Operation:Mindcrime is the newest project from former Queensryche vocalist Geoff Tate. Taking its name from the famous Queensryche concept album, Operation:Mindcrime is a collaboration of a group of talented musicians with Tate at the helm. Their debut album “The Key” is the first part of a musical trilogy developed by Geoff from a story that he wrote.
“The Key” brings up a series of questions as to what would happen if a technology was developed that could forever change humanity. Would it be better or worse? Who would control this key? Would it be given away to the world or sold for profit? The concept is intense and the music follows suit with a real Pink Floyd kind of vibe. Opening with spoken voices and the sounds of typing on a keyboard is “Choices” and “Burn” which brings up the first question. The songs follow the storyline and play like a soundtrack to the story. “Re-inventing the Future” is a great track with some fantastic guitar work by Kelly Gray and Scott Moughton. Tate’s voice is still the powerhouse it was in his earlier years and his soulful sax during “On Que” should not be missed.
“The Key” is a terrific release from some of the best musicians in rock. As a concept album, it is best appreciated by listening to it in its entirety. It’s an exciting tale that will leave listeners pondering these questions for themselves and eagerly awaiting the next album to see how the rest of the story unfolds.
