The guitarists Chris Degarmo and Michael Wilton are phenomenal. When "Silent Lucidity" came out, I played this album, along with "Operation Mindcrime" relentlessly and became a huge fan of Queensrÿche. They are one of my absolute favorite bands.
Silent Lucidity is got to be one of my favorites from this album but you’re right, Operation Mindcrime is a masterpiece. My second favorite album after The Wall by Pink Floyd.
That album is timeless. It's a provocative but relevant look at human nature, religion, politics and pop culture. With just a few minor changes that album could be written today.
@@jthomas6672 Agreed. They kinda flopped after this album, IMO. They were my #1 favorite band from Queen of the Ryche thru Empire, after that I lost interest, almost overnight.
This song is about the drug epidemic in the 80s, they said the federal government spent less on law-enforcement than anything else. It’s a great song from a great album. Fun reaction🤘🤘🤙🤙 and Lex nailed it with the Iron Maiden, Journey voice comparison
Knowing Geoff's politics, it's point was probably that the local governments were using the law to brutally crack down on poor addicted people while the feds were spending next to nothing to catch the actual importers.
@@brutallyhonest123 apparently he's always been "a little troubled". I live in the Seattle area, and I've spoken to three different people in my life that have KNOWN Geoff personally, and all their stories boiled down to the same thing: The guy is a HUGE prima donna.
OM, Empire and Promised Land was three strong albums. I was able to see the concert where every song from Promised Land was played and Operation: Mindcrime in the entirety with props. It was a great show.
Agreed! I actually saw Geoff do this as a solo project a few years ago. He did the entire album, start to finish. He still sounds damn good. The band (hired guns) was meh... but he sounded great.
The song is about gangs 'building empires'. "Eastside meets Westside, downtown... Brother killing brother for the profit of another. Game point, nobody wins." And the spoken part was pointing out how few resources by comparison were allocated to addressing the crimes associated with these growing neighborhood syndicates. Great reaction. So joyful to watch Lex in her happy place 💕.
It's also about brainwashing the youth to build a empire which is the very thing we see in colleges today. It's also talking about government corruption. It's about building a empire which always leads to corrupt government, cults, gangs corrupt authority etc
This track’s ok but to go straight to their best stuff: “Eyes of a Stranger” “I don’t believe in Love” and others off the Operation Mindcrime album. For a lot of metal fans Mindcrime is a top 10 all time album.
@@randycecale4307 yeees.... but thing is, you kinda can't just listen to 1 track from Mindcrime. I mean maybe Eyes or Don't Believe... but its all SO tied into the rest of the story that each track in the whole album tells. Its the kind of album you go on a 2 hour car drive with and focus down.
Can't say how awesome it is to watch Lex get into the music and break it down she is one of the best music reactor s on TH-cam🤘😍 You two hold it down You rock!
The chat has been screaming queensryche “take a hold of the flame” Tokyo live 1984. This is a song that NEEDS to be done, crazy live performance you will not be disappointed. Also to people that never really heard them before definitely check that out.
Only because so many "vocal coach" channels have been playing it. I'm not taking anything from the song because its awesome. But they have many, many more tracks that are just as cool and intricate. Hell, I think Lex would love virtually anything from the Rage For Order album.
@@TedBrogan for sure it’s been gaining popularity because of those reactions, I agree. But in a way, that song for me, who knew very little about the band aside from silent lucidity (which I was meh for a long time), got me interested in going through their discography. And in many ways it’s a great song to introduce new people to that band, and show what they are capable of in a live setting. So for those reasons I recommended it. I’m glad I ran into that song because it made me definitely more curious of a band I’ve known about for decades and never really gave them an honest chance.
Yes, Take Hold of the Flame from Tokyo 1984 is off the charts amazing, both Geoff's soaring vocals and the entire original band is on fire at that show! Please react to THAT! 🎸
Take hold of the flame 🔥 fire song, great message… Lady wore black… Eyes of a Stranger … all great songs, in fact there are NO bad Queensryche songs!!!! Dive down this rabbit hole !!!🔥🔥🔥🔥🤘🤘
@@efraim3364 Sorry. Not going anywhere. What you call "trolling" is telling the truth. Trump tried a COUP to steal this country and he WILL be held accountable. All of his cronies are ALREADY pleading the 5th. Innocent people don't plead the 5th.
@@efraim3364 Notice you didn't even address the fact that I'm right in everything I said. We have a traitor trying to destroy America and too many people not paying attention. Real Americans will not stay silent while it happens.
Lex picked up on the greatness of Geoff Tate's vocals quickly. Dickinson/Perry, only Lex. Try the Tokyo 1984 Live version of Take Hold of the Flame to completely appreciate how great his vocal range is.
This song came out at the beginning of the crack cocaine epidemic and is a statement on how many people went down that path of dealing drugs and violence rather than education and standard jobs ect. The law enforcement statistics are to help illustrate how things got so far out of hand so quickly, especially in poverty stricken parts of the country.
It's an ironic critique/solution though, because the CIA/Bush Sr. started the crack epidemic in Compton, using it to fund coups abroad like in Nicaragua. Then Bush Sr. locked up those individuals in the war on drugs (which increased violent crime because they were radicalized in prison) to take their votes away because they'd be more apt to vote against the economic agenda (including empire) & use them for cheap labor. So I wonder if Queensryche would rewrite this song in retrospect.
