20 years since Part 2 and 38 years since the influential Part 1, Geoff Tate returns with the third part of his conceptual magnum opus Operation: Mindcrime. In case you didn't know Operation: Mindcrime, by Queensryche is seen as one of the most important concept records in progressive music history up there with The Wall it's a dystopian tale of "political manipulation, revolution, and identity."
It features tracks that are considered classics and much the same way Roger Waters did with The Wall, when he left Pink Floyd, Geoff Tate has made it his mission to adopt Operation: Mindcrime as being the foundation of his solo career. This means that both Queensryche and Tate perform songs from this album right and as we speak Tate is on a tour playing the album in full for the last time.
In 2006 just before he left the band they released a second chapter of the record but it didn't quite hit the heady heights of the first record, inspired by The Bush era, it reshaped some of the lore while adding more.
So what about Part III, the first released under Tate's name alone? Well he returns to the world of Mindcrime with a record that has the spirit of the first one. The advancement of technology and current American culture all influencing the story this time round as it takes the perspective of Dr X, the originals main antagonist, perhaps making you re-evaluate the character after all these years.
While he may not quite have the highs he did then, Tate is still a great vocalist, embodying the characters fully to tell these stories with drama and pathos of a thespian, his biggest influence being Tom Jones when delivering power in the lows and mids. He's joined by the excellent vocals of Clodagh McCarthy as Sister Mary.
The band are also highly skilled; Kieran Robertson, Dario Parente, and Amaury Altmayer sharing the guitars, as Robertson and Tate take keys and bulk of the writing too, Rich Baur is a star behind the kit while bass and production comes from Disturbed's John Moyer, his groove powering Set You Free.
The music is the right mix of progressive metal, on I'll Eat Your Heart Out and You Know My Fu*king Name, introspective balladry from Do You Still Believe, tinged with electronics, and anthemic choruses on The Answer and Power.
Operation: Mindcrime III then. It was never going to surpass I, but it is better than II, so if you're a Tate fan, or even a Queensryche loyalist, you'll get a lot out of it too. 8/10
Cyhra - Requiem For A Pipe Dream (Reigning Phoenix Music)
It's been 10 years since Swedish supergroup Cyhra formed, an alliance between, vocalist Jake E (ex-Amaranthe) and guitarist Jesper Strömblad (The Halo Effect/ex-In Flames), they were joined by drummer Alex Landenburg (Kamelot), guitarist Euge Valovirta (Suburban Tribe) and bassist Peter Iwers (The Halo Effect/ex-In Flames).
They've released three records but the line up today sees Iwers having departed as Valovirta and Strömblad playing bass in the studio, adding Marcus Sunesson (Ronnie Atkins) as another guitarist. Valovirta also plays the keys and co-produces alongside Jake E.
So album four seems Cyhra as a well honed veteran unit, on this record, they're looking to cement who they are, more ferocious, bigger, bolder but more vulnerable and melodic, there's no room for compromise or slavish following of what's hot and what's not, Requiem For A Pipe Dream is an album more collaborative than any previously, each member bringing influence from their previous alliances into Cyhra.
This chemistry can be heard on track such as Ghostbound where the anthems of Amaranthe merge with the double blast of In Flames, the electronic creepiness comes in on Miss Me When I Gone, it's melodic metal with a harder edge and some shifts that may take you by surprise. In The Centre Of A Miracle is an emotive Euro-ballad while Skin From Bones takes breakdowns and puts them with some rap vocals.
Though for many the style they'd want from Cyhra is bonus track Hold Your Fire which features Samy Elbanna from Lost Society. Requiem For A Pipe Dream has Cyhra roaring back with their most cohesive and diverse record yet. 8/10
Erik Grönwall - Bad Bones (Greenwall Entertainment)
Erik Grönwall is a bit of melodic rock superstar, he's been the voice of H.E.A.T, Skid Row and Michael Schenker, so a set of pipes that's in demand and he's finally doing something for himself with the release of Bad Bones.
A solo record where he can put wrote the songs he wants bringing his brilliant vocals to what is fully his own music rather than stepping into the shoes of someone else. He describes it like so "it’s time to tell my own story", Bad Bones a personal and honest record that follows it's own path.
So what kind of performer does Erik want to be outside of other people's bands? Well he seems to stick to the melodic rock style, from the bouncy title track, the stomp-clap of Save Me, through the Scorpions strut of Twisted Lullaby, to emotional balladry of Praying For A Miracle and Written In The Scars.
However there's even forays into Queen/Broadway on Who's The Winner Now and blues on the hip shaking How High, all slickly produced, performed well and sung with that skill that sees him as a go to voice for so many classic bands, Bad Bones shows what Erik Grönwall can do when left to his own devices. 7/10
Leatherwitch - First Spell (Listenable Records)
Heavy metal lives in the heart of Marta Gabriel, the ex-frontwoman of Crystal Viper, she's a very in demand session musician and has turned these skills into her new project Leathewitch.
