And here is where controversy might start, since all this magic that the band had inherent, seemed to be getting lost as years were passing by. The tower of Queensrÿche was attacked from inside its quarters and the battle started going out of control for them. Since then, it’s been seventeen long years where the fans are still wondering what happened to their once beloved band, the band for which the term ”intelligent metal” was created. The departure of Chris DeGarmo in 1997 after the failed experiment of ”Hear In The Now Frontier” seems to have left an unreachable gap inside the hearts of the rest members and for sure the chemistry is lost. Also, the fact that the only truly good album they released since then, ”Tribe” in 2003, had the aura of DeGarmo’s presence who participated in the recordings but left soon, leaving the dream unfulfilled.

And here we come, the year is 2011 and Queensrÿche are celebrating three decades since their creation. In a time where even the most die hard of their fans abandoned ship with the release of their previous album ”American Soldier” in 2009, they release their twelveth full length album with the dark confusing title ”Dedicated To Chaos”. And I say confusing because it comes in great opposition with the album’s music. It is one of the most straight forward albums the Seattle based quintet has ever released and it will once again cause a great subject for discussion, mainly filled with negative comments, by fans who still try to realize what happened to the ongoing inspiration of the ‘83-’94 era and why the band only reminds a ghost of its old existence.

Well, guess what folks! The album ain’t that bad as I expected. Of course, the forum discussions cry already a code red situation, with fans frustrated and this is why I must make clear why I liked it. First of all, I have to give them credit for trying something completely different, even dangerous, regarding all mentioned above. The album may last 70 minutes, which would be a pure devastation, but it flows rather quick and with some very good tracks on it like the initial ”Get Started” or the first single ”Around The World”. It is the most rocking album they have done and it feels like they are travelling back to the past a bit, with touches of ”Hear In The Now Frontier” and ”Tribe” on it, while others could mention a ”Promised Land” aesthetics (but only this, the result is not that super).

Geoff Tate doesn’t try to change the world with his performance but remains low tuned and physical in the age of 52 (oh yes). There is not any tremendous guitar work you’d fall in love with, and the rhythm section that once gave us chills doesn’t do anything but keep the level of the album steady. Still it’s an album that could become a grower with each new listening, despite what could be an initial disappointment. I have come to listen to it many times and it’s very pleasant, but that doesn’t mean that we’re going to witness any new glory days as it seems. The new face of Queensrÿche sounds interesting but not revolutionary as it always has been. There seems to be a little spark of life in the once believed carcass of the band’s inspiration. That doesn’t mean we must not be strict to them though. But it’s a nice way to expect a better album in about two years, at least they are still alive (or just breathing).

Audio samples of all tracks that will appear on “Dedicated To Chaos”, the twelfth studio album from QUEENSRŸCHE, are available for streaming at Amazon.com.

“Dedicated To Chaos” will be released on June 28 in North America via Loud & Proud Records, a Roadrunner Records imprint focusing on established artists. The band is preparing to embark on a tour in support of the new opus, which was recorded in the group’s hometown and produced by Kelly Gray.

“Dedicated To Chaos” track listing:

01. Get Started
02. Hot Spot Junkie
03. Got It Bad
04. Around The World
05. Higher
06. Retail Therapy
07. At The Edge
08. Broken
09. Hard Times
10. Drive
11. I Believe
12. Luvnu
13. Wot We Do
14. I Take You
15. The Lie
16. Big Noize

When asked about the overall musical direction of the material on “Dedicated To Chaos”, QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate recently told Paul Anthony of U.K.’s Rock Radio, “It’s kind of like an ‘Empire’ record set 25 years in the future. [Laughs] It’s a very listenable record, I think. I think people will find it interesting to listen to on headphones, especially. There’s a lot going on with it. And there’s definitely an emphasis on the rhythm section. Eddie [Jackson, bass] and Scott [Rockenfield, drums] have written a lot of the songs on this particular record, so it really showcases what they do, which is something very special.”

He added, “This record is definitely a boundary-pusher in a lot of respects, I think. It’s always difficult to describe music; it’s better to experience it. So I’ll let people hear it and make up their own minds.”

