Queensrÿche - Tribe


Year of Release: 2003
Label: Sanctuary Records
Catalog Number: 06076-84578-2
Format: CD
Total Time: 41:41:00

Call me a sucker, but I had to hope, had to believe that this time would be different, that the hype would be more than just hype, that something great was going to happen and that Tribe would be Queensrÿche's return to progressive metal glory. Well, I quickly realized that I'd been suckered again, that Tribe was nothing more than a half-hearted attempt to get the name of a once-great band back into the collective psyche of metalheads everywhere.

Not that Tribe is all bad; it's not. Instead, Tribe is a troubling "kinda-sorta," with strengths and weaknesses in near-equal measure that plays like a low-scoring football game that ends in a tie, leaving the fans feeling ambivalent and wondering if the ticket price was worth it.

At least Queensrÿche made good on the hype (please refer to the banner at the top of this page, please); Chris DeGarmo does appear on Tribe, but his presence seems more like an assist visit and doesn't add much spark to the cooling Queensrÿche embers. Quite the opposite, in fact; with a couple of notable exceptions, the songs are uninspired and sluggish, and the absence of guitar solos only accentuates the missing passion. Just as bothersome is the fact that Geoff Tate does a fine job of delivering his heartfelt lyrics, words inspired by his travels around the United States in the wake of the 9/11 tragedy, but his points just don't hit home because of the lack of musical muscle.

On the bright side, enough of what's good about Queensrÿche shines through to salvage what might have been a total write-off. The Geoff Tate/Mike Stone-written "Losing Myself" delivers its drama by juxtaposing verses driven by tribal drums, electronics, and bass with old-school Queensrÿche hard rock choruses. "Falling Behind" drives nicely along on a Middle-eastern flavored acoustic guitar rhythm, while "Rhythm Of Hope" aspires to symphonic rock, with its rolling acoustic rhythms supported by orchestral synthesizer washes. The real oddball winner on Tribe, though, is the uncharacteristic AOR-style closer, "Doin' Fine." Although over-optimistic (deluded, some might say) and underplayed, "Doin' Fine" seems like perfect radio fodder and given a more strident performance, has the potential to become a powerhouse in concert.

Still, four good-ish songs out of ten does not a winner make, especially when the other six leave so much to be desired. Lacking enthusiasm and inspiration, Tribe is best left to diehard Queensrÿche fans ? and suckers.


Tracklisting:
Open (4:32) / Losing Myself (4:12) / Desert Drive (3:57) / Falling Behind (4:28) / The Great Divide (4:01) / Rhythm Of Hope (3:31) / Tribe (4:39) / Blood (4:13) / The Art Of Life (4:12) / Doin' Fine (3:59)

Musicians:
Geoff Tate - vocals, synthesizers
Michael Wilton - guitars
Eddie Jackson - basses
Scott Rockenfield - drums, percussion

Guest musicians:

Chris DeGarmo - guitars
Mike Stone - guitars

Discography:
Queensrÿche (1983)
The Warning (1984)
Rage For Order (1986)
Operation: Mindcrime (1988)
Empire (1991)
Promised Land (1994)
Hear In The Now Frontier (1997)
Q2K (1999)
Greatest Hits (2000)
Live Evolution (2001)
Classic Masters (2002)
Revolution Calling (2003)
Tribe (2003)
Art Of Live (2004)
Operation: Mindcrime II (2006)
Essential (2006)
Face To Face (2006)
Mindcrime At The Moore (2007)
Extended Versions (2007)
Sign Of The Times: The Best Of Queensrÿche (2007)
Take Cover (2007)
The Best Of Queensrÿche (2007)
The Collection (2008)
American Soldier (2009)

Live In Tokyo (VID) (1985)
Mindcime (VID) (1989)
Building Empires (VID) (1992)
Live Evolution (DVD) (2001)
Operation LIVEcrime (DVD) (2001)
The Art Of Live (DVD) (2004)
Live (DVD) (2007)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin US

Added: August 24th 2003
Reviewer: David Cisco
Score:
Artist website: www.queensryche.com
Hits: 2610
Language: english

  

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