Queensryche ‘Condition Human’

  Despite legal battles and a changing music industry, Queensryche has managed to persevere and have recently released their latest record “Condition Human” which puts them at a new creative peak. Coupled with mature songwriting, the band is back with their definitive brand of powerful yet melodic prog metal. Cofounders guitarist Michael Wilton, bassist Eddie Jackson, and drummer Scott Rockenfeld have teamed with powerhouse vocalist Todd La Torre and guitarist Parker Lundgren. This is their second album with La Torre and the singer seems to bring new breath to the band.

  Working with producer Zeuss, “Condition Human” has a classic Queensryche sound with plenty of timing shifts, blistering guitars, and layering of sounds. Harddriving tracks “Arrow of Time” and “Hellfire” showcase the guitar harmonies and dueling leads of Wilton and Lundgren and the two seem to have a terrific chemistry. As always, there are plenty of timing changes where one moment the band is flying at the speed of light and at another they are holding back altogether. Frontman Todd La Torre really is coming into his own as a vocalist and can no longer be seen as merely a Geoff Tate copycat. His vocals are front and center in the mix on the ballad “Bulletproof” and his range is simply amazing. “Eye9” gives us a prog metal track in true Queensryche fashion and “Just Us” changes things up with a very laidback, casual vibe.

  “Condition Human” is a powerful and majestic metal album and clearly puts Queensryche back at the top where they belong.