QUEENSRŸCHE will guest on the nationally syndicated radio show “Rockline” with host Bob Coburn on Wednesday, June 29 at 8:30 p.m. PT / 11:30 p.m. ET. Fans are encouraged to speak with QUEENSRŸCHE by calling 1-800-344-ROCK (7625).

For more information, visit RocklineRadio.com.

Source: www.blabbermouth.net

According to Ledger-Enquierer.com, QUEENSRŸCHE will perform tonight for the soldiers of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, at Sledge Hammer Field on Fort Benning, a United States Army post, located southwest of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama.

The show is free to all 3rd HBCT soldiers and their families. QUEENSRŸCHE will perform songs from its newest album, “American Soldiers”. Frontman Geoff Tate was inspired to write the album after interviewing veterans from as far back as World War II.

The band has been touring military bases throughout the country since April 1 to show its support for America’s servicemen and women. The tour, called the “American Soldier” tour, will end in the beginning of December. Tonight’s show will start at 5 p.m. behind brigade headquarters. Concessions will be available for purchase.

Source: www.blabbermouth.net

QUEENSRŸCHE’s new album, American Soldier, has sold 21,000 copies in the US to debut at #25 on the Billboard 200 chart in it’s first week out.

As previously reported, the band have scheduled a “Meet ‘N’ Greet” on Tuesday, April 21st at Sam Ash Music – Hollywood, located at 7360 Sunset Blvd. in Los Angeles, CA. The event is set to begin at 7 PM. More details on the poster (click image on the left to enlarge).

Fan-filmed footage (courtesy of YouTube user “polskatychy”), recorded at Queensrÿche’s autograph/performance session at Best Buy – Thousand Oaks, CA on April 2nd, can be viewed below…

Musically the band seems to pass into a new different era and for this reason any compare with the previous band’s releases would at least be unfortunate. “American Soldier” is a mixture of Progressive Rock – Metal with Classic and New Rock references, highly melodic and psychedelic at some points. It has its own identity and stands proud under the big name of “Queensryche”.

The highlights of this album are plenty. Starting from the compositions in general and focusing into the ingredients, “American Soldier” appears to be a little diamond. Drums and Bass are tight as always,the guitars are perfectly arranged and the vocal lines in combination with the fantastic lyrics and the “soldiers’ interviews” samples give to the final result the sense of perfection.

To sum up, I believe that “American Soldier” is the best Queensryche album since “Empire”.It will please the open minded fans of the band and it will bring new fans in their fields.

Queensryche give you the chance to listen to the last half of the “American Soldier” upcoming release.

The available tracks for listening are:
7. Middle Of Hell
8. If I Were King
9. Man Down!
10. Remember Me
11. Home Again
12. The Voice

Quicktime
http://rhino.edgeboss.net/qtime/rhino/listeningparties/517967/517967_1888.mov

WMA
http://rhino.edgeboss.net/wmedia/rhino/listeningparties/517967/517967_1888_100.wax

Real
http://rhino.edgeboss.net/real/rhino/listeningparties/517967/517967_1888.smi

“American Soldier” will be out in 8 days.

QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate has penned a guest column for the Military.com web site. An excerpt follows below.

“Over the last few tumultuous years, things have become very political. War brings that out. People agree and disagree, and we Americans find it comfortable to debate politics with clever bumper stickers. One sticker slogan that pushed my buttons was one that declared, ‘I support our troops!’ For months I asked myself what it meant. Was I missing something? Wasn’t this statement obvious? Isn’t this one thing that most of us can agree on?

“The more I thought about it the more I thought of my own meanings for this ambiguous statement. Of course I support our troops — or do I? What is it that I do support? What do I even know about our troops? Even though I was raised in a military family I had never been a Soldier and I’ve certainly never been in combat.

“I felt compelled to understand what a soldier is. Just what is the soldier’s perspective? What does the soldier experience before, during and after war. The only way to do this was to ask them and to listen to what they had to say.”

Read the entire column at Military.com.

