Queensryche is that band, which created the best heavy metal album of all times, as many people believe, both in musical and lyrical level. That album isn’t other than the 1988’s “Operation: Mindcrime”. In the lyrics of that album, the band launches a harsh and also genius critique to the political, social and economic system of USA. Concerning to the musical part of the album, the whole planet Earth bows to it, because its origin is simply beyond this solar system.
Let’s take the whole thing from the very beginning. Queensryche formed in 1982 at Seattle of USA. They have released 9 studio and 3 live albums till today. Their third live album officially hasn’t released yet, since someone will find it in stores at the coming June. This one release is the reason that I drop these lines, this moment. “Queensryche – Mindcrime at the Moore”, its name. In this release is captured the best performance of their last tour, in which the band was playing the 1988’s “Operation: Mindcrime” and also its sequel’s 2006’s “Operation: Mindcrime II” albums to their entity. Both albums have a common concept that is starting from 1988’s album and ends to 2006’s release. In the shows of that tour, the concept of both albums was reproduced on stage with special lighting show, sceneries, costumes, actors. In other words the fan could attend a theatrical play with very special interpretations from band’s members and not only. It sounds interesting, doesn’t it? Yes of course it does, but let’s finds out what could someone see on stage…
The story’s main character Nikki, comes in touch with Dr.X. Dr.X is the mastermind of a secret organization, which has as a purpose the subversion of the current political and social scenery. Nikki decides to get into the organization, since he is very enthusiastic with Dr.’s X ideas about “revolution”. Dr.X takes advantage of Nikki’s enthusiasm and drug addiction and forces him to assassinate politic and religion leaders of their city. In this trip, Nikki meets Sister Mary, an ex-prostitute. She is now a nun, thanks to Father William, who saved her from the streets at her 17 and she pays her dept to him once a week with lovemaking. When she was 18, Father William introduced her to Dr. X and now she’s working for him. She offers “forgiveness” to Nikki after each assassination for his “sins”, in order to continue undistracted to his “mission”. Dr. X realizes that Father William and Sister Mary are a risk for the organization and commands Nikki to kill both of them. Nikki has fallen in love with Mary and decides to quit from the organization, but his drug addiction doesn’t allow him to do such a movement. When he returns at his place, Nikki finds Mary lying dead at the floor. Unable to accept her death, he runs on the streets in amok condition, calling aloud her name. The police arrests Nikki for disorderly conduct, carrying a concealed weapon without a license, and resisting arrest. The weapon matches the one used in the recent assassins. In due, he realizes that Mary is dead and also that his all alone from now and then. Awaiting trial, he is nursed to hospital to overcome his addiction. In his room, he tries to find the reasons for his actions. Staring into the mirror, he sees a “stranger”…
After his conviction and serving his sentence, he comes out of prison, after 18 years and faces the “outer” reality. He realizes that he is hungry for vengeance from Dr. X, for Mary’s death and all those wasted years in prison. Day after day his thoughts are getting into cohesion, and memories floods back to his mind. So many years into the prison he got over all the difficulties. He wonders if life paid her debt back to him for all these hard moments. No… Everyone is responsible for his choices and actions. The questions are increasing continuously into his mind. Now he tries hard to detect Dr. X and realizes to be closer to one more crime. Is he a criminal mind, or not? What the signs are saying? After months, he manages to find Dr. X and he chases him. After catching him and an intense quarrel, he executes him. Did he finally the right movement? Was his motivation right? He feels that his life is a ruin anymore. Suicidal thoughts appear to his mind. He isn’t certain for anything but only that he loved her…They had everything, but they couldn’t see it…
After all the action in ‘‘Operation: Mindcrime’’’s and Nikki’s inner quest in ‘‘Operation: Mindcrime II’’, the concept of these two albums, comes to an end. Two albums which haunt everyone who decides to enter into deep. Two albums, of which the first one has already acquired a place at metal’s pantheon forever and the other sets candidacy for being classic after some years. Two albums, which led producers to ask band’s permission for transferring the story into film. Two albums, which are closing a circle with the forthcoming live release “Mindcrime at the Moore’’.