@@matthewestrada5217 Don't know if you're disputing CIA starting crack epidemic in Compton. It's a fact of history. You can read Bush Sr. talking about it in the gov't archives & Gary Webb was assassinated for revealing it. This song is openly addressing a period in the 80's & quibbling about when it was released has nothing to do w/ the point cheering on more law enforcement is ironic. The US has the #1 incarceration rate in the world by far now. It's empire at home, which helps enable it abroad. It's even worse now than it was then.
@@bernman23 I wasn't disputing Bush or the CIA but you conveniently left out major players also, and no crack isn't as prevalent as it was back then I grew up in a crack riddled neighborhood saw it first hand.
Queensryche is one of the greatest bands of all time . If you ever considered doing a reaction to an entire album i would suggest Queensryche :operation mindcrime . Hell I would even donate xtra for that to happen !
Now you need to see the video of Queensryche in Tokyo, performing Take Hold of the Flame 1984. His range in that song is much more than any other song that I can remember.
I would love to hear Geoff and Lzzy Hale do a rocking metal duet and go into the infinity zone of upper registers. Those people give me freaking chills! 🔊
"Della Brown" and "Anybody Listening " very underrated songs as well as most songs of theirs not radio airplayed.airplane. Their music suffered great after Chris DeGarmo left band.... .IMO
Bought The Warning cassette when I was in High School, and became a fan, saw them live for the Rage for Order tour at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, then opening for Iron Maiden at Universal City Amphitheater. Iconic band!
Hey guys, this is one of my all time favorite songs. It is thirty years old and still holds up to modern metal (to my ears). The song is pro-police and anti- crack.
Queensryche was a great band🤘 Most of their true talent came between '83 and '88🤘 With songs like: Queen of the Reich, The Lady Wore Black, Road to Madness, Before the Storm, Walk in the Shadows, Screaming in Digital, Speak, The Mission, and Eyes of a Stranger🤘🤘🤘
Great reaction and yes the lead singer of Queensryche does sound a bit like the lead singer of Iron Maiden and the band Queensryche state Iron Maiden is one of their largest influences. But as this band grew into their own they started creating their own sound. This song is part of a whole concept album and probably should be listened to all at once. Like Pink Floyd with Dark Side of the Moon album. Way better when you hear it in the context of the album. These songs have amazing videos and are worth watching. Chris
That was a great observation! I first heard Queensryche when they released their self-titled EP. A friend and I both bought it, took them back to our own rooms in our barracks and listened. We both came running out saying Geoff Tate sounded like a mix of Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden) and Rob Halford (Judas Priest)
Kind of odd to call Empire a "concept" album when the album directly preceeding it is an actual concept album. I'd say Empire def has a theme running through its tracks. Not like Mindcrime, tho.
Queensryche is my favorite band ever! PERIOD! Geoffs voice in this song is very different. He has the best pure voice ever. He has 9 years of opera training. His voice is powerful, unreal vibrato, charisma, purity, word announcement, its rich and subtle too, its truly an fine tuned instrument. The harmony of this band is awesome. Everyone plays their instrument way above average. Chris DeGarmo in any other band would be a lead singer. All of their songs have profound meaning. Seen them 11 times and Geoff 2 times. Love this music.... dig more into the Ryche, I promise you will be astounded!
Okay, I joke, or kinda exaggerate on these comments sometimes. But, for a second, let me be ABSOLUTELY truthful... I saw this band live when this album came out, and Geoff Tate (the singer) sounded EXACTLY like THIS in real life! My jaw was on the floor!!! He's an AMAZING singer!!! Its like watching opera while you're ready to kick someone's ass!
Both albums Operation Mindcrime & Empire are amazing from cover to cover !! The lyrics, especially on Empire, are completely relevant today in pointing out political corruption and the divide between upper and middle classes as well as the turmoil and civil unrest in most countries nowadays. The band tackled great issues with their lyrics throughout both albums.
I saw Geoff Tate (ex-lead singer who sing this track) live last Thursday. He opened the show with this song, and was note-perfect over 30 years after he laid this down. Great show! Great reaction!
This entire album is amazing. Della Brown, Jet City Woman, Another Rainy Night, Silent Lucidity. I still rock this album and will for time eternal. Geoff Tate’s vocals are unmatchable and the fact that Queensryche felt they could make it without Geoff shows who the intelligent ones were in the group.
FINALLY A QUEENSRYCHE SONG!!! You need to hear the song Queen of the Ryche. When that song came out, I fell in love with Geoff Tate's voice. He has the BEST voice in metal (my opinion). Thank you for playing Queensryche!!!
Queensryche original lineup is one the talented bands. Geoff Tate is one of the best vocalists ever. As he ages of course it shows, but nonetheless most talented. The oldest albums will give you chills and in amazement.
Empire and operation mindcrime are one of the best albums these guys ever made. But, if you listen to operations mindcrime, you have to do the whole album. The songs have to go in order.
