Queensryche - Rage for Order
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Free Music Notes for Rage for Order
Free Music Review: My favorite QR album. A good dose of intelligent cyber metal
Hit: 5 Stars
Rage For Order(1986). Queensryche's second studio album.Around the mid-80s, glam metal was starting to take over as the popular form of metal music. As tuneful and catchy as it was, glam was often very simple and pompous, sometimes to the point of being just plain silly. However, there were a few groups who cared more about creating interesting music rather than party anthems and songs about rock 'n roll. Queensryche was one of those bands. 1986 was a turbulent year when it came to metal bands. Many of them either went all out with the thrash sound (Metallica, Slayer), or employed keyboards and synthesizers into the mix (Judas Priest, Iron Maiden). Queensryche fell under the latter. Its sound is very time period oriented, complete with all kinds of synths and studio effects. RFO is more polished than Iron Maiden's 'Somewhere In Time' album, but not quite to the extent of Judas Priest's 'Turbo'. However slick the production may be, underneath it all are solid songs. Here's a look at RFO track by track:
1) Walk In The Shadows- A phenomenal straight ahead rocker with a main emphasis on the vocals. Great opener. *****
2) I Dream In Infrared- A slower melodic track with plenty of guitars as well as backing keyboards. Very excellent. *****
3) Whisper- This track is a steady psuedo rocker showing off on the guitars, and my favorite track on the album. I love the synth effects used here. *****
4) Gonna Get Close To You- Although this song is very un-metal-like, it's a haunting stalker number which will be sure to stick in your head long after you've listened to it. *****
5) The Killing Words- A synth-heavy gloom ballad of sorts. One of the best that Queensryche has ever written. Should have been released as a single. *****
6) Surgical Strike- Sounds almost like a few of the tracks off the next album Operation: Mindcrime(1988). Very fastpaced and contains some incredible moments with the guitars. *****
7) Neue Regel- A slow anthemic rocker in which the vocals take front stage. Pretty good. ****
8) Chemical Youth (We Are Rebellion)- Fast rocker which serves as a foretelling of the next album's story. Good but musically it doesn't stand out. Still, Queensryche shows a great lyrical sophistication here not found on any other rock group. The whole album displays this really well, but here is a prime example of excellent storytelling within a song. ****
9) London- Starts out slow and melodic and builds into a vocally strengthened rocker. Later on, it bears a resemblance to Rush's 'Tom Sawyer'. *****
10) Screaming In Digital- As the name implies, there are quite an abundance of synth effects used here, but it is properly backed up with a haunting and powerful vocal performance. At this point I'm beginning to wonder if the vocals are better on this album or the next. Both show incredible talent. ****
11) I Will Remember- The album closes with a quiet accoustic ballad, quite unlike the rest of the album, but very well done nonetheless. Another winner. *****
There are also four extra tracks in this remastered edition: An alternate version of 'Gonna Get Close To You', an accoustic remix of 'I Dream In Infrared', and live tracks of 'The Killing Words' and 'Walk In The Shadows'.
Even though Operation: Mindcrime is probably the most recognized album by all the fans, Rage For Order is no less brilliant. It may not contain a well crafted concept story throughout, but RFO serves as a strong set of individual songs each dealing with their own psychological themes. 5 stars for perfect musicianship, production, and songwriting. I'm having a tough time deciding which of the two albums is better. Mindcrime is more technical and brilliant, but Rage is my personal favorite one and probably the best album to come out in 1986. Fans of Queensryche and rock in general should find this underrated masterpiece to be a fitting addition to their rock collection. RECOMMENDED TO ALL FANS.
Free Music Review: Rage for Order: aka the Vampire Album
Hit: 5 Stars
I have been a Queensryche fan since their inception. This was the first album to influence me musically, and is one of the most unique albums to date. "Rage" was Queensryces' first and only attempt to cross over to the dark side. The album mixes melodic vocals, screaming guitars, new sounding digital sounds, and dark visuals to temp the listener into a direction never before engaged. The albun starts off strong and finishes in a way that leads you to believe that something special is around the corner. is only 2 years away. I really believe this was their first attmept to build a concept album.
Each track is special in it's own way and brings something new to the entire metal/progressive genre.
1) Walk in the Shadows (*****) - This song is so special that the band still plays it at each concert. This song, although completely different in style and rythm, ties superbly into track #4.
2) I Dream in Infra Red (*****) - A slow melodic song with great vocals and a solid gutar solo. The song really makes you imagine what the video would be like if it was ever attempted.
3) The Whisper (*****) - A rocking song that really shows that the synthesizer can be used to broaden a sound. The unique sound makes this one a keeper.
