Well it was bound to happen, both Queensrÿche and Operation: Mindcrime releasing albums pretty close to each other. You have to wonder whether this was intention or just coincidence but having already dealt with Geoff Tate’s musical disappointment, maybe his release should have came out a few weeks earlier because if one was to simply compare the two albums, you could do it without even listening to “Condition Hüman”. However, we take our work seriously here at Ave Noctum, so in the interest of fairness, I shall review this album in its entirety too.
Already having a self titled release out with Todd LaTorre on vocal duties, we know what to expect vocally on this release and for those who haven’t heard anything with Todd on, just listen to any of the Queensrÿche releases up to and including 1990’s Empire and you’ll have a pretty damn good idea of what to expect. Just like the previous effort post-split, the vocal work is sublime and creepily similar to Tate’s classic styling’s from the early days in terms of sound and delivery. Some may say that this is just QS replacing one vocalist with a near perfect clone, but there are differences. Granted they may be subtle, but unlike the pomp and arrogance and self-importance which Tate carried in his performances, LaTorre is more passionate and sounds like he genuinely enjoys doing what he does.
The opening trio of tracks, “Arrow Of Time”, “Guardian” and “Hellfire” are typical Queensrÿche through and through – they have all the hallmark riffs and lead fills which make them stand out and it gives a good sense of familiarity without them sounding like carbon copies of previous work. “Eye9” has a real Tool-like vibe to it and some fantastic groove and bass-lines whilst the tracks “Bulletproof” and “Just Us” are the more ballad friendly songs with a real emotional feel to them with fantastic arrangements. This album is both refreshing in the sense that it shows Queensrÿche are enjoying this new lease of life without the ego of Tate trying to control everything, whilst at the same time doing what they have always done best – pushing the envelope further and expanding on their sound, switching from dramatic semi-symphonic to on this release, moments of full on pounding progressive metal groove.
However, with the same logic, this refreshing feel to some can be a negative to other people. Yes, it’s no Operation Mindcrime or Empire and yes it does feel overly familiar in some moments and yes LaTorre does uncannily sound like Geoff and those who don’t have much time for the band or who firmly are in the “Tate-camp” will pick at every flaw they can possibly find saying that this is just a band trying to replace what they have lost… But like I said whilst discussing the Operation: Mindcrime album, Queensrÿche is more than just Tate’s voice. It’s the music, the arrangements, the melodies and harmonies and the powerful vocals. Queensrÿche is when all of these elements combine in the right amounts and this album shows that and I stand by my reckoning that Tate really fucked up when he decided to have a tantrum and get into a legal shit-flinging match. Sure, he got his brainchild and the rights to it, but he lost out on so much more and the disparity between Mindcrime and Queensrÿche is as clear as the difference between day and night and this is proved on the closing track which is also the title track to the album – ” Condition Hüman”.
The seven and a half minute epic covers on everything present in the album – excellent build up, fantastic arrangements, wonderful vocals with deep lyrical themes (as you would expect from Queensrÿche) and spot on instrumental work. Whilst some tracks may have their stand out moments or act like a shot of adrenaline which gets your attention, this track evolves, going slow and steady to classic 80’s sounding Queensrÿche and I’ll stick my neck out on this here – this track would not be out of place if it were to feature on the first Operation Mindcrime.
If you have time for Queensrÿche, get this album. If Tate’s release disappointed you, this one will not. If you want a solid all round album with variety to it as well as familiarity, get this album…. There’s not much to say except this album is going to be up there in my end of year contenders list, but whether it makes the final cut from 20 to 10 is still to be decided.
(8.5 Fraggle)
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