Queensryche gives new info on "American Soldier"

QUEENSRŸCHE: New Album Title, Concept Revealed - Oct. 29, 2008 QUEENSRŸCHE is currently in the studio putting the finishing touches on its twelfth studio album, "American Soldier". The concept effort, due this spring from Rhino/Atco, finds the band once again tackling some heavy subject matter, this time focusing on telling the story of war from a firsthand perspective. Singer and chief songwriter Geoff Tate has spent the last few years conducting extensive interviews with veterans and has crafted their thoughts into this epic tale. "American Soldier" examines American wars from World War II through Iraq from the viewpoint of those in the trenches and on the frontlines. Following the album's release, QUEENSRŸCHE plans to present tracks from the album live on an extensive spring tour of the U.S., with international dates to follow later in 2009. The first date of the tour will be a hometown gig at Seattle's Snoqualmie Casino on April 16.

"QUEENSRŸCHE has always had incredible support from members of the Armed Services," says Tate. "It seems like after every show, I'd end up speaking with a fan that was or had been involved with the military. The more and more I began to hear their accounts and feelings, the more I really felt a conviction to tell their story. Over the last two years, I've conducted dozens of one-on-one interviews with veterans of many different American wars. I listened to their amazing and moving recounts and did my best to examine war through their eyes."

QUEENSRŸCHE will help celebrate the music and legacy of Jimi Hendrix by performing on two dates of this year's Experience Hendrix 2008 tribute tour:

Nov. 05 - INB Performing Arts Center - Spokane, WA
Nov. 06 - The Paramount Theatre - Seattle, WA

These performances — which are part of a nationwide 19-city tour that began on October 15 in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire — will feature such other artists as Mitch Mitchell and Billy Cox of THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE, Doyle Bramhall II, Eric Gales, Buddy Guy, Robby Krieger, Jonny Lang, Chris Layton, Mato Nanji and Hubert Sumlin, among others.

Commented QUEENSRŸCHE frontman Geoff Tate: "Jimi Hendrix is not only a Seattle legend but a world legend. I feel it's such a privilege to be included on this tour and to have a chance to play his music with such a talented group of musicians."

Also on the horizon for release early next year is Geoff Tate's red wine signature blend called Insania, which has already garnered the attention of Wine Spectator magazine.

QUEENSRŸCHE performed with an orchestra (dubbed the "Empire Orchestra") for the first time ever on August 23 at the White River Amphitheatre in Auburn, Washington. The concert was part of Seattle station KISW 99.9 FM's Pain in the Grass 2008 event, also featuring SEETHER, SHINEDOWN, SEVENDUST, DROWNING POOL, JET BLACK STARE and EARSHOT.
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I'm not even sure I care anymore. And to think they were once one of my all time favorite bands, and certainly one of the bands instrumental in me liking metal so much in the first place. I haven't liked anything they've released since 1994!

Will the album contain a cover of the Toby Keith song, "American Soldier?"

Another album from a band decades from its prime. Expect more output to be heavy on message, low on entertainment and craftsmanship.

Temple of Blood wrote:

Another album from a band decades from its prime. Expect more output to be heavy on message, low on entertainment and craftsmanship.

Decades from its prime. So why continue to even discuss them? Plenty of people still like what they're doing. This band is far from bad.

I haven't liked much of their output since the 90s either but I must admit this one has piqued my interest.

tohostudios wrote:

I haven't liked much of their output since the 90s either but I must admit this one has piqued my interest.

I agree, I think it'll be in the same style as The Glorious Burden lyrically which means I'll get it.

Eyesore wrote:

Temple of Blood wrote:

Another album from a band decades from its prime. Expect more output to be heavy on message, low on entertainment and craftsmanship.

Decades from its prime. So why continue to even discuss them? Plenty of people still like what they're doing. This band is far from bad.

They change their styles from each album since the begining but I think over the last couple of years they have changed so much that they dont even sound like the band we all grew up to know as Queensryche. Theres a lot of the newer songs that are good but they just dont put out the same quality songs like they used to. I"ll still like them and support them no matter what but just like a lot of the older bands that we know and love have changed so much that its so hard to get used to it and accept it. Def Leppard being the most noteable but Queensryche I dont know.... they could be getting to that point eventually. I hope not but who knows.

Even though I'm not at all a lyrics person, I must admit I'm curious about this one.

If Geoff really interviewed war veterans, I'm interested in what they had to say and how he interpreted it.