4) Gonna Get Close to You (*****) - The only song not written by a band member, ties in very well with track #1. It really gives the album a "dark" feeling and the visuals of a "Vampiresque" lifestyle. The origional song is horrible and Queensryche really put their stamp on it for the album.
5) The Killing Words (****) - A very solid middle song that emphasizes guitars and synthesisers. Although I know the meaning of the lyrics.....I still get a very sad feeling when I listen to it.
6) Surgical Strike (****) - Another reviewer stated it best - "Sounds almost like a few of the tracks off the next album Operation: Mindcrime. A very fastpaced song that contained some incredible guitars moments."
7) Neue Regel (*****) - Another favorite of mine, this song gives you a taste of whats to come in the future. This is a song about rebellion. Neue Regel means "New Order" in German and also transitioning perfectly into the next albun that will be known as the BEST concept album of all-time. The way that the song starts off in "mono" makes it stand out from all the others and definltly emphasizes vocal perfection.
8) Chemical Youth (We Are Rebellion) (****) - A heavy song that gives you a taste of the next albums storyline.A good track, but musically it doesn't stand out. This song does really show how great Geoff Tate is vocally.
9) London (*****) - A great power balled that leads me to belive it was written to tell a story of something that actually happened. If there was ever a song that epitomized the term "tragic ballad"....this is it.
10) Screaming In Digital (****) - The only song that was just "OK" to me....this song did have one of the strongest choruses of the album. This gothic sound really ties well into the next track.
10) I Will Remember (*****) - A slow moving ballad that I like even more than "Silent Lucidity". The song was best represented in the bands acoustic version om MTV's "Unplugged".
There are four additional tracks in this remastered edition: An alternate version of "Gonna Get Close To You", an accoustic remix of "I Dream In Infrared", and live tracks of "The Killing Words" and "Walk In The Shadows".
Althought "Rage for Order" is not considered along the same lines as "Operation: Mindcrime", it definitley hold it's age well. I can honestly say this is one of my favorite "Top 20" albums of all time. Combine it with the next album released 2 years later...this could be the best 2 years EVER in music history.
Free Music Review: most underrated (and best) record
Hit: 5 Stars
While I was a big fan of "Queen of the Reich", this one was an amazingly incredible suprise in the summer of 1986, when bubble-gum hair-bands were in full force. Unlike the somewhat inaccessible 'The Warning' (1984), this one combined all of the previous narrative elements of Queensryche's music in a collection of relatively short, catchy, and brilliantly-produced tunes. There was both sci-fi imagry and psychological distres right alongside edgy love songs - it was an utter crime that some of these songs were not released and promoted as singles. Quite simply, 'Rage for Order' is the perfect Queensyrche record:1. Walk in the Shadows. Short and sweet, with a dark and catchy melody and one of Geoff Tate's most amazing vocal performances EVER (matched only by their debut, "Queen of the Reich" (1983) and "Neue Regel" from this record), this is the only song that has retained a place in the live sets since 1986. (Note: A nice live version is included on this remaster.)
2. I Dream in Infared. It was clear that Queensyrche made an attempt at commercializing their music with this record, and as such, many fans fault them for the introduction of love songs. Nonetheless, as with many of their love songs, this one has an edginess that keeps it real. (NOTE: There is an all acoustic version, orignally included as a b-side to a 1991 single, included with the 'Empire' remasters.)
3. The Whisper. The guitar runs on this tune, along with the vocal performance, makes this one of the best and most underrated Queensryche tunes ever. (Why has this not retained a place in the live set.)
4. Gonna Get Close to You. The fact that this atmospheric, psychological piece about a stalker was released as a single and sole video from the record may explain why it never took off. Still, I would hardly call it a weak song. (NOTE: The 12" version here on the remaster is not particularly interesting.)
5. The Killing Words. This is another great, catchy ballad with excellent production, although the keyboard intro does sound a bit 80s.(NOTE: an updated semi-acoustic live version is included on this remaster and an MTV-unplugged version is included on the 'Hear in the Now Frontier" remaster.) That said, it is one of their best ballads and should have been released a single.
6. Surgical Strike. This is the straight-ahead rocker of the record and a political statement about soldiering. That said, it is definitely the weak point and sounds a bit out of place.
7. Neue Regel. This is a piece of pure power and simply one of the best vocal performances by Geoff Tate ever. Lyrically, it establishes the thematic narrative characterisit of the "second side" of the record.
8. Chemical Youth. This is the musical and lyrical predecessor to "Revolution Calling" on the much-lauded, and perhaps over-appreciated, 'Operation: Mindcrime' (1988).
9. London. Is this a ballad? If so, it is certainly NOT Bon Jovi, Poison, or the like. I cannot say more about Geoff Tate's vocal performances on this record - dare I say, over the top on this tune.
