Official Queensryche thread: Kickstart the next album

[bosk1]

Anyone know whether the deluxe is available now in the U.S.?  I see it on Amazon as an import with a 3/8 release date.

[KevShmev]

I am pretty hesitant to check this out, because of how awful the band has been for the last 20 years, but how is the sound of the album?  I remember the first with the new singer being really talked up, and then I heard it and wanted to retch because of how terrible the sound was (like listening to an old transistor radio).  If the new one is anything like that, I won't even bother.

[ShadowWalker]

Anyone know whether the deluxe is available now in the U.S.?  I see it on Amazon as an import with a 3/8 release date.

I don't think so. Century Media's U.S. website didn't even sell it. I ordered mine from CMDistro's worldwide site, but had I ordered it from Amazon.co.uk, I would have saved about $7. The Amazon UK site was still cheaper than buying it as an import from the Amazon U.S. site...

[Grappler]

I am pretty hesitant to check this out, because of how awful the band has been for the last 20 years, but how is the sound of the album?  I remember the first with the new singer being really talked up, and then I heard it and wanted to retch because of how terrible the sound was (like listening to an old transistor radio).  If the new one is anything like that, I won't even bother.

The production on the last two records is awesome and has been handled by Zeuss (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeuss) - he's done the most recent releases from Iced Earth and Sanctuary, among others. 

They sound nothing like the 2013 self titled record, which is the only album in my collection of over 1,000 albums that actually hurts my ears to listen to. 


I'm actually really enjoying The Verdict.  I've been rather tired of this lineup of the band for a number of reasons and this is a really nice, refreshing album.

[Samsara]

I'm actually really enjoying The Verdict.  I've been rather tired of this lineup of the band for a number of reasons and this is a really nice, refreshing album.

They did a really nice job. It's a good album. I'm not a fan of the drum sound on it (in no way being critical of the playing itself, other than to say it is noticeably different than Scott), but aside from that, I think it sounds really good.

[bosk1]

I'm not fun

#truth

[Samsara]

I'm not fun

#truth

Totally. 

[KevShmev]

The production on the last two records is awesome and has been handled by Zeuss (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeuss) - he's done the most recent releases from Iced Earth and Sanctuary, among others. 

They sound nothing like the 2013 self titled record, which is the only album in my collection of over 1,000 albums that actually hurts my ears to listen to. 

Okay. Maybe I will give the single a whirl on YT later and see if it catches my ear at all.

Looks like the dynamic range is poor (see link below), so I can't say I am optimistic, although there are a lot of albums which score poorly on the DR scale that I like the sound of, so you just never know.

http://dr.loudness-war.info/album/view/159599

[erwinrafael]

So after reading this thread, I am now listening to this on Spotify.  I was taken aback with the start because the opening song of the album did not have an introduction and just went full speed into the main riff. 

Liking it so far.

[NoseofNicko]

Second half is definitely better than the first to me. Based on the first half it was a 7, thanks to the second it’s an 8 and it could go up to a 9.

[goo-goo]

Good album. But there's not many memorable moments in the album in my opinion. Strong songs but nothing out of the ball park.

Even though Fates is the opener, I think FW might pull off a better show than QR in this run they are doing together.

[Samsara]

Even though Fates is the opener, I think FW might pull off a better show than QR in this run they are doing together.

I don't know how big QR is doing its production, since they are playing clubs. Probably a couple of screens. My guess its Fates will just have a banner. But after seeing Fates four (about to be seven) times the last six years, they are extremely energetic and tight. When they played a couple songs from No Exit in LA and San Diego last year, the crowd lost it. Ray may not hit high notes, but that band knows how rock. It'll be interesting to see if they upstage QR.

[Nick]

Good album. But there's not many memorable moments in the album in my opinion. Strong songs but nothing out of the ball park.

Even though Fates is the opener, I think FW might pull off a better show than QR in this run they are doing together.

I'm excited to be seeing QR again, my first time with the new lineup since new material has been out, excited about the new album and all that.

That said, Fates Warning is still touring behind a legitimate album of the year. Theories of Flight is not "good for current Fates" or "good for an old band", it's flat out amazing by any calculation. And they've now been firing on all cylinders live for years. I would be disappointed in Fates Warning if they DIDN'T upstage Queensryche.

