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OPERATION: MINDCRIME
The Key
Frontiers Music s.r.l.

OPERATION: MINDCRIME is a band of pedigreed musicians whose collective experience is staggering; ex-QUEENSRYCHE vocalist Geoff Tate formed the band last year, aiming to revive the Operation: Mindcrime concept. The first O:M record, released in 1988, when QUEENSRYCHE reigned supreme, proved to be one of the greatest concept albums ever, with a follow-up O:M released in 2006. Squabbles between Tate and QUEENSRYCHE members led to the singer’s departure in 2012.

By naming his band OPERATION: MINDCRIME, Tate has set an expectation for people hoping to hear some semblance of the music represented by that moniker in the past. “Re-Inventing The Future” resembles “Breaking The Silence”, a track from the first Operation: Mindcrime album. The layered guitar sound in “Life Or Death” is homogeneously QUEENSRYCHE. “The Stranger” is a nu-metal, rap-rock piece of work—perhaps Tate’s attempt at diversity. His true voice, figuratively speaking, sadly doesn’t show up on the album. The droning saxophone “On Cue” adds insult to injury. The lyrics on The Key tell an interesting story, but its soundtrack is unremarkable. The album is a disappointment if compared to QUEENSRYCHE’s Operation: Mindcrime 1 & 2, yet the unjaded listener might find its material worthwhile.

2.5 Out Of 5.0

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