Queensrÿche has delivered “The Verdict”, their 14th studio album, and 3rd in their current incarnation. Vocalist Todd La Torre and guitarist Parker Lundgren are firmly ensconced in the band’s creative process, and the result is nothing less than extraordinary. The band wrote as a team, fleshing out each member’s ideas into a work of art that demands to be in the conversation about their top 5 albums overall. The mood and intensity closely resembles “The Warning” and “Rage For Order”, while sounding completely current. “The Verdict” is something you can bang your head to and (attempt to) sing along with. As with all Queensrÿche albums, you can also dive deeper into the lyrical content and find brain candy to chew on, ranging from geopolitical conflict to the inner workings of the mind. Founding members Michael Wilton and Eddie Jackson sound revitalized, and the years of touring with La Torre and Lundgren have clearly sparked something from deep inside. Founding drummer Scott Rockenfield remains on extended paternity leave, so La Torre even contributed drums to the effort, channeling the classic Queensrÿche sound. This is a band that is still hungry, still has something to say, and they have unleashed their most complete work since 1994’s “Promised Land”. “The Verdict” will be your first obsession album of 2019.
Go see the band live to feel the energy of this new album in person. http://www.queensrycheofficial.com/tour-dates/
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