"Take cover" CD by Queensryche

by Ralf Koch (20.01.2008) Oh, a cover-album – what a surprise… After their not really bad done, and yet, heavily criticised continuation of their "Operation: Mindcrime"-classic and the commercial stripping of the accompanying tour with live CD and DVD, the Seattle-based Rockers again get themselves into hot water. Really getting credit out of a cover album is not an easy job. Measured in such terms, Queensryche do a good job. The song list bears some a surprise – Jesus Christ Superstar, CSN&Y, and Buffalo Springfield, e.g. ("For what it's worth" by the latter, by the way, could even become a single hit…!) – and the tension is being kept up by those songs that already in their original versions stir the attention of every Queensryche fan, anyway – Pink Floyd, Queen, Black Sabbath, Police, and U2. But with all respect: even if at the latest by the distinctive voice of Geoff Tate, everything sounds like Queensryche here (! which is surely an achievement it itself!), really innovative were the Progressive Metal-specialists much too seldom. Highlight for the great interpretation as well as vocally is Peter Gabriel's "Red rain".