Confession time: I am a Queensryche fan. 

Not a huge, die hard type of fan, though I do have just about every one of their albums and have been listening to them since their album "Empire".  But I do enjoy some of their music a lot.  They have been very influential on a lot of bands, and have had some truly great albums.

But they have also had music that far transcends the qualification of great.  Case in point: "Operation: Mindcrime".  This stands, to this day some 18 years later, as one of the greatest metal concept albums of all time.  Every concept album released since then is compared in some way to Mindcrime.  It told a politically charged, cohesive and exciting story, while still managing to create some of rock/metal radio's most enduring singles (eg. "I Don't Believe in Love", "Eyes of a Stranger").  This demonstrated to anyone paying attention that you could create an engrossing concept album that still had actual songs.  It is a brilliant album, and one any fan of rock music should be familiar with.

And so it was with some reservation I heard rumors of the band discussing writing "Operation: Mindcrime 2".  In fact, I was so nervous about it I figured they were just rumors and pretty much forgot all about it.  Lightening just doesn't strike twice, and trying to write a sequel to Mindcrime just seems a stupid thing to do.

But then I saw it: a shot of the cover art.

I was flabbergasted.  I thought it must be a fan creation.  I ran over to the official page and there it was, the cover art with a release date of the 4th of April.  Please, please, please no.  But it is a reality.  Mindcrime 2 will carry on the story of Nikki, who we last saw in his hospital bed.  It will reportedly comment on current world politics and society as well. 

Lyrically I'm not too scared.  Queensryche has usually done a pretty good job of writing political and social commentary in their music without being overbearing.  Musically though, I am a little frightened.  Okay, let's be honest.  I am terrified.

The original "Mindcrime" was followed by "Empire", which was certainly more commercial and accessible, but still had some really, really great songs.  Next came "Promised Land", and album that I feel to be QUeensryche's second masterpiece.  It is a brilliantly depressing and morose album.  Then we had "Hear in the Now Frontier".  Blech.  Yuck.  No.  Not good.  "Q2K" ("And the award for lamest album title goes to. . .") was no better.  It had hints, but still it didn't even come close to anything pre-"Promised Land".  Then we got "Tribe".  It wanted to be better.  I wanted it to be better.  But where was the edge?  Where was the vigor, the vitality that was such a part of older Ryche music?  MIA.

SO we have had three stinkers (when compared to Queensryche's previous work) in a row.  I fear what will happen to "Mindcrime 2".  Will I still buy it?  I am planning on it.  I just hope I have reason to listen to it after the first time.