Of all the so-called metal bands from the 80s that attempted to transcend
the clichés and sustain a career beyond the hype, Queensrÿche has
carved out a niche that is uniquely their own. Taking a cue from Pink Floyd
and Rush, the group hit pay dirt in the late 80s with their magnificent conceptual
piece Operation: Mindcrime. Since then, Queensrÿche has
had its share of hits and misses, but unlike many of their contemporaries, their
integrity has remained intact. The thinking man’s metal band returned
to telling stories with Operation: Mindcrime II in 2006. That
momentum carried over to a new topical piece called American Soldier,
which documents the plight of military life from an insider’s point of
view.
Unlike other works of art dealing with war and its participants, American
Solider doesn’t take sides, preach or drop names, keeping an
arm’s length distance away from politics and pontification. Instead, the
songs were inspired by the real-life experiences of those on the frontline.
Singer Geoff Tate went out and interviewed veterans, including his own father
who served in both Korea and Vietnam, to validate the tale. Based on these interviews,
the record effectively covers the gamut — from being called to duty (“Sliver,”
“Unafraid”) to the war zone itself (“Hundred Mile Stare,”
“Middle Of Hell”) to the aftermath and its impact (“Man Down”).
In between songs, recorded snippets from the actual veterans Tate interviewed
help support the story.
Set on a hot bed of steady, hard-driving riffs courtesy of guitarist Michael
Wilton, bassist Eddie Jackson and drummer Scott Rockenfield, American
Solider is an intimate affair that plays on the emotions and keeps
the flash to a minimum. It even features a sedate duet with Tate’s 10-year-old
daughter Emily on “Home Again.” Producer Kelly Gray, a longtime
associate of the band (and briefly their second guitarist from 1998 to 2001),
also lends his guitar work and songwriting skills to the mix. While the CD doesn’t
offer up hook-filled singles ala “Jet City Woman” or “Eyes
Of A Stranger,” as a whole, it stands head and shoulders above much of
the regurgitated nonsense that pollutes much of today’s contemporary radio.
Somehow, it’s comforting to know that bands like Queensrÿche are
taking ambitious chances in an unsteady climate. Hopefully, others will follow
suit.
~ Shawn Perry
