Queensrÿche’s Frequency Unknown
By Seth M
“After 30+ years of music making, most bands are content to simply trudge along, putting out the same old type of album again and again, trying to recapture the glory of days past. Not this band, not Queensrÿche.”
Those words were in the first paragraph of the CD preview packet I received. So, since it’s right there in front of me, I have to say that, as a fan of this band ~ well, not necessarily “this band” but the original band with the name ~ for a very long time, this whole two Queensrÿches thing is kind of ridiculous. I’m sorry, I know it’s been said before and will be said over and over again, but there needs to be one band ~ regardless of who’s in it.
I could do a whole blog and discussion about the dual band thing but instead, let’s just jump into Frequency Unknown, the Geoff Tate version of Queensrÿch’s latest release out today, April 23rd. The band features original Queensryche vocalist Geoff Tate along with an entirely new line-up: bassist Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot/Ozzy Osbourne/Whitesnake/Dio/Blue Oyster Cult), guitarist Robert Sarzo (Hurricane), drummer Simon Wright (AC/DC/Dio), guitarist Kelly Gray (Queensryche 1998 – 2001) and keyboardist Randy Gane (Myth).
For the recording of F.U., Tate also called on some other famous rockers including Brad Gillis of Night Ranger, K.K. Downing of Judas Priest, Chris Poland of Megadeth, Dave Meniketti of Y&T and a few others in addition to bassist Jason Slater, who co-wrote some of F.U. and worked on several previous Queensryche projects including Operation: Mindcrime II and American Soldier.
Frequency Unknown features the following 10 new tracks as well as 4 re-recorded classics:
Cold
Dare
Give It to You
Slave
In the Hands of God
Running Backwards
Life Without You
Everything
Fallen
The Weight of the World
Bonus Tracks (newly-recorded Queensryche classics):
I Don’t Believe in Love
Empire
Jet City Woman
Silent Lucidity
It’s tough for me to judge this one; if you’re a fan of Geoff’s voice as I have been for many years, then I think you will enjoy this album from that aspect. However, with that said, I have to be honest and say that this album seems rushed. Maybe it’s because Geoff wanted to prove a point and get his album out before the other Queensrÿche.
Queensryche in 2013 ~ photo by Peter Ellenby
It pains me to say, it but overall the songs seem a little weak and tracks like “Give it to You,” with its repetitive “…how you like me so far…,” seem primarily like ego boosts. “Slave” and “Running Backwards” were other non-stellar tracks. “In the Hands of God” sounded like something that may have been developed during the Rage for Order era and was probably the highlight of the album for that reason. “Life Without You” and “Everything” would round out my top three on Frequency.
I enjoyed the album instrumentally ~ Geoff has obviously put together a great team ~ but sadly, I cannot say the same about the entire production. From a production value aspect this wasn’t the best of outings and the whole thing sounds like something produced in Pro Tools. As for the four classics, the fan in me was very perplexed because I don’t understand why someone would re-record four amazing, well-produced songs to make them…less well-produced. Regardless, the four classics are on there.
But again, the great news here is that Geoff’s voice is as amazing as ever, he has put together a rock solid band, and I am betting all these songs will kick ass when they’re performed live.
So, with all that said, you now have the first of two new Queensrÿches in 2013 and you can catch Geoff’s version on the road currently celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Operation: Mindcrime. The performance will include all fifteen songs from the album (including “Revolution Calling,” “Operation: Mindcrime,” I Don’t Believe in Love,” and “Eyes of a Stranger”) along with other well-known hits and rarities from the catalog they’ve compiled over the past 30 years ~ not that anyone is “…trying to recapture the glory of days past.”
For more information on Queensryche, please visit the following:
facebook.com/GeoffTateOfficial