[Samsara]

A buddy of mine noticed something. He says listen to the 1:40 mark in Dream Theater's "Home," and then listen to the intro of "Light Years" by Frankenryche. Notice something?

 

That's pretty similar. Eerily similar.

[NoseofNicko]

A buddy of mine noticed something. He says listen to the 1:40 mark in Dream Theater's "Home," and then listen to the intro of "Light Years" by Frankenryche. Notice something?

 

That's pretty similar. Eerily similar.

Yeah I noticed that.

[Zoom E]

Anyone know whether the deluxe is available now in the U.S.?  I see it on Amazon as an import with a 3/8 release date.

I don't think so. Century Media's U.S. website didn't even sell it. I ordered mine from CMDistro's worldwide site, but had I ordered it from Amazon.co.uk, I would have saved about $7. The Amazon UK site was still cheaper than buying it as an import from the Amazon U.S. site...

The deluxe version is on Amazon.ca (Canada) for $28Cdn and is in stock. Strange that the US Amazon site doesn’t have it in stock until next week.

[T-ski]

there are moments when this album is really good and others where it just doesn't do much. 

highlights for me are Dark Reverie, Bent, the ending of Launder the Conscience, and Portrait.

[Dittomist]

In an interview last week, Michael Wilton stated they were making another music video, but I can't recall for what song. Does anyone remember? Personally, I think that Light Years would be the best choice for a single.

[NunoTenniscourt]

The tour starts here tonight in Orlando. I'll be catching the show, and I hope Latorre is good live.

[jammindude]

Got this in the mail last night, and just heard it for the first time today. 

I went in completely blank.  (I think I may have heard one of the singles when they first came out, but I had no memory of it)

I have to say that I'm REALLY impressed.   I don't see how anyone can dispute that, at the very least, they are improving with every release.    As people have pointed out, this isn't really the "Queensryche" we know.   It's a different animal.  But if were another band, people would say "they are trying too hard to sound like Queensryche".     

As much as I really liked the music on the self titled, and then really enjoyed Condition Human even more, both of those albums had some obvious filler tracks, and their attempt at a love song fell flat.    But as I spun this album twice today, I couldn't find a single song in all 10 tracks that I wasn't enjoying.   Bent is my early favorite. 

[?]

In an interview last week, Michael Wilton stated they were making another music video, but I can't recall for what song. Does anyone remember? Personally, I think that Light Years would be the best choice for a single.

They already played Light Years live, which makes it a likely candidate, but I say this without having heard the album yet.

[wolfking]

I managed to find the 2cd limited box set thingy in store on the weekend.  Picked it up, haven't listened to it yet.

[RodrigoAltaf]

This is my review of the new album:
https://www.sonicperspectives.com/album-reviews/queensryche-the-verdict/

They actually quoted my review in an ad for The Verdict - check out the 20 second mark here: https://youtu.be/-iySe1HWkz4

[Samsara]

So here's my meandering rambling for the day:

note: SPOILERS BELOW













































































Opening night of tour - Queensryche plays 13 songs...

Blood of the Levant
I Am I
NM 156
Man the Machine
Condition Human
Queen of the Reich
Selfish Lives
Open Road
Light Years

--

Eyes of a Stranger
Silent Lucidity
Jet City Woman
Empire

On an up note (HERE IS SOME POSITIVE COMMENTARY), 6 of the 13 are from the La Torre era. That's the way it should have been even on the last tour, so that's good. Always smart supporting a new record. Nice to see Open Road in there

But, (yup, here it comes) - a headliner playing 70 minutes is absolutely ridiculous. Is this what we've come to? This is even less than the last tour.  Way to go, Frankenryche. Way to do things half-assed. Give the fans a little of what they want, then shortchange them with how long you actually play.

For those sticking around for Queensryche on this tour (thank God I'll be long gone by the time they hit the stage), here's hoping the set gets longer. Because that is pathetic.

[Samsara]

One thing I have noticed since LaTorre took over seven years ago is how short the sets became. Aside from his official debut, which was I think a two-hour show (that he ran out of steam on), the band has consistently been around 85 minutes or less. On Condition Human, they trended around 14-15 songs (maybe 80 minutes, sometimes 75), and now...13 songs, with one, Condition Human, being the size of two.

