Queensryche American Soldier

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by Deb Rao
Staff Writer

Brutally honest, graphic, and hauntingly real, Queensryche latest release, American Soldier will captivate you from the opening track to the grand finale. Queensryche who are no stranger to a concept album having released Operation Mindcrime in 1988 have never shied away from controversial subject matter. American Soldier finds Queensryche and lead singer Geoff Tate taking on the perils of war, the good, the bad and the ugly. You will find nothing pretentious and no stone left unturned on American Soldier.

Inspired by Geoff Tate’s dad, who was a career Military man with the Marines in Korea and an Air Force tour of duty in Vietnam in 1968. Geoff also spoke with fans that are in the military. Some of the military men make it on the album and perform in spoken word of their trials and tribulations that are ever so griping and spoken from the heart.

American Soldier features twelve tracks that are carefully orchestrated with a vast array of with melodic melodies, combat hard driving riffs, fast and furious drumbeats and outstanding vocals by Geoff Tate.

Opening track “Silver” sets the mood for the album as the voice screams out, “Wake Up”. Throughout the entire song, Geoff delivers the chorus of “Welcome To The Show” and he doesn’t mean a Queensryche show. He is referring to a line that Sergeants use in Boot Camp. Tate uses the soldiers lyrics, “This shit is real, there is no way to hide.” Second track “Unafraid” features voices of the soldiers and their griping story in spoken word with the sound of eerie sirens blaring in the background.

“Hundred Mile Stare:” has that distinctive Queensryche vibe with great guitar riffs and melodic vocals and Geoff sings of a soldier’s faith and belief in the cause of fighting for his country. Every aspect of war is covered on American Soldier. Perhaps one of the most intriguing is “The Killer.” As a soldier has to make quick decisions to kill or be killed. Every man for himself on the battlefield with one wrong move and you are dead and is reflected in this song.

“Middle Of Hell” deals with the horrors of war and effect on everyone in combat. Usually a young soldier often feels that he can conquer the world. But as is envisioned on this song, you have to be alert; you are in a war zone where no one is your friend. Battled and bruised, the only way to survive is to think positive and this message is conveyed well on this song.

“At 30,000 Ft” describes the challenge that the pilot faces everyday. Although, he is high above the battlefield his danger is ever so real. As he drops bombs, what really is running through his mind? This song describes it all.

One of the standout tracks on American Soldier is “If I Were King”. This has that “Operation Mindcrime” vibe with haunting vocals, melodic guitar riffs and very poignant lyrics. As a solder reflects on losing a friend in the war and he can go back how would he make it all so different.

Queensryche end “American Soldier” with two of the most moving songs on the album. “Home Again” features Geoff Tate’s ten-year-old daughter Emily, as the voice of the daughter left behind as her Dad goes off to war in the song. Geoff plays the soldier. In retrospect, perhaps why this song works out of sell is you can look at as a musician on the road leaving his family behind on tour. The song features a nice acoustic guitar background and outstanding duo of father and daughter. Geoff Tate comments,” My youngest one Emily, who is ten, might be a musician or actress. She is very talented. She really has a wonderful voice, very strong and big. I think she has the potential to do that. She is in a very sophisticated ballet company, since she was a kid. She loves being onstage.”

American Soldier ends with the man that inspired the album, Geoff’s dad. The intro begins with Geoff Tate’s father speaking of his time at war. Very haunting and vivid. It is so inspiring to hear these soldiers speak of their true courageous in these war torn times.

American Soldier finds Queensryche at their best. Geoff Tate takes great pride and is giving the vocal performance of a lifetime. The musicianship is highly inspired with changing dynamics that take you through every mood of the album. Geoff Tate sings about war through the eyes of the soldiers that have lived the pain with no regrets. Finally an album that pays tribute to the men and women who fight for our freedom and the cause.

American Soldier features the soldier’s journey through the war zones whose lives are forever changed. In return they are not asking for much, just a little respect, warm home and healthcare to come home to after the cold war ends.

Queensryche will be embarking on a U.S. Tour slated to kick off on April 16 in Seattle.

Geoff Tate recently expressed his thoughts on appealing to a new generation of fans, “We have age ranges from 15 to 45. It is pretty amazing. Our fans have had children. Those children have come to the shows and they bring their friends. It is a whole new thing, in some respect. In fact, I was talking to a group of young people backstage one night after the show and I said, ‘What brings you to the show?’ They said you guys are legends …

“I am happy every day, I wake up. It is a wonderful life. It is a wonderful career. I play music with people I really love. We are very lucky to be still doing this. But also on the other hand, luck has something to do with it, but it is a lot of hard work. It takes a lot of energy and focus to get everybody together on the same page and write a record. It is hard to put together the promotion for the record and get out there and support it on the tour. It is a lifestyle that you have to dedicate yourself to.”

Label: Rhino Records

Track Listing:
“Sliver”
“Unafraid”
“Hundred Mile Stare”
“At 30,000 ft.”
“A Dead Man’s Words”
“The Killer”
“Middle of Hell”
“If I Were King”
“Man Down!”
“Remember Me”
“Home Again”
“The Voice”

HRH rating: 8/10