I'll save you some money and suspense over what will be said:

"Bush is the worst president of all-time."
"He should be executed for war crimes."
"The war is a complete disaster. It's just like/worse than Vietnam."
"The Iraqis hate us and want us to leave."
"Things were better over there when Saddam ran things."

... or some combination of the above.

I am Queensryche fan and I am looking forward to this album, I agree that the last few albums have been hit or miss, but I don't feel they are past their prime. The times have changed so have they, and I feel they still have something to say.

I think when the final chapter on history of metal is written, I think Queensryche is going to be looked at as one of most important voices of their era.

I agree with you kmorg!

I am a Queensryche die hard and like everything they have ever put out. As their style changed in the 1990's, I accepted that and I still enjoyed them as a group. I think that this new concept album will be very good. Peace.

Why anyone cares any longer is beyond me.

No matter what their politics is.... they suck.

I actually like everything they've done. Sure, I like the earlier stuff better, but they definitely do not suck.

Tall Tyrion wrote:

Why anyone cares any longer is beyond me.

No matter what their politics is.... they suck.

Exactly.

If this was a new band without the name "Queensryche" on the front of their recent albums, no one would care about them.

As was stated, 'Ryche is a band that has changed from album to album from the beginning...no two really sound alike...the closest were the EP and The Warning...but from that point, every record was different and, up through Empire, a lot of people stuck with them.

It's only natural that a band that changes & experiments that often is bound to lose people along the way...it's the nature of progression and experimentation...not everyone is going to like it.

That said, I was disappointed in Tribe...and a little with Q2K...OM:II wasn't bad and piqued my interest again a little. But regardless, they're not a bad band...they're a very good band...they're just not always going to do what certain sections of fans want. As long as they're doing what they want to, you have to respect them a little, IMO.

And, from what I can tell, it doesn't look like the album will be all about Iraq...it looks like perspectives from all wars/conflicts...it's a soldier's perspective on war in general...not a personal, political statement from Tate.

Temple of Blood wrote:

I'll save you some money and suspense over what will be said:

"Bush is the worst president of all-time."
"He should be executed for war crimes."
"The war is a complete disaster. It's just like/worse than Vietnam."
"The Iraqis hate us and want us to leave."
"Things were better over there when Saddam ran things."

... or some combination of the above.

That will be part of the album - part of it will be "gulf war I was all about oil, jane fonda could have saved us from vietname, korea was about fighting a better political systems" etc

Ya'll are some cynical something-something's....

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

Ya'll are some cynical something-something's....

At least I tried to be funny with the Toby Keith comment... which of course, went over like a lead balloon. Sheesh, tough room.

Like Eyesore I think they have some good stuff on the newer albums, well, except Tribe. OM II wasn't as bad as most make it sound.

I am not sure what Geoff Tate's and the rest of Queensryche's poilitcs are nor do I care, what I care about is the music, and by reading the press release it seems to be a concept album regarding war in general from a solider's point of view, not Tate's point of view.

I am sure it will not be talking about Bush, Jane Fonda, or even how the people of Iraq feel about us. it sounds like he is exploring the human experience of how war effects a solider as human being, I don't think it will become a concept album regarding Geoff Tate's views of the foreign policy of the United States during wartimes.

Quote :

If this was a new band without the name "Queensryche" on the front of their recent albums, no one would care about them.

For the 1st time in a long time ... I agree with you!

Fat Freddy wrote:

Will the album contain a cover of the Toby Keith song, "American Soldier?"

manny wrote:

I am not sure what Geoff Tate's and the rest of Queensryche's poilitcs are nor do I care, what I care about is the music, and by reading the press release it seems to be a concept album regarding war in general from a solider's point of view, not Tate's point of view.

I am sure it will not be talking about Bush, Jane Fonda, or even how the people of Iraq feel about us. it sounds like he is exploring the human experience of how war effects a solider as human being, I don't think it will become a concept album regarding Geoff Tate's views of the foreign policy of the United States during wartimes.

Geoff Tate makes obama seem like a conservative.

As far QR albums, the recent output is just OK, they haven't out out a great album since Promised Land. OMII was a step in the right direction. They do like to change from album to album. That's OK with me, I like bands that change and ones that stay the same (AC/DC) as long as they put out a good album. I hated hear in the now frontier q2k and tribe were OK, but not great.

This thread inspired me to pull up Rage For Order on my ipod