NMC #43 (QUEENSRYCHE, SYMPHONY X)

[Jon]

by "you're really wrong on this" Jon

 

 

Queensryche--Dedicated To Chaos (June 2011)

 

 

1. Hot Spot junkie

2. Around The World

3. Higher

4. At The Edge

5. The Lie

 

 

And the fun begins. Amazing the reviews claiming how much this sucks. And they're wrong. Look, it's not "Operation: Mindcrime", "Empire" or whatever other album you want it to be like. It's a departure, and so what? I like it. Let the debate begin!

 

 

 

Symphony X--Iconoclast (June 2011)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. The End Of Innocence

2. Children Of A Faceless God

3. When All Is Lost

4. Prometheus (I Am Alive)

5. Reign In Madness

 

 

The 8th studio album from Symphony X, and it's a mighty good one. If you like progressive metal, you'll most probably like this. Think of a heavier, darker Dream Theater.

[Scott]

QUEENSRYCHE ... Thumbs nearly all the way up 
OK, I really disliked the song in the video posted a week or so back, but right away I'm into Hot Spot Junkie!  Has a Collective Soul vibe to it, must be the geetars in the chorus line.  Around the World is nice as well, whats going on here!  I wanted to not like this!  I cant even complain about their use of Pro Tools, its smart rock!  Higher makes it 3 for 3, damn you Jon!  At The Edge was up and down for me, but not in a bad way, the up parts were spot on!  The down parts were just AIGHT!  But you got me curious now, I gotta hear more!

 

SYMPHONY X ... Left Thumb down, Right Thumb almost all the way down
Love the opening to The End Of The Innocence, but I gotta tell you, the vocals aren't working for me, not quite cookie monster but I'm not digging it either.  Muscially I'm into the first track, buts its not sticking and the music is fading into the background making the track named "When All Is Lost" seem more appropriate to my listening experience because thats when all was lost, Prometheus and Reign In Madness weren't able to rope me back in.

Great post though!

[Niels (Mod)]

QUEENSRŸCHE - THUMBS almost DOWN

I was REALLY a big Queensrÿche-fan in '84-'92, so I think, I'll rate each song: The first thing, that comes to mind, is how bad Tate's vocals are these days. "Hot Spot Junkie" ain't THAT bad. The guitar-solo is REALLY Queensrÿche, almost at their best.(7/10). "Around The World", again some not very good vocals from Tate. C'mon, "All You Need Is Love"!!! Give me a f...... break!! A bit boring, and almost as bad as expected. (4/10) "Higher", is that a saxophone?!! Yrk!! Again, I'm bored, VERY bored. This is Queensrÿche at their worst, I hope (3/10). "At The Edge", a good beginning!! Good guitars!! Boy, they need some good songs!! This song had the potential, but it goes nowhere, and Tate's vocals are beginning to annoy me. (4/10) "The Lie", The start sounds like "She Sells Sanctuary". And then later on, the guitars sounds like King's X. As a matter of fact, the whole song has a King's X-feel over it. This is the second best of these tracks. 5/10.

 

SYMPHONY X - THUMBS a little higher than EVEN

 

I'll bet, the singer is a fan of Ronnie James Dio. It's a bit refreshing, listen to this after Queensrÿche. I don't really know anything about this band, but if I had to guess, I would say they were from Sweden. They love this kind of music in Sweden. But they are of course american. It's not bad, but nothing, that I would purchase. "The End Of Innocence" is probably the best song. "Children of a faceless god" sounds like a Dio-track. "When All is lost", sounds a bit like Pretty Maids......or "Tubular Bells", nah, just a tiny bit of it. There's some Maiden in there too. Not a bad song either. Pretty long tracks! The start of "Reign In Madness" sounds like Metallica. If the singer were better, I might had bought this album. Who knows? I don't.

[RJhog (Admin)]

Queensryche (27%)

1. Hot Spot junkie 10/10

2. Around The World 0/10

3. Higher 0/10

4. At The Edge 0/10

5. The Lie 2/10 (but I do like the guitar solo)

Album Art  4/10

 

Just like the album title, this is very chaotic to me.  And where is the actual singing.  Tate talks too much.  Maybe Niels is right, it's because he can't sing anymore.  Are they trying to sound contemporary and actually get some airplay.  I don't think it will happen.  What really sucks is that I bought this.

 

Symphony X (73%)

1. The End Of Innocence 10/10

2. Children Of A Faceless God 5/10

3. When All Is Lost 10/10

4. Prometheus (I Am Alive) 10/10

5. Reign In Madness 3/10

Album Art 6/10

 

This is a good bit better.  Which is good 'cause I bought this one too.   I think overall the vocalist is pretty good, although rough in a few spots.  Nice guitars.

 

[Gordon Williams]

Hey, Jon...Mr. "you are really RIGHT on this"!

I'm listening to this new Queensryche now for the 3rd time, and I have to agree with you! I think it's pretty good, especially the first two tracks. Tate is getting older, like the rest of us, but he still sounds good to me.

If the rest of it is equal to the first two tracks, it might be a purchase for me. So I'll have to hear some more, somewhere, some how! I really wasn't that impressed with "American Soldier", although I loved the idea of the concept album saluting our soliders. This one maybe better for me than the last one.

 

[Scott]

I second that!  Jon should post as an AOTW someitme soon!

[Jon]

In 5 years. Too soon for AOTW, wouldn't you say?

[Scott]

why not?  Whats the rules for AOTW?

[Jon]

Ummm...I dunno. I can make one up though.

[RJhog (Admin)]

First song good, rest of songs suck...

[Gordon Williams]

Really dont like it, eh? I'd still like to hear more. I really thought the second tune, of the 5 posted here, had a really good melody to it.

[Gordon Williams]

Ok, just now really getting to play the Symphony X loud enough to really check it out. And I must say that the lead guitar in these posted cuts pretty much smokes!! I mean, some killer lead work here. Just who is this guitarist? He has mad licks, but they aren't just a bunch of mindless notes put together. Very, very tasty guitar work! Youse guys are gonna cause me to go broke!

I can see it now...."Dad, I'm hungry"..."Sorry, child, I spent all my money on more music"..."here, take a bite out of this old Motley Crue CD, it might fill you up"....

 

[RJhog (Admin)]