Recent years has seen quite some drama surrounding the Queensryche camp. Focussing more on legal fights then on music, which is quite a shame for a band with such a remarkable history and discography. Gladly things have been sorted out and the instrumentalists get to carry on with the band and its name.
So, with this being the first time I hear the band with new boy Todd la Torre, I was wondering how the band would sound. Well first things first, La Torre actually has an uncanny resemblance to a young and powerful Geoff Tate. I mean, with eyes closed it is only in the details you hear the difference! So the good part is, this sounds familiar on first run through. In fact, it made me wonder why Tate had such a large impact on the songs on the previous output, as all members are clearly capable writers.
Even if this is a very short album for modern standards (11 songs in 35 minutes with 2 being interludes of around the minute) it sounds like vintage Queensryche and the band sound prolific as ever. Gives great confidence for more classic material in the future. So now I just have to dig up the album where Tate is still calling the shots and hear what he has come up with. If that is on par, we all just win in the end 🙂