I started my music journey with “hair” and metal bands from the 80’s, as that was what my older friends were into. That was right before alternative and grunge hit. Those (alt rock) I definitely identified with much more. So the early (metal) influences died away as I found my place with bands like Smashing pumpkins, Our Lady peace, the Cure, the cranberries, Toad the Wet Sprocket and STP. I rarely, if ever, listen to any of those older guitar soloey, metal bands anymore. Queensryche is the one exception! They have stayed with me and the love for their brand of rock has only gotten stronger. My first ever album purchases were “Empire” and the cranberries, “No need to argue.” Empire is such a great album! You should check out “Della Brown” “Anybody listening” and “Hand on heart”. Really the entire thing. Also their next album Promise Land is really good but, a very different vibe. So glad to see you delve into such a great and underrated band. Btw, as great as Geoff sounds on record, he sounds even better live.
He's pointing out (back then) that drug dealing and violence is on the rise and the federal government spends next to nothing to enforce the law, so here we are. He felt it coming, now it's here.
Best band I've ever seen live. I would suggest you watch the unplugged sessions to see the raw talent Tate has as a vocalist. I will remember is a good one. And great call on comparing him to Iron Maiden because they are similar and even toured together.
"Promised Land", "Is There Anybody Listening" "Silent Lucidity" and "Out Of Mind" are all great songs in my humble opinion and worth of a reaction. "Someone Else" (the piano version, not the full band version) is beautiful and it is only the singer and a piano.. Regarding the middle part you were talking about, I dug up the lyrics for that: "In fiscal year nineteen eighty six to eighty seven Local, state and federal governments spent A combined total of sixty point six million dollars on law enforcement Federal law enforcement expenditures ranked last in absolute dollars And accounted for only six percent of all federal spending By way of comparison, the federal government spent twenty-four million more on space exploration And forty-three times more on national defense and international relations than the law enforcement"
Boy! She nailed it! The first time I heard Queensryche back in the 80’s I immediately thought of how it reminded me of Bruce Dickinson and Iron Maiden.
4:30 "It sounds like amplified acoustic guitar. Like; it might be an electric guitar, I don't know..." ------------------------------------ Great ear Lex!! What you are hearing is an electric guitar on the "clean channel" of the amplifier. When people listen to modern hard rock or heavy metal guitar, they are usually listening to "distortion". That is to say, the guitar's natural sound is _intentionally_ made to sound 'fuzzy', or 'staticky' for lack of a better term. There are a number of reasons for this, including increased sustain of the note, plus it just sounds cool. It doesn't _have_ to be like that though. Most modern guitar amps have both a "clean" (non-distorted) and "lead" (distorted) channel. It just depends on the player's preference or what the song calls for. ;o)
In their Prime no band could touch Queensryche. Anyone who loves metal and remembers their LP when it came out knew this band was going to be untouchable.
Queensryche favorites of mine, Walk in the Shadows, Take Hold the Flame in conjunction with Child of Fire ( I'll always believe the two were meant to be heard together) and Prophecy. The whole Operation Mind Crime album. Just putting it out there.
Was going to recommend this song. You guys are very prolific! Lex is right on with Tate's voice.... her breakdowns in general are really insightful Brad usually likes breaking down the lyrics, was surprised he didn't get it. The song was about growing crime empires and drug wars, and the effect it was starting to have on society in the 1990s. The verses tell it all. Examples of crime and the lure of crime, and the government's unwillingness to address it appropriately. The sample is about misplaced government spending on things like NASA which was over 10x the federal budget than law enforcement. The 'soft on crime' and 'defunding police' ideas are new, and a continued failure to address the root issues causing violence by our 'leadership'. Maybe you guys are too young to realize this, but crime like it is now, gang and drug violence like we have now, was not normal, and was considered a problem in minority communities. It was starting to take root when this song came out. That is what the song is about IMO.
Queensryche's 1990 album 'Empire' tends to get overlooked... 6 singles and 3X platinum sales in the US. 'Silent lucidity' was the huge hit ballad... but there were so many great songs - 'Best I can' ... 'Anybody listening?' ... 'Jet city woman' ... 'Another rainy night' ... 'Resistance' ... 🔥🔥🔥🤘
Not what I would have chosen for someone who has never listened to Queensryche before, but I guess if Lex liked this one, it's probably only up for future QR choices ;)
For my money, the most powerful and expressive voice in Rock & Roll. Hitting these incredibly high notes and holding them almost effortlessly , Like on Take Hold of the Flame Live in Tokyo! Dude was a force of nature , I mean leaving nothing on the plate by the end of the show, how anyone could sing like that while running around a stage . . . I mean this dude aint just singin . . . . . There are many a great singer that can get way up there in the register but for me, none of them , including Bruce, Halford and Dio have such an expressive a voice as Geoff Tate
Amazing. Back in 1986, my friend and I were listening to ZRock and we heard what we thought was new Iron Maiden. It was Queensrycke, releasing the previously unheard "Prophecy".
I just subscribed wit my account, but have watched your videos with my husband’s account. Lex, may I say that I love your passion in discovering hard rock, but mostly metal songs. When I see you rocking out I think she would be so fun to hang with listening to metal. Rock on 🤘🏼 and don’t stop! 🎸Lynette
I was lucky I got to see Queensrÿche twice my very first concert ever in 1989 and then again at 91 they were with suicidal tendencies open for them and they played all of operation mind crime
Empire is what we call a concept album. Each song only tells one chapter but all together they form a story. This album is all about a future society that is controlled by a militant government complex. This song draws parallels between that fictional future and society today. Illustrating that we are currently on the path to that fictional society, and that album was released in 1990.
