Operation: Mindcrime II
407 words.
I was interested to see that Queensrÿche released a sequel to Operation: Mindcrime a few years ago. I just got it last week. I had very low expectations, because I think Queensrÿche peaked in the mid- to late-90s, and their last couple of albums have been occasionally good, but overall nothing to write home about.
The original Operation: Mindcrime concept album was the last of Queensrÿche’s more operatic metal efforts of the 80s, which were not as appealing to me as their efforts in the 90s. But OMC’s dark, tragic story grew on me after a while (it’s a bit like a Shakespearean tragedy mixed with the Manchurian Candidate, all set to progressive metal music), and I thought it was interesting to hear the seeds of what I liked in their later works.
Operation: Mindcrime II picks up the story of anti-hero Nikki 18 years after OMC. The music is very different from OMC, but that’s not surprising, since the band is also 18 years older and lacking one of its principle founding members. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though. Just be aware that if you try to listen to both albums one after another, expecting a seamless transition, you’re going to be disappointed.
But having said that, I’m surprised to say that OMC II is growing on me just like the original did. It starts off a little weak (and puzzlingly upbeat), but it builds momentum (much like the original, actually), and by the end it’s almost mesmerizing. There is a pretty harsh edge that I haven’t seen in Queensrÿche music for a while, and a few new twists on the band’s sound.
OMC II is definitely Queensrÿche’s most theatric effort since the original OMC. Parts of it sound like classic rock opera material — “The Chase,” for example, with guest vocalist Ronnie James Dio of Black Sabbath fame, sounds like it could have come right out of Phantom of the Opera. Unlike the original OMC, there isn’t very much political or societal commentary, though. Most of the story focuses on Nikki’s revenge and his struggle with inner demons.
Incidentally, I see that Queensrÿche is releasing a live album where they will perform OMC and OMC II in their entirety. I’ll be interested to hear how they perform OMC 20 years later, and whether they can actually make one seamless story out of it.
Overall, I give Operation: Mindcrime II a 4 out of 5.
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