthy addition to its discography.
Marking the group's tenth album and ninth studio release, Tribe carries on the tradition of hard rock that fans of the group have come to expect. While neither overly aggressive nor excessively progressive, band members blend many elements of their classic Queensryche sound with something that is undeniably contemporary.
The band seems to have made a conscious decision to shed the notion that in order to remain relevant, you must not change. The album ventures into new areas musically and lyrically - something most bands that have been around for two decades have a difficult, if not impossible, time accomplishing.
Blending a bizarre, but surprisingly well-arranged variety of world music, some nu-metal sensibilities and a good amount of crunch, Queensryche has created something easy on the ears. Still, Tribe is nowhere near as groundbreaking as the band's most successful albums Operation: MindCrime and Empire.
Fans of the band will be happy to know that Tribe is easily the best album since its two seminal releases in the late '80s.
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The spark that starts the fire can be found on the first track. "Open" kicks off the album with a hard edge and a hint of eastern influence. After a few minutes with this song, it's obvious that Queensryche has become very comfortable with its music over the years.
The band never shies away from experimentation. Hints of electronicrock and tribal beats add to the depth of the album.
Regrettably, the album is a roller coaster ride of very exciting highs and disappointments. If the times hadn't changed, Tribe would undoubtedly be platinum material. Unfortunately, too much of the album screams of hair-metal sensibilities and Queensryche's once luminous power ballads are left feeling a little flat and dated.
Maybe Queensryche's relevance has faded after all this time, and it's too bad. The band still has a lot to say and makes no qualms about trying to say it in the music. Overall, Tribe is a much wiser album than one might expect to find in this day of pre-packaged and formulaic music.
It just goes to show that even old dudes can still rock.
Queensryche will be performing Friday at the Kiva Auditorium.