Source: www.blabbermouth.net

“If I Were King” the first single from Queensrÿche’s highly anticipated new album AMERICAN SOLDIER, is now available for download from all digital retailers. “If I Were King” was written based on an interview lead singer Geoff Tate conducted with Sean Lenahan, a veteran of U.S. conflicts in Somalia and Kosovo. Some chilling sound bites from Tate’s interview with Lenahan can be heard at various points in the song. The song is also streaming at myspace.com/queensryche.

“This is a song about loss and healing,” says Tate. “A soldier who lost his friend in a firefight and spent a lot of time afterwards struggling with his feelings, wishing he could have done more to save his friend. The song is saying if I were king, if I could do anything, I’d have you back in my
life again, back by my side. I thought that was a very interesting and inspiring viewpoint.”

Queensrÿche has also set up the phone number (206) 260-1215 for fans to call and get updates on the new album and tour directly from Tate himself. The number also has an option where fans and soldiers can leave a message for the band. Every day starting on March 20, a new 30-second preview clip of one of the songs from AMERICAN SOLDIER can be heard by calling the number, leading up to the March 31 release of the album.

AMERICAN SOLDIER features a dozen songs inspired by numerous interviews with veterans conducted by Tate, who was intent on telling their story using their words. After speaking with soldiers who served in various conflicts–from World War II to Iraq–Tate turned their firsthand experiences from the frontlines into an unflinching musical examination of war from the soldier’s perspective.

Queensrÿche will launch an extensive tour of the U.S. on April 16 at the Snoqualmie Casino outside of the band’s hometown of Seattle. The shows will be presented in three suites, with the band performing sets from AMERICAN SOLDIER, Rage For Order, and Empire.

Queensrÿche U.S. Tour Dates

APRIL
16 Snoqualmie, WA Snoqualmie Casino
17 Snoqualmie, WA Snoqualmie Casino
18 Portland, OR Roseland Theatre
19 Chico, CA Senator Theatre
22 Anaheim, CA House Of Blues
23 San Diego, CA House Of Blues
24 Los Angeles, CA House Of Blues
25 Las Vegas, NV House Of Blues
26 Salt Lake City, UT The Depot
28 Denver, CO Paramount Theater
29 Kansas City, MO Voodoo Lounge @ Harrah’s
30 Milwaukee, WI Northern Lights Theater

MAY
1 Milwaukee, WI Northern Lights Theater
2 Maplewood, MN Myth
3 Walker, MN Northern Lights Casino
5 Grand Rapids, MI Intersection
6 Cleveland, OH House Of Blues
7 Chicago, IL House Of Blues
8 Chicago, IL House Of Blues
9 Mt. Clemens, MI Emerald Theatre
10 Greensburg, PA Palace Theatre
12 Verona, NY Turning Stone Casino
13 Stamford, CT The Palace Theater
14 Sayerville, NJ Starland Ballroom
15 New York, NY Nokia Theatre
16 Atlantic City, NJ House Of Blues
17 N. Myrtle Beach, SC House Of Blues
19 Tampa, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall
20 Lake Buena Vista, FL House Of Blues
21 New Orleans, LA House Of Blues
22 Houston, TX House Of Blues
23 San Antonio, TX Hemisfair Park
24 Dallas, TX House Of Blues
27 Fayetteville, AR Arkansas Music Pavilion
28 Oklahoma City, OK Bricktown Events Center
29 Albuquerque, NM Kiva Auditorium
30 Phoenix, AZ Dodge

JUNE
3 Agoura Hills, CA Canyon Club
4 San Francisco, CA Fillmore
5 Kelseyville, CA Konocti Harbor

The Legendary Queensrÿche, envisions war through the eyes of a soldier with the band’s twelfth studio release, the epic concept album AMERICAN SOLDIER.

The ambitious album encompasses a dozen songs inspired by numerous interviews with veterans conducted by Geoff Tate, the group’s singer and chief songwriter, who was intent on telling their story using their words.

After speaking with soldiers who served in various conflicts — from World War II to Iraq — Tate turned their firsthand experiences from the frontlines into an unflinching musical examination of the life of a soldier and the consequences of war.