A solo record, Marta writes/sings/plays/produces everything on First Spell, with Giuseppe Taormina adding guitar solo. It's very much the creation of Marta, paying homage to her influences through her keenly trained heavy metal instincts.
Erupting with metallic power, Heroes And The Dice, is inspired by D&D with classic metal melodies, while Beast Inside is precision speed metal, Bound By The Night and Silver Stallions both have Maiden gallops.
It's not all full speed ahead as The New Beginning slows it down for some metal balladry as the 80's metal sound returns for Two Tons Of Steel, continuing right through to a very true cover to Walls Of Jericho/Ride The Sky by Helloween.
Anyone who has heard anything that Marta Gabriel has been involved in, will find no surprises on First Spell, but a whole load of heavy metal worship from one of the genres most loyal warriors! 7/10
The music is the right mix of progressive metal, on I'll Eat Your Heart Out and You Know My Fu*king Name, introspective balladry from Do You Still Believe, tinged with electronics, and anthemic choruses on The Answer and Power.
Operation: Mindcrime III then. It was never going to surpass I, but it is better than II, so if you're a Tate fan, or even a Queensryche loyalist, you'll get a lot out of it too. 8/10
Cyhra - Requiem For A Pipe Dream (Reigning Phoenix Music)
It's been 10 years since Swedish supergroup Cyhra formed, an alliance between, vocalist Jake E (ex-Amaranthe) and guitarist Jesper Strömblad (The Halo Effect/ex-In Flames), they were joined by drummer Alex Landenburg (Kamelot), guitarist Euge Valovirta (Suburban Tribe) and bassist Peter Iwers (The Halo Effect/ex-In Flames).
They've released three records but the line up today sees Iwers having departed as Valovirta and Strömblad playing bass in the studio, adding Marcus Sunesson (Ronnie Atkins) as another guitarist. Valovirta also plays the keys and co-produces alongside Jake E.
So album four seems Cyhra as a well honed veteran unit, on this record, they're looking to cement who they are, more ferocious, bigger, bolder but more vulnerable and melodic, there's no room for compromise or slavish following of what's hot and what's not, Requiem For A Pipe Dream is an album more collaborative than any previously, each member bringing influence from their previous alliances into Cyhra.
This chemistry can be heard on track such as Ghostbound where the anthems of Amaranthe merge with the double blast of In Flames, the electronic creepiness comes in on Miss Me When I Gone, it's melodic metal with a harder edge and some shifts that may take you by surprise. In The Centre Of A Miracle is an emotive Euro-ballad while Skin From Bones takes breakdowns and puts them with some rap vocals.
Though for many the style they'd want from Cyhra is bonus track Hold Your Fire which features Samy Elbanna from Lost Society. Requiem For A Pipe Dream has Cyhra roaring back with their most cohesive and diverse record yet. 8/10
Erik Grönwall - Bad Bones (Greenwall Entertainment)
Erik Grönwall is a bit of melodic rock superstar, he's been the voice of H.E.A.T, Skid Row and Michael Schenker, so a set of pipes that's in demand and he's finally doing something for himself with the release of Bad Bones.
A solo record where he can put wrote the songs he wants bringing his brilliant vocals to what is fully his own music rather than stepping into the shoes of someone else. He describes it like so "it’s time to tell my own story", Bad Bones a personal and honest record that follows it's own path.
So what kind of performer does Erik want to be outside of other people's bands? Well he seems to stick to the melodic rock style, from the bouncy title track, the stomp-clap of Save Me, through the Scorpions strut of Twisted Lullaby, to emotional balladry of Praying For A Miracle and Written In The Scars.
However there's even forays into Queen/Broadway on Who's The Winner Now and blues on the hip shaking How High, all slickly produced, performed well and sung with that skill that sees him as a go to voice for so many classic bands, Bad Bones shows what Erik Grönwall can do when left to his own devices. 7/10
Leatherwitch - First Spell (Listenable Records)
Heavy metal lives in the heart of Marta Gabriel, the ex-frontwoman of Crystal Viper, she's a very in demand session musician and has turned these skills into her new project Leathewitch.
A solo record, Marta writes/sings/plays/produces everything on First Spell, with Giuseppe Taormina adding guitar solo. It's very much the creation of Marta, paying homage to her influences through her keenly trained heavy metal instincts.
Erupting with metallic power, Heroes And The Dice, is inspired by D&D with classic metal melodies, while Beast Inside is precision speed metal, Bound By The Night and Silver Stallions both have Maiden gallops.
It's not all full speed ahead as The New Beginning slows it down for some metal balladry as the 80's metal sound returns for Two Tons Of Steel, continuing right through to a very true cover to Walls Of Jericho/Ride The Sky by Helloween.
Anyone who has heard anything that Marta Gabriel has been involved in, will find no surprises on First Spell, but a whole load of heavy metal worship from one of the genres most loyal warriors! 7/10
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