10. Screaming in Digital. For fans of 'Operation: Mindcrime' and "NM156" from 'The Warning' left off, this wonderfully manic rocker about a cyborg is, when combined with the next tune, a concept-record within a record.
11. I Will Remember. The record ends with a mellow tune that has frequently found a place in the live shows (NOTE: a version from MTV unplugged in 1991 is included on the 'Hear in the Now Frontier' remaster), which is curious considering its required connection to the previous tune ("And we wonder how machines can steal each other's dreams").
Free Music Review: Queensryche's Finest Moment
Hit: 5 Stars
This album did not leave my tape deck (yes, we used tapes back in 1986) for at least two years. I was already heavily into Rush, Yes, Genesis, ELP and progressive music in general, so Rage For Order was a natural fit. At that time my tastes were also broadening to include heavy metal and the fusion of keyboards and metal guitars was extremely fresh sounding to my ears. Looking back at it now I realize how advanced this album was at the time.
First of all the production is flawless, one of the best I've ever heard. The songwriting is extremely ambitious and manages to be both progressive and heavy at the same time (you won't find any songs about drugs, sex, and rock & roll on this album!). There are also many moments on the album of lush, beautiful acoustic guitar such as in the songs The Killing Words and I Will Remember. The musicianship is fantastic, with everyone in the band firing on all cylinders. The guitar solos are restrained and tasteful, with lots of beautiful harmony lines played in perfect unison. Geoff's voice is as powerful as ever and filled with emotion throughout. Of course Eddie and Scott hold down the bottom end with aplomb, Scotts drumming being especially powerful.
This album is proof positive that good music will always stand the test of time regardless of what era it was written in. While Queensryche would go on to gain incredible fame (and fortune) with their next album the incredible Operation Mindcrime, it was Rage For Order that paved the way. I still feel Rage never got the recognition it deserved. It spawned only one MTV video I believe and that was for the quirky Gonna Get Close To You. I think Rage's limited success was because it lived in two different worlds. On the one hand it was definitely heavy metal, but the metal heads of the day chided the album for its liberal use of keyboards. On the other hand it was very progressive, yet the fans of progressive dismissed the album as being "another hair band" album and thus it took a special sort of listener to appreciate this album in 1986. I was such a listener, as were the circle of friends I hung with at the time. Heck I even named a band I was in at the time Neue Regel!
In closing I will just say there really isn't a bad Ryche album from their first through Promised Land (I'm not fond of their latter albums). Even though Operation Mindcrime and Empire were the albums that put Queensryche on the map, Rage will always hold a special place in my music collection. Rage was like my own little secret, sort of a special bond between me and the band. When Mindcrime came out everyone and their mother knew about Queensryche and so they were no longer my little secret.
Free Music Review: Queensryche's Best Album
Hit: 5 Stars
This is not Queensryche's most commercially successful album and it did not receive the quality of studio production work the material deserved but it is their most inspired and intense material. The lyrics are brilliantly imaginative and each song's melodic construction masterful but what really fires me up about this set is how well Chris Degarmo and Michael Wilton interplay and bounce off each other in the guitar 'solos'. One will often take off with a lead while the other holds down a melodic riff to keep it tied to the song, then they will trade off following the same feel but with each player's own strengths and style-- two styles that were very complimentary. On those 'solos' where they end up back at the same place, wailing 1/32nd or 1/64th notes at 3rd or 5th intervals from one another it's a thing of absolute rock beauty and awesomeness! The guitar style of this band doesn't rely on flailing the most notes per measure without melodic sense. Each solo builds on the song's original melody with a musical sensability, feel and technique that in my opinion has never been matched by any other 'dual-lead-guitarist' rock band. Very fast runs and scales are used only to build passion and intensity within the structure of tastefully executed diatonic and pentatonic phrasings. If the only Queensryche albums you've heard are Mindcrime and Empire because those releases recieved so much publicity and acclaim, you've only heard a sample of this duo's best guitar technique. I liked and still like those two albums as well. Each is a great set of musical work in it's own right but in my opinion Rage for Order was truly Queensryche's own unique material, created before they may have been advised to be just a little more mainstream and FM radio-friendly (if you are a Queensryche purist, don't be offended by this statement. I agree, QR has never been really mainstream but thier later material is far more pollished and subdued/reserved than the first 3 albums). If you are truly a GUITAR rock fan and you like any of Queensryche's work, this is the most guitar solo oriented album they ever made. And by the way, Geoff Tate's powerful vocals are here in spades! The lyrical themes are anything but mainstream so you're own subjective preference will judge that part of the presentation. However, the guitar work screams to anyone who loves such great work. While we're on the subject, the predecessor to this album, The Warning also merits a serious listen. It is obvious the band was on thier way to becoming skilled, creative and unified enough to create Rage For Order when The Warning was released.