This band was HUGE in the 90's with Operation and Empire which absolutely Rocked the Charts from start to finish. This song taljs about the Crack Epidemic that hit the US and really got the Gangs in NY and LA involved which split them up and set the Gangs off against rach other for Control of what Block or what Territory that they were trying to Control and defend against Rivals. Queensryche with Empire went straight to the Streets with this one Which shaped the album itself
Queensryche albums Empire and Operation Mindcrime are two of the best rock albums you will ever hear. Every song is killer. Good job Lex on the vocal comparison. There is a pro Opera singer youtube reactor that also made the Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden) comparison and I also get your Steve Perry (Journey). Geoff Tates command of the melody and diction is really amazing much like Perry. Geoff Tate studied with the legendary vocal coach Maestro David Kyle. Maesto Kyle has worked with Layne Staley of Alice in Chains, Ann Wilson of Heart, Cris Cornell of Soundgarden (and the singer in band LORPAN :) Kyle is past now but was very old. Kyle also worked with Liza Minnelli, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and many singers of the Metropolitan Opera. When Queensryche hit the scene Geoff's voice was a game changer to every musician that listened.
The guitarists Chris Degarmo and Michael Wilton are phenomenal. When "Silent Lucidity" came out, I played this album, along with "Operation Mindcrime" relentlessly and became a huge fan of Queensrÿche. They are one of my absolute favorite bands.
Operation: Mindcrime is a masterpiece. Definitely in my top 10 albums.
Just introduced my 21 yr old daughter to "operation mindcrime" 2 weeks ago. She absolutely loved it.
@@johnrose8478 My kids grew up listening to whatever Mama liked 😉 and have told me that they are grateful for my taste in music 😁
Scotty is seriously underrated as a drummer
Silent Lucidity is got to be one of my favorites from this album but you’re right, Operation Mindcrime is a masterpiece. My second favorite album after The Wall by Pink Floyd.
Geoff Tate one of the best vocals in Rock/Metal. Operation Mindcrime would a great concept album to explore.
That album is timeless. It's a provocative but relevant look at human nature, religion, politics and pop culture. With just a few minor changes that album could be written today.
Yes he is.
This song always hits me like a two-ton heavy thing...
Yup 😆
@@jthomas6672 Agreed. They kinda flopped after this album, IMO. They were my #1 favorite band from Queen of the Ryche thru Empire, after that I lost interest, almost overnight.
I thought "Promised Land" had some very good songs.
@@jthomas6672 Promised Land is a beautiful album.
@@mishterpreshident promised land was awesome
This song is about the drug epidemic in the 80s, they said the federal government spent less on law-enforcement than anything else. It’s a great song from a great album. Fun reaction🤘🤘🤙🤙 and Lex nailed it with the Iron Maiden, Journey voice comparison
You nailed it. ^^^^^^^^^
Yep, it was drugs. I was trying to remember which issue this was about.
From a phenomenal band.
Knowing Geoff's politics, it's point was probably that the local governments were using the law to brutally crack down on poor addicted people while the feds were spending next to nothing to catch the actual importers.
What they should be saying is legalize drugs instead of preaching about more law enforcement
Geoff Tate is widely considered to be one of the best rock vocalist of all time. He has incredible range and control.
He’s a bit troubled lately
@@brutallyhonest123 apparently he's always been "a little troubled". I live in the Seattle area, and I've spoken to three different people in my life that have KNOWN Geoff personally, and all their stories boiled down to the same thing: The guy is a HUGE prima donna.
@@philpennington826 L.S.D. Lead singers disease. It happened to most of the good ones.
@@shane8915 LOL some more than others. I looked up the term and it said, "See 'Axl Rose' " 😆
@@philpennington826 Ain't that the damn truth?!
Queensryche's release, Operation Mindcrime is a Masterpiece, a must listen, even if you don't review it.
Agree, but I've always preferred Empire just slightly.
OM, Empire and Promised Land was three strong albums. I was able to see the concert where every song from Promised Land was played and Operation: Mindcrime in the entirety with props. It was a great show.
Agreed! I actually saw Geoff do this as a solo project a few years ago. He did the entire album, start to finish. He still sounds damn good. The band (hired guns) was meh... but he sounded great.
Mind crime best of ALL TIME.
@@carlgibbons5777 love empire, but it's probably in 4th place for me, OM, RFO, Warning, Empire, something like that.
The song is about gangs 'building empires'. "Eastside meets Westside, downtown... Brother killing brother for the profit of another. Game point, nobody wins." And the spoken part was pointing out how few resources by comparison were allocated to addressing the crimes associated with these growing neighborhood syndicates. Great reaction. So joyful to watch Lex in her happy place 💕.
It's also about brainwashing the youth to build a empire which is the very thing we see in colleges today. It's also talking about government corruption. It's about building a empire which always leads to corrupt government, cults, gangs corrupt authority etc
Would rock out with these peeps any day of the week!
And; sadly, the government doesn’t put its money where it’s mouth is! Freaking disgraceful!!
This track’s ok but to go straight to their best stuff: “Eyes of a Stranger” “I don’t believe in Love” and others off the Operation Mindcrime album. For a lot of metal fans Mindcrime is a top 10 all time album.
That was exactly what I was thinking. OMC was such an amazing CD!
I love Operation: Mindcrime of course but my go-to is Rage for Order.
Listen to this man. Chris knows what's up.
