Geoff Tate

Imagine if Tate had allowed the other members of Queensryche some creative control after DeGarmo left and he didn't bring in Sir Over Mitts and others who suck at writing songs...

Might sound like this, which ironically sounds like Toddryche. Haha.



Frontiers Music Srl has announced the release of an exciting new project featuring legendary former QUEENSRŸCHE and current OPERATION: MINDCRIME singer Geoff Tate on lead vocals, dubbed SWEET OBLIVION on June 14. The first single and video from the album, "True Colors", can be viewed below.

SWEET OBLIVION sees Tate teaming up with a stellar cast of Italian musicians led by Simone Mularoni, the mastermind of prog metal masters DGM. Musically, this album marks a return to the more melodic metal style for Tate and showcases a fine collection of songs highlighting the great talents of Mularoni and his cast of musicians.

Tate says: "I was approached by Frontiers to do this record and am pleased I took this chance. It's an album filled with fun and I believe a lot of the fans who dig the old QUEENSRŸCHE sound will enjoy this one."

Mularoni adds: "I grew up listening to the '70s and '80s rock and metal bands and, of course, QUEENSRŸCHE's classic albums are among my favorites ever. Having the opportunity and luck of working together with a musical giant like Geoff Tate has been a real blessing on both the human and the artistic side. I asked a few amazing musicians and friends to help me out and together we delivered a bunch of classic heavy rock songs in which I tried to fuse a more contemporary approach with a classic QUEENSRŸCHE vibe… The performances are amazing!"

"True Colors" sets the pace for the entire release and shows what the listeners can expect from this record. Excellent musicianship and a sound that harkens back to the massive melodies and hooks of classic albums like "Empire", "Rage For Order" and "Operation:Mindcrime".

"Sweet Oblivion" track listing:

01. True Colors
02. Sweet Oblivion
03. Behind Your Eyes
04. Hide Away
05. My Last Story
06. A Recess From My Fate
07. Transition
08. Disconnect
09. The Deceiver
10. Seek The Light

Produced by: Simone Mularoni

Lineup:

Geoff Tate - Vocals
Simone Mularoni - Guitars, Bass
Emanuele Casali - Keyboards
Paolo Caridi - Drums

Who are these Italians?

Lari wrote:

Who are these Italians?

Not sure about the drummer, but both Simone Mularoni and Emanuele Casali are in DGM, a killer band if you've not heard them.

But I assume this is really just another thrown-together project by Frontiers.

This song is quite enjoyable!

By the way, italy has always had some amazing metal. I discovered a band called steel raiser a few months ago. Highly recommended.

Actually a good song.

Not a bad song.

That song is pretty good!!!

A big step in the right direction for Mr. Tate..

Simone Mularoni has played on a ton of cd's in the last ten years.

He has played on the last two Fates Warning cd's also.

I just love how it sounds like the last three Queensryche albums. Haha.

Awesome!

He sounds great on the new Avantasia as well! I'm beginning to think that it is more his songwriting than anything that has tanked over the past couple of decades. I mean, those Operation Mindcrime albums are unmemorable at best, and yet when other people are doing the writing he performs like this...

His voice sounds better on these two songs then most of what I've heard from his OM stuff.

glassprison wrote:

Awesome!

He sounds great on the new Avantasia as well! I'm beginning to think that it is more his songwriting than anything that has tanked over the past couple of decades. I mean, those Operation Mindcrime albums are unmemorable at best, and yet when other people are doing the writing he performs like this...

Other people have always done the writing. The music, anyway. He just sucks when the musicians are shitty songwriters, which is obviously not surprising.

His vocals, though, clearly benefit now from a controlled environment, like a studio. His live performances still suffer greatly. But if Mark Slaughter can still sound good on a studio track, then certainly Geoff Tate can, especially since he hasn't fallen nearly as far as Mark has vocal-wise.

Another really good tune.



Has some Mindcrime/Empire-esque moments, although it's almost too similar at times. Definitely some intentional borrowing going on. I dig it quite a bit, though.

I just listened to that and thought it sounded pretty good. All those albums not sounding like the classic ryche and now he's doing songs with groups that sound like them. I don't get it.

Dark Horseman wrote:

I just listened to that and thought it sounded pretty good. All those albums not sounding like the classic ryche and now he's doing songs with groups that sound like them. I don't get it.

And all his “I don’t like metal” talk in the press...
Now he wants to return to it? It’s probably like when Halford tried to do something new with his Two project and then he realized that it’s best to stick to the original formula.

glassprison wrote:

Awesome!

He sounds great on the new Avantasia as well! I'm beginning to think that it is more his songwriting than anything that has tanked over the past couple of decades. I mean, those Operation Mindcrime albums are unmemorable at best, and yet when other people are doing the writing he performs like this...

I agree with you. It's not that he sounds bad on a studio recording, it's that the songs suck. They are boring and unremarkable.

Troublezone wrote:

Dark Horseman wrote:

I just listened to that and thought it sounded pretty good. All those albums not sounding like the classic ryche and now he's doing songs with groups that sound like them. I don't get it.

And all his “I don’t like metal” talk in the press...
Now he wants to return to it? It’s probably like when Halford tried to do something new with his Two project and then he realized that it’s best to stick to the original formula.

I'm sure it doesn't help that he's probably reading all the mostly positive press ToddRyche is getting for going back to their classic metal sound and the band is doing just fine without him.

For me, he's come off as such an unlikable prick in the press that I wouldn't give him another dime no matter how good he sounds.

I'm waiting for him and DLR to tour.

Troublezone wrote:

Dark Horseman wrote:

I just listened to that and thought it sounded pretty good. All those albums not sounding like the classic ryche and now he's doing songs with groups that sound like them. I don't get it.

And all his “I don’t like metal” talk in the press...
Now he wants to return to it? It’s probably like when Halford tried to do something new with his Two project and then he realized that it’s best to stick to the original formula.

His arrogance fooled him into believing that he was the talent in the band. Now that he's seen how well the Toddryche albums have gone over, and how his Operation: Mindcrime albums flopped like wet titties, what choice does he have? Haha.

Eyesore wrote:

Troublezone wrote:

Dark Horseman wrote:

I just listened to that and thought it sounded pretty good. All those albums not sounding like the classic ryche and now he's doing songs with groups that sound like them. I don't get it.

And all his “I don’t like metal” talk in the press...
Now he wants to return to it? It’s probably like when Halford tried to do something new with his Two project and then he realized that it’s best to stick to the original formula.

His arrogance fooled him into believing that he was the talent in the band. Now that he's seen how well the Toddryche albums have gone over, and how his Operation: Mindcrime albums flopped like wet titties, what choice does he have? Haha.

Wet titties

Probably true.