The Warning (1984/2003)
Lineup:
Geoff Tate – Vocals
Chris DeGarmo – Guitar/Vocals
Michael Wilton – Guitar
Eddie Jackson – Bass
Scott Rockenfield – Drums
After touring concluded for the
EP in late 1983, Queensr˙che set to work on finalizing the songs they had written and played on tour that would be for
The Warning. Some of those tunes included “Before the Storm,” “Child of Fire,” “Roads to Madness,” and what would be the title track, “Warning.”
Unlike the
EP, however, which was mostly written before Tate was in the band,
The Warning was a full-on collaboration, with DeGarmo, Tate, and Wilton being the main songwriters. As a result, the songs began to morph a bit from the band's more NWOBHM sound, to a fusion of metal and progressive rock that Queensryche (along with contemporaries Savatage and Fates Warning, and later, Dream Theater) would later be credited for helping establish American progressive metal. Musically, the band really gelled, as Wilton's heavier riffs were put into more complex arrangements by DeGarmo, with an emphasis on creating chord progressions that weren't “standard” of the day. Queensr˙che embraced mood and tempo changes frequently on the album, particularly on the nearly 10-minute opus “Roads to Madness,” but also on more succinct songs such as “Child of Fire.” In addition to showcasing Tate vocally, it helped Eddie Jackson and Scott Rockenfield develop their own distinct sound, both as a rhythm section, and as individual players.
Lyrically,
The Warning was very much from its day, focusing on topics such as artificial intelligence and nuclear fallout, with a bit of fantasy thrown in for good measure. Tate's influence in the lyrical department was noticeable. Between he and DeGarmo, the band shifted toward a more serious tone on
The Warning that would continue through much of the band's career, ultimately earning them the moniker "The Thinking Man's Metal Band" (which the band despised, although they acknowledged it was meant as a compliment). Tate also recycled song titles from old MYTH songs, bringing in the titles “Take Hold of the Flame,” and “Before the Storm.”
Instead of recording in Seattle, Queensr˙che headed to London, where they would lay down tracks at various studios (including Abbey Road) with noted Pink Floyd producer James Guthrie. The band was visited by a number of famous British musicians, but of note to DeGarmo was Jimmy Page who popped in for a listen. From demo to final version, the songs comprising
The Warning didn't change a ton, except for “NM 156.” That tune morphed from a completely different demo called “Waiting for the Kill.” Of note in the latter song was the long harmonized guitar solo by DeGarmo and Wilton (written by Wilton). The band loved the solo, but wasn't as high on the song. So they cut the solo out and wrote “NM 156,” and put the solo there. The direction of “NM 156” was credited by Tate in future interviews as the genesis of what Queensr˙che ultimately become as songwriters, as it featured time changes and subtle complexities that became the band's musical hallmark.
Queensryche also starts its long relationship with the late Michael Kamen on
The Warning, who provided orchestration for the album. Kamen would later be in the spotlight for his work on "Silent Lucidity."
Fun fact: “Deliverance” is the only traditional song (vocals/music that isn't a segue) in Queensr˙che's catalog that Michael Wilton has solely composed (lyrics/music).
Once recording was completed in Summer 1984, the band turned the record over to EMI, who promptly had Val Garay remix and re-sequence it to what was ultimately released and what everyone is generally familiar with. The original version of
The Warning, however, had “NM 156” as the lead song, so that the closer, “Roads to Madness” would end on the same note as “NM 156” began on, giving the album a circular feel. In addition, “No Sanctuary” and “Deliverance” were flip-flopped, and “Warning” was supposed to come before “Roads to Madness.” The label's rationale behind the re-sequence was to have the lead single, “Warning,” lead-off the album.
The mix was changed so that the drums were much higher and guitars were lower, giving The Warning a “flat” or “dead” sound to a degree. While the style was very much popular at the time, it was contrary to what Queensr˙che had intended with the intricate guitar work and vocals present on the record. Reports from the band's crew during those years, and later, the band itself, revealed that they were “crushed” that the label had interfered with the album. While the album was remastered in 2003, unfortunately, no re-mixing or re-sequencing to what was originally intended was done, despite the flaws. A few live cuts were included as bonus tracks with new liner notes.
You can see the approved original sequence here on an old cassette tape of the final initial mix from the recording sessions –
https://www.anybodylistening.net/thewarning.html (scroll down).
The changes made to
The Warning were all done while the band was on the road in Japan in August 1984 (see the forthcoming/next entry,
Live in Tokyo), leaving Queensryche no time to have it re-adjusted. Originally slated for a Spring 1984 release (as per Tate in a live show from Montreal in 1983),
The Warning was actually released on Sept. 7, 1984. In addition to “Warning,” “Take Hold of the Flame” was also a single and quite popular in Japan.
Upon returning from Japan, Queensr˙che embarked on its first world tour, opening for acts such as DIO, KISS and Iron Maiden, sprinkling in a few headline dates along the way. The main touring for
The Warning spanned nearly seven months, concluding in earnest in early March 1985. However, Queensr˙che played a few gigs after that, including a short headline run in mid-July 1985 that featured the performance of an early demo of “Neue Regel,” which would appear on their next album,
Rage for Order –
https://www.anybodylistening.net/7-12-85.html (setlist). As an aside, setlists for the tour (all the original lineup's tours) can be accessed at
https://www.anybodylistening.net/tourdates.html.
Samsara's top-3 tracks from
The Warning: “NM 156,” “Roads to Madness,” “Take Hold of the Flame.”
Next up...
Live in Tokyo...