@@randycecale4307 yeees.... but thing is, you kinda can't just listen to 1 track from Mindcrime. I mean maybe Eyes or Don't Believe... but its all SO tied into the rest of the story that each track in the whole album tells. Its the kind of album you go on a 2 hour car drive with and focus down.
@@TedBrogan And Brad and Lex like to know the meanings of the songs so they would enjoy the entire store of Operation: Mindcrime.
Can't say how awesome it is to watch Lex get into the music and break it down she is one of the best music reactor s on TH-cam🤘😍 You two hold it down You rock!
The chat has been screaming queensryche “take a hold of the flame” Tokyo live 1984. This is a song that NEEDS to be done, crazy live performance you will not be disappointed. Also to people that never really heard them before definitely check that out.
Only because so many "vocal coach" channels have been playing it. I'm not taking anything from the song because its awesome. But they have many, many more tracks that are just as cool and intricate. Hell, I think Lex would love virtually anything from the Rage For Order album.
@@TedBrogan for sure it’s been gaining popularity because of those reactions, I agree. But in a way, that song for me, who knew very little about the band aside from silent lucidity (which I was meh for a long time), got me interested in going through their discography. And in many ways it’s a great song to introduce new people to that band, and show what they are capable of in a live setting. So for those reasons I recommended it. I’m glad I ran into that song because it made me definitely more curious of a band I’ve known about for decades and never really gave them an honest chance.
All 4 songs on their self-titled EP. All great.
Yes, Take Hold of the Flame from Tokyo 1984 is off the charts amazing, both Geoff's soaring vocals and the entire original band is on fire at that show! Please react to THAT! 🎸
Been saying it for months. You can't have a reaction page without reacting to that one.
Take hold of the flame 🔥 fire song, great message… Lady wore black… Eyes of a Stranger … all great songs, in fact there are NO bad Queensryche songs!!!! Dive down this rabbit hole !!!🔥🔥🔥🔥🤘🤘
Thanks for the listen, Queensryche's sound was way beyond their time, especially Rage For Order...very eclectic and progressive for their era.
Empire came out in 1990. They’ve had many songs that talked about current events. It’s still relevant today
QR has to be horrified at what Trump/GOP is doing to America. Our Democracy is on the verge of falling.
@@carlgibbons5777 go troll somewhere else kid, this music transcends your pettiness
@@efraim3364 Sorry. Not going anywhere. What you call "trolling" is telling the truth. Trump tried a COUP to steal this country and he WILL be held accountable. All of his cronies are ALREADY pleading the 5th. Innocent people don't plead the 5th.
@@carlgibbons5777 tell yourself whatever you need to justify your shitty actions
@@efraim3364 Notice you didn't even address the fact that I'm right in everything I said. We have a traitor trying to destroy America and too many people not paying attention. Real Americans will not stay silent while it happens.
Lex picked up on the greatness of Geoff Tate's vocals quickly. Dickinson/Perry, only Lex. Try the Tokyo 1984 Live version of Take Hold of the Flame to completely appreciate how great his vocal range is.
Yes, Lex was on that alright. She has a good memory. Geoff Tate has an excellent voice. Very, very unique.
This song came out at the beginning of the crack cocaine epidemic and is a statement on how many people went down that path of dealing drugs and violence rather than education and standard jobs ect. The law enforcement statistics are to help illustrate how things got so far out of hand so quickly, especially in poverty stricken parts of the country.
It's an ironic critique/solution though, because the CIA/Bush Sr. started the crack epidemic in Compton, using it to fund coups abroad like in Nicaragua. Then Bush Sr. locked up those individuals in the war on drugs (which increased violent crime because they were radicalized in prison) to take their votes away because they'd be more apt to vote against the economic agenda (including empire) & use them for cheap labor. So I wonder if Queensryche would rewrite this song in retrospect.
You are way off the crack epidemic started in the mid 80s this came out in 90 about 5 years after.
@@bernman23 you forgot to mention freeway Rick who spread it from southern California to the rest of the country wouldn't have existed without him .
@@matthewestrada5217 Don't know if you're disputing CIA starting crack epidemic in Compton. It's a fact of history. You can read Bush Sr. talking about it in the gov't archives & Gary Webb was assassinated for revealing it. This song is openly addressing a period in the 80's & quibbling about when it was released has nothing to do w/ the point cheering on more law enforcement is ironic. The US has the #1 incarceration rate in the world by far now. It's empire at home, which helps enable it abroad. It's even worse now than it was then.
@@bernman23 I wasn't disputing Bush or the CIA but you conveniently left out major players also, and no crack isn't as prevalent as it was back then I grew up in a crack riddled neighborhood saw it first hand.
The entire Empire album is awesome, start-to-finish. "Della Brown", "Hand on Heart", "Best I Can", ... all worth a listen.
Della Brown sucks, and the other 2 songs you mentioned are worse than filler. The Warning, Rage For Order & Mindcrime are where it's at.
The groove of Della Brown Unplugged is infectious!
Always thought HOH was a very under rated track.
@@bschuler6216 I enjoyed all of them.
Jet city woman
That entire album is a banger, actually their first 4 albums are all bangers
The Lady Wore Black and Take Hold of the Flame are two stellar songs that show Geoffs vocal range.
Queensryche is one of the greatest bands of all time . If you ever considered doing a reaction to an entire album i would suggest Queensryche :operation mindcrime . Hell I would even donate xtra for that to happen !
