Operation Mindcrime II

Last night I purchased Operation Mindcrime II by Queensryche. The follow-up to my favorite album of all time Operation: Mindcrime.

Plusses:

• The political rhetoric was kept to a minimum
• Even more of Pamela Moore, the voice of Mary
• Great lyrics
• Geoff Tate’s vocals are still strong
• The song “The Chase” with Ronnie James Dio is great
• It’s better than Tribe and Hear

Minuses:

• The story is not as complex as OM
• Too many songs sound like Geoff Tate’s solo album
• No song really kicks you in the head like so many songs off of the original
• No opus in this one like “Suite Sister Mary” from the original
• “The Chase” was too short. That should have been the opus since it was the confrontation between Nikki and Dr. X. Not only that but how can you have two of the greatest metal vocalists ever on the same song and have the song be under 4 minutes?
• Nowhere near as theatrical as the original
• The ending was unsatisfying

I may change my mind after a few more listens but I doubt it.

2 1/2 out of 5.