QUEENSRYCHE

QUEENSRYCHE
PROMISED LAND (1994)
320 KBPS

With the rise of alternative music, the climate into which Queensryche released "Promised Land" was very different. The album fared poorly and was negatively received by audiences, who seemed to be regressing in the face of new musical movements-- indeed, hope that the band would retread the past rather than move forward has been a common thread for Queensryche. But instead, they embraced change and created what a small minority consider to be their true masterpiece-- an album successfully fusing the progressive influences wiht the metal sound the band had honed without sounding pretentious, overblown, or pointless.
But the truth is, this isn't for everyone-- its not a straight metal album, even pieces like "I Am I" and "Damaged", the opening pair that are firmly lodged in metal, have something to them that separates them from the old material. And after these two, there really is a seemingly endless array of textured variety and a large influence of acoustic instruments, from modest hit "Bridge" (a rather personal story about Chris DeGarmo's relationship with his father), washed in acoustic guitars, to building "Lady Jane" and its prominent cello lines (structurally, the piece is reminiscent of "Anybody Listening?") to the stunning piano ballad, "Someone Else?", delivered with a vocal by Tate fulll of passion and power.
Add to this a few really unique pieces-- "Out of Mind" with its gentle harmonies, plodding bass, and beautiful soloing, the indescribable title track, washed in loungey sounds, and the brilliant "Disconnected", rhythmically driven and powerful and you have the recipe for a brilliant record.
Oh, and its wrapped in probably the best cover art Queensryche has ever done as well.
The reissue is remastered, although relatively pointlessly, I don't detect much a difference, and augments the record with four bonus tracks. "Real World" is a great orchestral piece that is explosive and powerful and belonged on the album in my assessment (it was originally in a soundtrack). The full band version of "Someone Else?" is interesting, but lacking in comparison to the studio version, simply because it loses some of the simplicity of the original (live the band did somewhat of a cross between the two that did work much better, however). This is augmented by two live tracks-- "Damaged" and "Real World" from the "Promised Land" tour stop in London that are both superb and enhance the experience nicely.
For fans of unique music, progressive rock, etc, this is essential. For metal fans, this might be hard to digest, but it is a brilliant record worthy of consideration.

1. 9:28 A.M.
2. I Am I
3. Damaged
4. Out of Mind
5. Bridge
6. Promised Land
7. Disconnected
8. Lady Jane
9. My Global Mind
10. One More Time
11. Someone Else?
Bonus tracks
12. Dirty Lil' Secret
13. Real World

14. Someone Else? (Full Band Version)

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