No
@@stich21 the sum of all your wisdom....
musicians in general are against tyranny .. now everybody is. Fight the power.
It's not against power. It's about greed. They criticize the federal govt for not funding police enough.
Now you need to see the video of Queensryche in Tokyo, performing Take Hold of the Flame 1984. His range in that song is much more than any other song that I can remember.
I would love to hear Geoff and Lzzy Hale do a rocking metal duet and go into the infinity zone of upper registers. Those people give me freaking chills! 🔊
I still have that on VHS
@@robertmackinnon4414 it is awesome, no doubt. Only other vocalist that could match Geoff Tate would be Bruce Dickinson.
"Della Brown" and "Anybody Listening " very underrated songs as well as most songs of theirs not radio airplayed.airplane. Their music suffered great after Chris DeGarmo left band.... .IMO
ANYTHING of Queensryche's from The Warning or Operation Mindcrime will give Brad deep analysis material and Lex music smile fuel!!!
OMG, I've been wanting you guys to do this one. :) :) :)
" Brother killing brother for the profit of another , game point nobody wins " such a powerful lyric yet so sad so many will never listen nor get it.
The “Acoustic” you hear is the electric guitar plugged into the amp just on ‘clean’ with no gain … great sound
I was waiting for this reaction! Queensryche has deep lyrics and a great sound - perfect for Brad & Lex🤘🏻
Bought The Warning cassette when I was in High School, and became a fan, saw them live for the Rage for Order tour at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, then opening for Iron Maiden at Universal City Amphitheater. Iconic band!
Hey guys, this is one of my all time favorite songs. It is thirty years old and still holds up to modern metal (to my ears). The song is pro-police and anti- crack.
Ah yes, Queensryche! Love their music and saw them in concert once.
Saw them twice (with Geoff). Both times....EXCELLENT.👍
Excellent song. Excellent Band!
Keep up the nice job guys!
Take hold of the flame, spreading the disease, walk in the shadows, eyes of a stranger, all great tracks🤘🤘
They're from my hometown. Went to same junior high. This album was their pinacle. The early ones are all killer!
Queensryche was a great band🤘 Most of their true talent came between '83 and '88🤘 With songs like: Queen of the Reich, The Lady Wore Black, Road to Madness, Before the Storm, Walk in the Shadows, Screaming in Digital, Speak, The Mission, and Eyes of a Stranger🤘🤘🤘
Great reaction and yes the lead singer of Queensryche does sound a bit like the lead singer of Iron Maiden and the band Queensryche state Iron Maiden is one of their largest influences. But as this band grew into their own they started creating their own sound. This song is part of a whole concept album and probably should be listened to all at once. Like Pink Floyd with Dark Side of the Moon album. Way better when you hear it in the context of the album. These songs have amazing videos and are worth watching. Chris
That was a great observation! I first heard Queensryche when they released their self-titled EP. A friend and I both bought it, took them back to our own rooms in our barracks and listened. We both came running out saying Geoff Tate sounded like a mix of Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden) and Rob Halford (Judas Priest)
Kind of odd to call Empire a "concept" album when the album directly preceeding it is an actual concept album. I'd say Empire def has a theme running through its tracks. Not like Mindcrime, tho.
Queensryche is my favorite band ever! PERIOD! Geoffs voice in this song is very different. He has the best pure voice ever. He has 9 years of opera training. His voice is powerful, unreal vibrato, charisma, purity, word announcement, its rich and subtle too, its truly an fine tuned instrument. The harmony of this band is awesome. Everyone plays their instrument way above average. Chris DeGarmo in any other band would be a lead singer. All of their songs have profound meaning. Seen them 11 times and Geoff 2 times. Love this music.... dig more into the Ryche, I promise you will be astounded!
Okay, I joke, or kinda exaggerate on these comments sometimes. But, for a second, let me be ABSOLUTELY truthful...
I saw this band live when this album came out, and Geoff Tate (the singer) sounded EXACTLY like THIS in real life! My jaw was on the floor!!!
He's an AMAZING singer!!! Its like watching opera while you're ready to kick someone's ass!
Another Seattle band..a little before the Grunge era! Badass! This whole album is Top Notch Jammin`!
Both albums Operation Mindcrime & Empire are amazing from cover to cover !! The lyrics, especially on Empire, are completely relevant today in pointing out political corruption and the divide between upper and middle classes as well as the turmoil and civil unrest in most countries nowadays. The band tackled great issues with their lyrics throughout both albums.
Check out: Queensryche - Silent Lucidity
I saw Geoff Tate (ex-lead singer who sing this track) live last Thursday. He opened the show with this song, and was note-perfect over 30 years after he laid this down. Great show! Great reaction!
One of my favorite bands from the 80’s. Geoff Tate’s voice is phenomenal! One of the best.
This entire album is amazing. Della Brown, Jet City Woman, Another Rainy Night, Silent Lucidity. I still rock this album and will for time eternal. Geoff Tate’s vocals are unmatchable and the fact that Queensryche felt they could make it without Geoff shows who the intelligent ones were in the group.
FINALLY A QUEENSRYCHE SONG!!! You need to hear the song Queen of the Ryche. When that song came out, I fell in love with Geoff Tate's voice. He has the BEST voice in metal (my opinion). Thank you for playing Queensryche!!!
