Q2K was originally released on September 14th, 1999. I missed getting to check it out at its newest because 1999 was a bad for me as well as Queensryche. Chris DeGarmo had left the group and I contracted M.S. and eventually went through a very ugly divorce
But now, six years later, the band has re-released this first post-DeGarmo era disc; and my M.S. has been in remission for five years. Also, I am engaged to be married again; this time to the woman who I should have always been with in the first place. So, two songs on this disc especially touch my soul. But, more about that later
First thing that struck me before I even popped the disk into the tray was the inside art work. I especially dig the circuit board look with the five processor chips. Each chip has an embossed picture of one of the band members that has a look which resembles a cross between a semi-psychotic Hallmark greeting card and the Shroud of Turin.
Then the music started playing. Overall I enjoy the more dry production quality; it is very similar to the production sound on Promised Land and Here in the Now Frontier. Not as much reverb, delay and chorus as on Empire, Mindcrime and Rage; but the song quality and over-all timbre are still pleasing
nothing suffers. Geoff Tates vocals are intense and precise as always; the best rock vocalist to come out of the 1980s
hands down. Eddie Jackson and Scott Rockenfield hold down the rhythm just like we come to expect from them. Perfect and tight; and I was very surprised to hear how dry even the drums are on this disc. No reverb on the snare or toms on many of the tunes.
This new tonal approach is due primarily to the writing and production styles of the man who is filling the second guitar spot along side of Michael Wilton; and that man on this CD is Kelly Gray. His production and writing style is much more raw, for lack of a better term, than we have heard from most of the previous releases. But, this is not a bad thing. Tate still hits those amazing high notes and the rest of the band still puts forth virtuosic performances.
The tracks which first grabbed my aural attention were "Sacred Ground" and "How Could I?". "Sacred Ground" is a song about loving a woman, and it is reminiscent of the theme music from the Japanese anime show called Trigun. "How Could I?" struck a very personal chord with me, so I am not going to blather on about that now; but the tune is very cool. Plus the four bonus tracks are great tunes.
Also, I would suggest reading the preface by Geoff on the lyrics sheet before you listen to the disc; he sets the stage and the mood for the music you will be hearing.
Is this disc different?
Yes.
Is that a bad thing?
No.
This is a band that had to find a new voice. And they did just that; then recorded a CD and went on tour, and kept their fans as happy as possible in the face of losing a founding member of the band.
Kudos to you gentleman! Kudos!
