ALBUM REVIEW: Operation Mindcrime - “Resurrection”

By Theron Moore

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 23/09/2016
Label: Frontiers Music Srl

“Resurrection” finds Geoff Tate shifting, moving, and most importantly, finding and establishing his own identity as a solo artist.  If you give Tate a chance to meet him this way creatively, you might like the stories he’s trying to tell you on this record.  He’s finally free to express himself musically and “Resurrection” in my opinion, is much better than “The Key,” his first album in this trilogy.  This isn’t metal.  It’s big, sprawling AOR type music.  His concept and vision on this record are massive to say the least.  Give it a listen….

“Resurrection” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Resurrection
2). When All Falls Away
3). A Moment in Time
4). Through the Noize
5). Left for Dead
6). Miles Away
7). Healing My Wounds
8). The Fight
9). Taking on the World
10). Invincible
11). A Smear Campaign
12). Which Side You're On
13). Into the Hands of the World
14). Live from My Machine

The Review:

“Resurrection” is the second part of a musical trilogy, the first record released last year.  It’s epic and expansive, with Geoff Tate’s signature, conceptual style and vision guiding this record.  The metal (maybe rock?) he was known for in Queensryche is down played and minimal at best.  Keyboards and synthesizers take the forefront.  Especially on “When All Falls Away.”  Dreamy, proggy, often fusing synthesizers with a slight rock edge but only as is, rock, plays a functional role in said song.  Like “Miles Away.”  Not thundering.  Not heavy.  Distant.  Not easily accessible musically, but getting there. 

Tate is moving further into the storyteller role with “Resurrection.”  Singer, songwriter but ultimately writer.  No longer bound by the rules of arena rock, Tate is free to explore any musical territory he sees fit, and certainly does on “Resurrection.”  I get the notion he wants this record to be his “The Wall,” if not the entire trilogy as such. You can really hear the Pink Floyd influence getting stronger progressively with each song on the record. 

Five tracks in with “Left for Dead” we get a tease of Tate’s rock side.  I understand the creative split he had with Queensryche.  They wanted rock, he wanted concept and storytelling.  “Left for Dead” sounds reminiscent of QR but the song itself serves as more of a vehicle or device to travel between songs with, to provide continuity and voice to “Resurrection.”  I do believe Tate’s days of belting out rock anthems are over.  Now that he’s calling the shots anything is possible, any musical voice shall be tested.  “Resurrection” is all about exploring concept and story, Tate’s present and future musical direction. 

I enjoyed “Resurrection” but it’s a tough record to get close to.  There’s a lot of moving parts here and a lot of letting go, as a fan of his Queensryche past and accepting Tate in the context of the music he’s making right now.  “Resurrection” finds Geoff Tate shifting, moving, and most importantly, finding and establishing his own identity as a solo artist.  If you give Tate a chance to meet him this way creatively, you might like the stories he’s trying to tell you on this record.  He’s finally free to express himself musically and “Resurrection” in my opinion, is much better than “The Key,” his first album in this trilogy.  This isn’t metal.  It’s big, sprawling AOR type music.  His concept and vision on this record are massive to say the least.  Give it a listen….

“Resurrection” is available now

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