Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime

Kevin Chavez3 said:Look, I actually think Michael Jackson is great! 👍

Haven't heard this specific album yet—but it caught my interest way back in '96 when people were hyping it up in heroin. Man, if heroin told me to jump into a well, I'd probably just do it... 😳

like Die Kreuzen - Conditioned

Should I send you Mindcrime too??🙂

Well, he wouldn't exactly bite an entire arm off... but still. 😉

basically Edo Maajka - Saletov's Revenge

Kevin Chavez3 said:Personally, I think Michael Jackson is incredible! 👍

maynard j. keenan 'fkors 😛 😁

Personally, I consider this one of the absolute best "metal" albums out there (though I didn't actually experience it during its initial heyday, discovering it much later through a friend's recommendation).

If you check Amazon, they describe it as being somewhere between Iron Maiden and Pink Floyd. I’d have to agree. They aren't quite as aggressive as Maiden, but they definitely lean closer to IM than they do toward PF; however, the entire record carries that specific PF-esque—or more accurately, "Wall" or "Dark Side of the Moon"—vibe thanks to the overarching concept and the narrative driving the story.

The musicianship is top-tier, the vocals are stellar, and it isn't so dense that it requires a group of drunken Klingonacs listening in a fit of frustration over failed mating rituals just to grasp it; I truly believe even those uninitiated in the heavy metal scene could enjoy this.

Megan Reed said:maynard j. keenan 'fkors 😛 😁

Hard to even type out the full name... 😳

Anyway, Hladno Pivo - Tamburaši

Kevin Chavez3 said:I mean, he didn't exactly bite the whole arm off right then... but still. 😉

Don't even worry about it, just go ahead and take a bite. You have my permission—mine's already stripped down to the bone. 😁 😉

Kevin Chavez3 said:Man, it was a struggle just to type out the full name... 😳

My bad. 🙂

And his actual name is James Herbert Keenan. 😁

You can say what you want. If Jimbob's real name from Carter USM is actually Jim Morrison, then that's saying something... 😁

quietpuma3 said:I’d really love to hear some honest, unfiltered critiques from people who actually sat down and listened to him. Honestly, I’d even prefer hearing from folks who aren't necessarily die-hard metalheads or genre fanatics, but just people who appreciate good music for what it is, regardless of the style.

Of course, I'm open to all kinds of feedback...

👋

That album is an absolute classic in the prog rock world. It's inspired so many musicians out there today.
Operation : Livecrime is also incredible, though sometimes when I watch them live, it feels like Geoff Tate isn't hitting those exact notes from the record—he occasionally pauses or seems to be catching his breath a bit! But man, what an amazing album!!!!!
I've had BMA spinning on my digital player for a full week now.
If you haven't yet, I highly recommend listening to the whole thing while following along with the lyrics..
My personal favorite track of theirs has to be the last one, "INTO The EYES of The Stranger" !!

Jack Williams4 said:this album is an absolute prog rock classic. influenced tons of musicians out there today.
Operation : Livecrime is also legendary, though sometimes I feel like Tate doesn't sing quite the same way he did on the record—he'll pause up or seem to be "catching his breath" a bit! But man, what an album!!!!!
BMA's been stuck in my head for a week straight thanks to Livecrime.
Highly recommend listening to the whole thing with the lyrics in front of you..
My favorite track of theirs has gotta be that last one, "INTO The EYES of The Stranger"!!

caught them live recently and they played three tracks from this album. The crowd was begging for Mindcrime all night long. Even some guys in the front row were shouting "Play Mindcrime, dammit!"

neonhawk53 said:I caught them live recently and they played three songs from that album. The crowd was chanting for Operation Mindcrime the entire night. Even the guys in the front row were yelling, "Give us Mindcrime or nothing!"

Whereabouts did you catch the show?

In the USA, man. Just part of the tour grind.

neonhawk53 said:It’s happening in the States, man. A total tour takeover.

forget that 😠 😠 😠 😠 😠

They actually performed at Lollapalooza last year...😉

Rebecca Chase87 said:I mean, they actually played at Lollapalooza last year...😉

Looks like everyone’s getting into the habit of digging up old threads lately... which, honestly, why not? Anyway—just a heads-up for the group... there's a sequel to Queensryche - Operation coming out... just thought you all should know...

True....🙂 ......but really, what can we even expect from this?😲

Look, there's already a thread for this, and I was thinking... 🙏

Before I finally heard them, I didn't realize how much weight words could actually carry. I had no clue you could weave such a heavy, layered, and gut-wrenching narrative through just 15 tracks, which is exactly what they pulled off with Operation Mindcrime. They ditched the party anthems and love songs for hard-hitting commentary on corruption, politics, drugs, prostitution, and manipulation—all mixed with raw personal confessions like "I don't believe in love, never have and never will." And the best part? There’s zero preaching or lecturing. Not once. Honestly, the music was almost more powerful than the lyrics. Fast, aggressive, and devastating.

That was my turning point. Even they couldn't escape the pull of commercialization with Empire, though they seemed to catch themselves in time. You really need to listen to Promised Land at least 20 times before you can even begin to wrap your head around that album. There's too much depth buried in there to catch on a single spin.

Now, all eyes are on Operation Mindcrime 2. The legend continues in a few days (or so the early April announcements say), and you can already get a taste by checking out the two bootleg tracks on their site.

They weren't the only ones doing something like this, but they were definitely one of the rare ones. Sure, they had their share of stumbles—Rage for Order being a prime example—but they've always been one of my favorite bands.

They’re easily one of my all-time favorite bands. Their absolute peak was Operation Mindcrime and Empire, even if they started leaning a bit too commercial around the Tribe era. Honestly, I still dig the stuff they did before Operation Mindcrime, too.
Anyway, Operation Mindcrime is an undisputed classic. My Empty Room, Revolution Calling, INTO The EYES of The Stranger, I Don't Believe in Love... man, they just nailed it!

I first heard this album back in middle school, but I haven't touched this genre in about 16 years..
But honestly? It’s easily the best metal album from the entire 80s. A total masterpiece...

Absolute masterpiece of an album 🙂