Artist: Queensryche
Title: Dedicated To Chaos
Genre: Heavy Metal
Release Date: 24th June 2011
Label: Roadrunner Records
Album Review
Everyone pretty much knows of QUEENSRYCHE, heavy metal fan or not. When they started out back in 1984 with ‘The Warning’, they were one of the hottest bands around. However, every since the late 90s, they’ve seemed to be going a bit downhill. Albums like ‘Q2k’ were harshly criticized for being too “mainstream” or “sold out”, with a much more commercialized sound that just didn’t live up to the previous years. Then there were others like the second part of ‘Operation Mindcrime’, where the band tried make a sequel to their album back in 1988. It wasn’t as good as the original, but captured a bit of the flavor that make them the gods they once were. Two years ago they released a heavily patriotic album called ‘American Soldier’ - which is basically based on the war going on in the U.S. It was a good tribute album and a great emotionally humane album, but musically just not up to QUEENSRYCHE standards at all. If they had varied up the music up as much as their themes rather than going for more of the pop-metal melodramatic kind of music, and included some heavier ‘in the face’ tracks (as lots of metal themed tend to do successfully) then the album might have sounded a bit better. Now, two years later, the band attempts again to go for more of their all-around stuff that is a bit better, but not by much.
Listeners will have to face it that QUEENSRYCHE have lost their heavy side at this point. Those who believe the term “heavy metal” applies to aggressive guitars that chug along with drums burning away beats in the background with rough vocals leading the charge, much in the way that BLACK SABBATH or DIO did, then they will not appreciate this album at all. Instead, QUEENSRYCHE are sticking to their more rock oriented sound, with catchy tracks like ‘Get Started’ that feature melodic clean singing (which still sounds as good as ever) with equally melodic guitar melodies and mid paced drums. In fact, one could say that this whole album is mid paced for the most part. It doesn’t hit hard, but doesn’t feel as melodramatic as the past. Other tracks like ‘Hot Spot Junkie’ may capture that old heavy metal spirit of QUEENSRYCHE with certain guitar riffs, but the melodies still hold overall and tend to restrict it from being an all out raging furious machine. ‘Retail Therapy’ carries the energy and aggression that can be related to an alternative rock band like INCUBUS, and will probably be hailed as the “heaviest” track on the album. At least, it’s the heaviest when compared to other tracks like “Around The World.” However, there are a lot of tracks like these, such as ‘The Lie’ and ‘Take You’ which are very guitar focused, but mostly through cohesive, chugging chords that sound almost too simple to perform. Usually one would expect more complex and exciting stuff from QUEENSRYCHE.
But, there is “exciting” featured on the album. QUEENSRYCHE end up experimenting a bit with their music when it comes to tracks like ‘Drive’ and ‘Wot We Do’. Never mind the bad spelling. ‘Drive’ features some industrial beats over a rather generic set of lyrics and musical arrangements, making it feel like an attempt at making a radio friendly single rather than a decent “heavy metal tune”. It’s decent, but not the best on the album. ‘Wot We Do’ will probably be the highlight with its jazzy, progressive moments and even a bit of funk involved. Listeners will be unsure whether to take this track seriously or not, either from the pop oriented sound and odd lyrics, but it’s a nice touch of experimentation. But, it is not enough to consider this album a “comeback” for QUEENSRYCHE. ‘Dedicated To Chaos’ is a bit of a paradox for the music here because there really isn’t much that is chaotic about it. For those who were expecting roaring guitars and heavy drums with a lot of great guitar solos, instead this album kind of whimpers in rather than any roaring. It’s step back in the right direction for QUEENSRYCHE, but only a step. The band probably needs to take more than a step to get back on the right track as far as heavy metal goes.
Tracklist
01. Get Started 03:33
02. Hot Spot Junkie 03:57
03. Got It Bad 03:45
04. Around The World 05:10
05. Higher 04:00
06. Retail Therapy 04:13
07. At The Edge 06:03
08. Drive 04:53
09. Wot We Do 03:45
10. I Take You 03:50
11. The Lie 04:18
12. Big Noize 06:35
Line-up
Eddie Jackson - Bass
Scott Rockenfield - Drums
Michael Wilton - Guitars
Geoff Tate - Vocals
Website
http://www.queensryche.com/
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 5
Sound: 6
Total: 5.5 / 10
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