AMERICAN SOLDIER will be available from Atco/Rhino on March 31 for a suggested list price of $18.98 (CD) and $9.99 (digital).

Tate, Michael Wilton (guitar), Ed Jackson (bass) and Scott Rockenfield (drums) recorded the album in 2008 over the course of nine months. The idea for AMERICAN SOLDIER, Tate says, came from hearing stories from fans that are veterans, as well as his own father, who served in both Korea and Vietnam. “My father was a career military man, but until very recently he never spoke about what he went through. I think that reticence is true of a lot of veterans, which means most people never truly understand what it means to be a soldier at war. Hearing what he and some of our fans have endured made me want to share their stories with the world. This is an album about the soldiers, for the soldiers, as told by the soldiers themselves.”

Those stories resonate at the heart of AMERICAN SOLDIER, imbuing each song with vivid details about both the emotional and physical impacts of war, evoking war zone battles (“Middle Of Hell”), sacrifice (“The Killer”), loss (“If I Were King”), the longing for home (“Remember Me”), and adjusting to society after returning from war (“Man Down!”).

Tate recorded many of his interviews with the soldiers, and some dialogue from these discussions is mixed into several of tracks, allowing the soldiers’ own words to help tell their compelling stories. The band also brought a few of the soldiers into the studio with them to record vocals. The verses of the track “Unafraid” feature the voices of Chris Devine, a Vietnam veteran, and Sean Lenahan, a veteran of Somalia, recalling their war experiences while Tate provides the anthemic chorus. Also making a guest vocal appearance is Tate’s 10-year-old daughter Emily on the gripping duet “Home Again,” which examines the emotional toll of war from two perspectives, with Geoff singing from the soldier’s point of view and his daughter singing from the viewpoint of the child left behind.

Making the album, Tate says, was an enlightening process. “I was surprised to learn how little has changed through the generations. I spoke with a Vietnam vet whose experience wasn’t all that different from a soldier who fought in Somalia almost 30 years later. But what surprised me the most was how antiwar most soldiers are. To me, that makes their sacrifices even more moving.”

Soon after the release of AMERICAN SOLDIER, Queensrÿche will launch an extensive spring tour of the U.S., with international dates to follow later in 2009. The shows will be presented in three suites, with the band performing sets from AMERICAN SOLDIER, RAGE FOR ORDER and EMPIRE. The first date of the tour will be April 16 at Snoqualmie Casino in the band’s hometown of Seattle.

AMERICAN SOLDIER
Track Listing
1. “Sliver”
2. “Unafraid”
3. “Hundred Mile Stare”
4. “At 30,000 ft.”
5. “A Dead Man’s Words”
6. “The Killer”
7. “Middle Of Hell”
8. “If I Were King”
9. “Man Down!”
10. “Remember Me”
11. “Home Again”
12. “The Voice”

Queensrÿche U.S. Tour Dates
APRIL
16 Snoqualmie, WA Snoqualmie Casino
17 Snoqualmie, WA Snoqualmie Casino
18 Portland, OR Roseland Theatre
19 Chico, CA Senator Theatre
22 Anaheim, CA House Of Blues
23 San Diego, CA House Of Blues
24 Los Angeles, CA House Of Blues
25 Las Vegas, NV House Of Blues
26 Salt Lake City, UT The Depot
28 Denver, CO Paramount Theater
29 Kansas City, MO Voodoo Lounge @ Harrah’s
30 Milwaukee, WI Northern Lights Theater

MAY
1 Milwaukee, WI Northern Lights Theater
2 St. Paul, MN Myth
3 Walker, MN Northern Lights Casino
5 Grand Rapids, MI Intersection
6 Cleveland, OH House Of Blues
7 Chicago, IL House Of Blues
8 Chicago, IL House Of Blues
9 Mt. Clemens, MI Emerald Theatre
10 Greensburg, PA Palace Theatre
12 Verona, NY Turning Stone Casino
13 Stamford, CT The Palace Theater
14 Sayerville, NJ Starland Ballroom
15 New York, NY Nokia Theatre
16 Atlantic City, NJ House Of Blues
17 N. Myrtle Beach, SC House Of Blues
19 Tampa, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall
20 Lake Buena Vista, FL House Of Blues
21 New Orleans, LA House Of Blues
22 Houston, TX House Of Blues
23 San Antonio, TX Hemisfair Park
24 Dallas, TX House Of Blues
27 Fayetteville, AR Arkansas Music Pavilion
28 Oklahoma City, OK Bricktown Events Center

