QUEENSRYCHE - Dedicated To Chaos

Submitted by ausmetallium on Tue, 19/07/2011 - 7:51am

This is a really difficult review for me. I am a long time Queensryche fan and believe that they have released some of the most monumental metal albums of all time, including Operation: Mindcrime, Rage For Order, Empire and Promise Land. But this offering just does not cut it in any way. This is not even a rock album, let alone a piece of metal. The songs really meld into one with little flair or melody.

The only song that is vaguely a metal tune is “Retail Therapy” and this is stretching it. I do like the main riff in this song, the bridge to the chorus and the repetitive nature of this works. But the lyrics are quite poor, Tate singing about retail therapy? The lyrics on Dedicated to Chaos are really left wanting – “Hot Spot Junkie” about the internet and the above – this really is far removed from their earlier intricate and in depth lyrical masterpieces.

My next concern is the musicianship. This album is far below what these guys are capable of. I think it is great that Geoff Tate can play the saxophone, but none of it works on this album at all. It seems to have been added for the sake of it, and it appears more as an intrusion to the music rather than an integral piece of the tapestry.

Unfortunately there is not a lot more to talk about with regard to this album. I just feel that there is obviously too much control here from one of the band members and the band, as a result, is suffering. I don’t think that when Chris DeGarmo was in the band that he was the only song writer, but his absence from the band has been missed and it seems to have left the song writing wanting and the albums have progressively gotten worse, even though Operation: Mindcrime II was a flash in the pan, since his departure.

I think that if Queensryche is going to survive this album, they need to rethink their song writing direction and processes and then find a producer. Just imagine what Mr A Sneap or Mr S Paeth could do with this band! I love Queensryche but I can’t listen to Dedicated to Chaos any longer, five listens and I am done.  

 

Album: Dedicated To Chaos

Release: June, 2011

Track List:

  1. Get Started
  2. Hot Spot Junkie
  3. Got It Bad
  4. Higher
  5. Wot We Do
  6. Around The World
  7. Drive
  8. At The Edge
  9. I Take You
  10. Retail Therapy
  11. The Lie
  12. Big Noize

Visit: www.queensryche.com

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