On June 25, Capitol/UMe celebrates two landmark progressive metal albums by Queensrÿche. The breakthrough collection Operation: Mindcrime and its successful follow-up, Empire, will be released in multiple formats. In addition to the original versions remastered for CD and 180-gram vinyl 2LP, both titles will be available in expanded 2CD editions and in multi-disc CD+DVD box sets that stand as the final word on these albums, which carried the ambitious conceptual approach of such artists as The Who and Pink Floyd to a new decade and to a new hard rock audience.
Newly mastered at Abbey Road Studios, the deluxe versions of these remarkable albums bring together all the available recordings in 10′′ x 10′′ boxes that also contain DVDs of accompanying promotional videos and live performances of the albums. The live audio material revisits Queensrÿche’s worldwide headlining status during the Building Empires Tour, an 18-month trek that saw the band headline arenas after previous high-profile supporting slots on the Def Leppard Hysteria and Metallica And Justice For All tours. The Operation: Mindcrime deluxe features live audio concerts from London’s Hammersmith Odeon in 1990 and Wisconsin’s Target Center in 1991, plus a DVD that also includes the bonus track “The Making of Operation: Mindcrime” and an Operation: Mindcrime TV spot. The Empire deluxe version completes the Hammersmith Odeon 1990 concert with the live audio from the non-Mindcrime setlist. Geoff Tate, inducted into the 2020 Metal Hall of Fame, sheds new light on Operation: Mindcrime and Empire in extended interviews with noted journalist Alex Milas for the liner notes.
Queensrÿche’s third studio album, Operation: Mindcrime, took the quintet to an entirely new level. The concept, revealed through the songs, revolves around the character of Nikki, a recovering drug addict disillusioned with a corrupt society. Drawn into a cult-like revolutionary group headed by Dr. X (voiced by the late and beloved British actor Anthony Valentine), Nikki is manipulated to assassinate political leaders until his friendship with nun Sister Mary finally opens his eyes to the truth. Regarded as one of the greatest concept metal albums of all time, Operation: Mindcrime was certified platinum in 1991 in the U.S. and was ranked in the Top 100 Metal Albums Of All Time by both Kerrang! and Billboard magazines. Rolling Stone included it on a similar list, noting that “nearly 30 years after its initial release, Mindcrime feels eerily relevant.”
Reaching No. 7 on the Billboard album chart, the follow-up, Empire, built upon the success of Operation: Mindcrime. Produced, like its predecessor, by Peter Collins (Bon Jovi, Rush, Alice Cooper), the collection features brilliant and intelligent lyrics and songwriting complemented by incredible musicianship, with songs ranging from beautiful ballads to strong melodic rockers and classic heavy fist-pumpers. A rarity at the time, Empire spawned six singles that lit up Billboard’s rock tracks chart with the Top 10 hits “Silent Lucidity” (#1), “Jet City Woman” (#6), “Another Rainy Night (Without You) (#7) and Top 30 hits “Anybody Listening? (#16), “Empire” (#22) and “Best I Can” (#28). The power ballad “Silent Lucidity” was the band’s first crossover hit, topping the Billboard rock singles chart and reaching No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Silent Lucidity” also earned a Grammy® nomination for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group and received an MTV “Viewer’s Choice” award. RIAA-certified triple-platinum, Empire is the band’s most commercially successful album to date.
—
Photo Credit: Evannovostro / Shutterstock.com