IMO "Is There Anybody Listening" is the best song on this album. Along with Silent Lucidity they are both masterpieces.
Queensryche original lineup is one the talented bands. Geoff Tate is one of the best vocalists ever. As he ages of course it shows, but nonetheless most talented. The oldest albums will give you chills and in amazement.
Buddy of mine introduced me to Queeneriche in mid to late 80's when they opened for Ozzy. He had followed them since they were a bar band in Seattle.
Empire and operation mindcrime are one of the best albums these guys ever made. But, if you listen to operations mindcrime, you have to do the whole album. The songs have to go in order.
The "Steve Perry meets Bruce Dickinson" comparison, in my opinion is spot on!! Nice ear on her!!
Love you guys!!! This is a great album every song is unique just like you guys thanks for everything you do
I started my music journey with “hair” and metal bands from the 80’s, as that was what my older friends were into. That was right before alternative and grunge hit. Those (alt rock) I definitely identified with much more. So the early (metal) influences died away as I found my place with bands like Smashing pumpkins, Our Lady peace, the Cure, the cranberries, Toad the Wet Sprocket and STP. I rarely, if ever, listen to any of those older guitar soloey, metal bands anymore. Queensryche is the one exception! They have stayed with me and the love for their brand of rock has only gotten stronger. My first ever album purchases were “Empire” and the cranberries, “No need to argue.” Empire is such a great album! You should check out “Della Brown” “Anybody listening” and “Hand on heart”. Really the entire thing. Also their next album Promise Land is really good but, a very different vibe. So glad to see you delve into such a great and underrated band. Btw, as great as Geoff sounds on record, he sounds even better live.
Great song. Talks about street life. Shocking reality that a lot of people are blind to.
So many good songs on this cd. Best I Can, Is Anyone Listening, Jet City Woman, Silent Lucidity, and Della Brown are all outstanding cuts.
lex how lucky you are discovering all this greatness, I would love to be discovering all this again for the first time
Lex is a total metal head !! The perfect song for both of u guys....
I was lucky enough to have seen them three times. Twice in Buffalo and once in Pittsburgh. They were amazing every time. Great band!!
He's pointing out (back then) that drug dealing and violence is on the rise and the federal government spends next to nothing to enforce the law, so here we are. He felt it coming, now it's here.
I was a huge Queensryche fan back in the day . I saw them in Chicago during their Operation Mindcrime tour. Great show.
How can you not smile when you see that cute little smile on her face😊
Best band I've ever seen live.
I would suggest you watch the unplugged sessions to see the raw talent Tate has as a vocalist. I will remember is a good one.
And great call on comparing him to Iron Maiden because they are similar and even toured together.
"Promised Land", "Is There Anybody Listening" "Silent Lucidity" and "Out Of Mind" are all great songs in my humble opinion and worth of a reaction. "Someone Else" (the piano version, not the full band version) is beautiful and it is only the singer and a piano.. Regarding the middle part you were talking about, I dug up the lyrics for that:
"In fiscal year nineteen eighty six to eighty seven
Local, state and federal governments spent
A combined total of sixty point six million dollars on law enforcement
Federal law enforcement expenditures ranked last in absolute dollars
And accounted for only six percent of all federal spending
By way of comparison, the federal government spent twenty-four million more on space exploration
And forty-three times more on national defense and international relations than the law enforcement"
THANK YOU and GREAT JOB for putting in the lyrics! I hope they see this! :)
Omg ... "Someone Else" is so hauntingly beautiful!
Top 10 of one of my favorite songs. Everything he is saying is true today. Damn!!! Shout out to the couch gang. Be well.
You said back with MORE Queensryche.... Did another one not upload yet?
SILENT LUCIDITY is a must for sure 👍
The entire Empire album is awesome
Boy! She nailed it! The first time I heard Queensryche back in the 80’s I immediately thought of how it reminded me of Bruce Dickinson and Iron Maiden.
4:30 "It sounds like amplified acoustic guitar. Like; it might be an electric guitar, I don't know..."
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Great ear Lex!! What you are hearing is an electric guitar on the "clean channel" of the amplifier.
When people listen to modern hard rock or heavy metal guitar, they are usually listening to "distortion". That is to say, the guitar's natural sound is _intentionally_ made to sound 'fuzzy', or 'staticky' for lack of a better term. There are a number of reasons for this, including increased sustain of the note, plus it just sounds cool. It doesn't _have_ to be like that though. Most modern guitar amps have both a "clean" (non-distorted) and "lead" (distorted) channel. It just depends on the player's preference or what the song calls for. ;o)
On a side note, this album has one of the most incredible sounding snare drums ever recorded.
Scott Rockenfield is one of my favorite drummers and he kills it on Operation: Mindcrime and Empire.
I saw these guys 20+yrs after their hayday and they were amazing. Love Geoff's voice
So happy someone has done a reaction to this track. Love queensryche and this album.
My favorite song from them is Jet City Woman
This is my favorite and yes that’s another one.
In their Prime no band could touch Queensryche. Anyone who loves metal and remembers their LP when it came out knew this band was going to be untouchable.
Queensryche favorites of mine, Walk in the Shadows, Take Hold the Flame in conjunction with Child of Fire ( I'll always believe the two were meant to be heard together) and Prophecy. The whole Operation Mind Crime album. Just putting it out there.
Was going to recommend this song. You guys are very prolific!