29 Albuquerque, NM Kiva Auditorium
30 Phoenix, AZ Dodge

JUNE
3 Agoura Hills, CA Canyon Club Theater
4 San Francisco, CA Fillmore
5 Kelseyville, CA Konocti Harbor

NOVEMBER
11/15-11/20 Grand Cayman & Jamaica – Ship Rocked Cruise

* Official Queensryche photo by Greg Watermann.

Lundgren was previously a member of QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate’s solo band. The guitarist (pictured below), who is apparently engaged to Tate’s daughter Miranda, played several shows with the QUEENSRŸCHE frontman last September and joined Tate and QUEENSRŸCHE guitarist Michael Wilton for a rare all-acoustic set at KISW’s annual Holiday Hangover Ball on December 12, 2008 at Showbox SoDo in Seattle, Washington.

Guitarist Mike Stone announced his departure from QUEENSRŸCHE on February 3. He said in a statement, “After much consideration, I will not be joining QUEENSRŸCHE on the 2009 American Soldier Tour. I feel now is the time to focus on other musical endeavors, including my new band SPEED X with Nick Catanese of BLACK LABEL SOCIETY. I would like to thank all of the QUEENSRŸCHE fans around the world for being nothing less than amazing to me during my time with the band. You have treated me like gold, and I will never forget it. It has been an honor to be a part of the QUEENSRŸCHE family, and I wish Geoff, Michael, Scott and Eddie nothing but the very best.”

QUEENSRŸCHE added in a statement, “We will miss [Mike]. He is a wonderful player and has contributed to our lives musically and spiritually. We wish him the best and hope to see him succeed in everything he chooses to participate in.”

“If I Were King”, the first single off QUEENSRŸCHE’s upcoming album, “American Soldier”, is available for streaming on MP3.com.

QUEENSRŸCHE’s twelfth studio release, the epic concept album “American Soldier”, will be available from Atco/Rhino on March 31 for a suggested list price of $18.98 (CD) and $9.99 (digital). The ambitious album encompasses a dozen songs inspired by numerous interviews with veterans conducted by Geoff Tate, the group’s singer and chief songwriter, who was intent on telling their story using their words. After speaking with soldiers who served in various conflicts — from World War II to Iraq — Tate turned their firsthand experiences from the frontlines into an unflinching musical examination of the life of a solider and the consequences of war.

“American Soldier” was written by Tate and producer Jason Slater, along with drummer Scott Rockenfield, and contributors Kelly Gray and Damon Johnson. Slater returns to the QUEENSRŸCHE creative process in the same capacity that worked for the band with the writing and recording of “Operation: Mindcrime II”, which was released in 2006 and debuted at #14 on The Billboard 200, selling more than 40,000 records in its first week. The album was QUEENSRŸCHE’s highest chart debut since “Promised Land”, in 1994. Both “Promised Land” and “Operation: Mindcrime” (1988) have been certified platinum, selling more than one million albums each in America alone, and “Empire” (1990) has reached triple-platinum status. The band’s first three albums–their self-titled EP (1983), “The Warning” (1984), and “Rage For Order” (1986) — have all been certified gold, selling more than 500,000 copies each.

In a first for QUEENSRŸCHE, all of the guitar tracks on “American Soldier” were recorded by Michael Wilton.

“American Soldier” track listing

01. Sliver
02. Unafraid
03. Hundred Mile Stare
04. At 30,000 Ft.
05. A Dead Man’s Words
06. The Killer
07. Middle Of Hell
08. If I Were King
09. Man Down!
10. Remember Me
11. Home Again
12. The Voice

Source: www.blabbermouth.net