I wonder what the reason is. 🤔

[King Postwhore]

Style of singing, age.  It's a smart move to preserve is voice.

[Mladen]

It reminds me of Spock's Beard shortening their set down to 90 minutes last two times I saw it. That's just way too short for me, but hopefully the ticket price justifies the length of the set.

[jammindude]

 I’m disappointed with the length of that set. But I absolutely love the actual set list!!!


EDIT - if they only just added Bent, it would stretch the set an extra 6 minutes, and inject one of the best new songs into the set.

[Phoenix87x]

I really like Light years

[thunderdog10]

I was at the Orlando show also and was shocked when they walked off the stage 55 minutes after taking it. Even though I liked them playing the newer era songs they didnt choose songs that kept the crowd into it. during Condition Human I saw alot of people checking out their phone. I did enjoy their lighting, etc though. pretty cool setup

[Zydar]

I really like Light years

Probably my favourite track so far.

[Lethean]

I'm trying to avoid spoilers, so I scrolled past that setlist post.  But do I have it right that they're only playing 55 minutes?  That seems absurd. And, without any song spoilers, how long does Fates Warning play?  Is the show even two hours between the two bands? I guess it can't be.

[Grappler]

I'm trying to avoid spoilers, so I scrolled past that setlist post.  But do I have it right that they're only playing 55 minutes?  That seems absurd. And, without any song spoilers, how long does Fates Warning play?  Is the show even two hours between the two bands? I guess it can't be.

There has been some talk in a facebook group about the fact that casinos specifically book the band for an exact set length of 70 minutes and no more.  A lot of defensive posturing from fans that are salivating over the newer songs being in the set, but mainly oblivious to the fact that they're paying $40-$50 per ticket and being shortchanged by the band. 

I'm waiting to see what they do with the set length once they hit regular clubs.  I expect it to bounce up to 15 songs, which was their average for the last few years.  Even then, that's a very minimal amount of songs. 

One fan pretty much summed it up as "They have 30 years of music, and this is all that they're going to play?" 

[ShadowWalker]

I'm trying to avoid spoilers, so I scrolled past that setlist post.  But do I have it right that they're only playing 55 minutes?  That seems absurd. And, without any song spoilers, how long does Fates Warning play?  Is the show even two hours between the two bands? I guess it can't be.

I made a playlist on my iPod featuring both Fates and Ryche's setlist from the opening night. Based on mostly the original studio versions (I used a few live versions in the QR side of the playlist), the answer is NO (though when you account for things like some stage banter, any downtime between songs, and the encore break, both bands will probably account for a little over two hours on stage.

[ShadowWalker]

I'm trying to avoid spoilers, so I scrolled past that setlist post.  But do I have it right that they're only playing 55 minutes?  That seems absurd. And, without any song spoilers, how long does Fates Warning play?  Is the show even two hours between the two bands? I guess it can't be.

There has been some talk in a facebook group about the fact that casinos specifically book the band for an exact set length of 70 minutes and no more.  A lot of defensive posturing from fans that are salivating over the newer songs being in the set, but mainly oblivious to the fact that they're paying $40-$50 per ticket and being shortchanged by the band. 

I'm waiting to see what they do with the set length once they hit regular clubs.  I expect it to bounce up to 15 songs, which was their average for the last few years.  Even then, that's a very minimal amount of songs. 

One fan pretty much summed it up as "They have 30 years of music, and this is all that they're going to play?"

The first two nights of the tour proper started this weekend. Neither were casino gigs. The second show at 12 songs was shorter than the first at 13. So They have started to hit the clubs and aren't expanding the set length at all. I have the misfortune of seeing two of the three shows with a third band on the bill, so I am under no expectation that they will play longer and who knows, they could play an even shorter set at this point. Not happy. AT ALL. Especially since I actually like the new album. The only saving grace this week is I get one of the Fates Warning one-off headlining shows with one of my favorite local bands playing support.

CORRECTION - Looks like someone corrected night two of the setlist. Nothing changed from night one. So it looks like 13 is the magic number.