Lex is right on with Tate's voice.... her breakdowns in general are really insightful
Brad usually likes breaking down the lyrics, was surprised he didn't get it.
The song was about growing crime empires and drug wars, and the effect it was starting to have on society in the 1990s. The verses tell it all. Examples of crime and the lure of crime, and the government's unwillingness to address it appropriately.
The sample is about misplaced government spending on things like NASA which was over 10x the federal budget than law enforcement. The 'soft on crime' and 'defunding police' ideas are new, and a continued failure to address the root issues causing violence by our 'leadership'.
Maybe you guys are too young to realize this, but crime like it is now, gang and drug violence like we have now, was not normal, and was considered a problem in minority communities. It was starting to take root when this song came out.
That is what the song is about IMO.
The greatest vocalist in all metal history!🤘😎🤘
Queensryche's 1990 album 'Empire' tends to get overlooked... 6 singles and 3X platinum sales in the US. 'Silent lucidity' was the huge hit ballad... but there were so many great songs - 'Best I can' ... 'Anybody listening?' ... 'Jet city woman' ... 'Another rainy night' ... 'Resistance' ... 🔥🔥🔥🤘
Not what I would have chosen for someone who has never listened to Queensryche before, but I guess if Lex liked this one, it's probably only up for future QR choices ;)
Hehe... I was wondering what other QR song they listed to before, but channel says this is the 1st. Brad must have mixed it up with Queen.
I always thought Fates Warning were a little better in terms of progressive metal. Check out "Anarchy Divine"
That's cause they're from ct
For my money, the most powerful and expressive voice in Rock & Roll.
Hitting these incredibly high notes and holding them almost effortlessly , Like on Take Hold of the Flame Live in Tokyo!
Dude was a force of nature , I mean leaving nothing on the plate by the end of the show, how anyone could sing like that while running around a stage . . .
I mean this dude aint just singin . . . . .
There are many a great singer that can get way up there in the register but for me, none of them , including Bruce, Halford and Dio have such an expressive a voice as Geoff Tate
Amazing. Back in 1986, my friend and I were listening to ZRock and we heard what we thought was new Iron Maiden. It was Queensrycke, releasing the previously unheard "Prophecy".
Silent Lucidity
Bruce Dickinson and Steve Perry. Never would think about that but I kinda see that here. haha.
Must go back further than 1990 with them to KNOW what they are capable of 😉 Live in Tokyo, "child of fire" is incredible.
Great band, great album! So happy to see you watch this. =)
This is one of those songs that you turn the volume up past 11 and sit next to the speakers! 🔥🔥🔥
Pro law enforcement
When I first heard them, I thought they had two vocalists...what an incredible range.
I saw Geoff Tate and his band perform at Sellersville Theater. Great show!!
I just subscribed wit my account, but have watched your videos with my husband’s account. Lex, may I say that I love your passion in discovering hard rock, but mostly metal songs. When I see you rocking out I think she would be so fun to hang with listening to metal. Rock on 🤘🏼 and don’t stop! 🎸Lynette
The acoustic with the drums is electric ⚡🤘
I know exactly where i was when I listen to this song 👌 The images are so clear
You HAVE to do Take Hold of the Flame Live in Tokyo. Probably one of the best vocal performances ever recorded.
The whole performance is amazing from everyone. Also the lyrics are inspiring and uplifting.
Her vocal assessment was spot on
I was lucky I got to see Queensrÿche twice my very first concert ever in 1989 and then again at 91 they were with suicidal tendencies open for them and they played all of operation mind crime
Take Hold Of The Flame live in Japan.....yall gotta watch the video. One of the best performances EVER!
Empire is what we call a concept album. Each song only tells one chapter but all together they form a story. This album is all about a future society that is controlled by a militant government complex. This song draws parallels between that fictional future and society today. Illustrating that we are currently on the path to that fictional society, and that album was released in 1990.
My Favorite Band of all time - every song is different .
One of the best Queensryche albums ever. 🤘🤘🤘🤘
This band was HUGE in the 90's with Operation and Empire which absolutely Rocked the Charts from start to finish.
This song taljs about the Crack Epidemic that hit the US and really got the Gangs in NY and LA involved which split them up and set the Gangs off against rach other for Control of what Block or what Territory that they were trying to Control and defend against Rivals.
Queensryche with Empire went straight to the Streets with this one Which shaped the album itself
Did you guys do Silent Lucidity either the album version or the live version at MTV Live?
I used to play 'Bella Brown' and 'Anybody Listening' from this album many times. Glad you liked this one, not bad at all 👍.
"Della Brown"
Queensryche albums Empire and Operation Mindcrime are two of the best rock albums you will ever hear. Every song is killer. Good job Lex on the vocal comparison. There is a pro Opera singer youtube reactor that also made the Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden) comparison and I also get your Steve Perry (Journey). Geoff Tates command of the melody and diction is really amazing much like Perry. Geoff Tate studied with the legendary vocal coach Maestro David Kyle. Maesto Kyle has worked with Layne Staley of Alice in Chains, Ann Wilson of Heart, Cris Cornell of Soundgarden (and the singer in band LORPAN :) Kyle is past now but was very old. Kyle also worked with Liza Minnelli, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and many singers of the Metropolitan Opera. When Queensryche hit the scene Geoff's voice was a game changer to every musician that listened.