Queensryche - American Soldier

[whiplash1972]

 

LOS ANGELES - Queensrÿche envisions war through the eyes of a soldier with the band's twelfth studio release, the epic concept album AMERICAN SOLDIER. The ambitious album encompasses a dozen songs inspired by numerous interviews with veterans conducted by Geoff Tate, the group's singer and chief songwriter, who was intent on telling their story using their words. After speaking with soldiers who served in various conflicts-from World War II to Iraq-Tate turned their firsthand experiences from the frontlines into an unflinching musical examination of the life of a solider and the consequences of war. AMERICAN SOLDIER will be available from Atco/Rhino on March 31 for a suggested list price of $18.98 (CD) and $9.99 (digital).

 

Tate, Michael Wilton (guitar), Ed Jackson (bass) and Scott Rockenfield (drums) recorded the album in 2008 over the course of nine months. The idea for AMERICAN SOLDIER, Tate says, came from hearing stories from fans that are veterans, as well as his own father, who served in both Korea and Vietnam. "My father was a career military man, but until very recently he never spoke about what he went through. I think that reticence is true of a lot of veterans, which means most people never truly understand what it means to be a soldier at war. Hearing what he and some of our fans have endured made me want to share their stories with the world. This is an album about the soldiers, for the soldiers, as told by the soldiers themselves."

 

Those stories resonate at the heart of AMERICAN SOLDIER, imbuing each song with vivid details about both the emotional and physical impacts of war, evoking war zone battles ("Middle Of Hell"), sacrifice ("The Killer"), loss ("If I Were King"), the longing for home ("Remember Me"), and adjusting to society after returning from war ("Man Down!").

 

Tate recorded many of his interviews with the soldiers, and some dialogue from these discussions is mixed into several of tracks, allowing the soldiers' own words to help tell their compelling stories. The band also brought a few of the soldiers into the studio with them to record vocals. The verses of the track "Unafraid" feature the voices of Chris Devine, a Vietnam veteran, and Sean Lenahan, a veteran of Somalia, recalling their war experiences while Tate provides the anthemic chorus. Also making a guest vocal appearance is Tate's 10-year-old daughter Emily on the gripping duet "Home Again," which examines the emotional toll of war from two perspectives, with Geoff singing from the soldier's point of view and his daughter singing from the viewpoint of the child left behind.

 

Making the album, Tate says, was an enlightening process. "I was surprised to learn how little has changed through the generations. I spoke with a Vietnam vet whose experience wasn't all that different from a soldier who fought in Somalia almost 30 years later. But what surprised me the most was how antiwar most soldiers are. To me, that makes their sacrifices even more moving."

 

Soon after the release of AMERICAN SOLDIER, Queensrÿche will launch an extensive spring tour of the U.S., with international dates to follow later in 2009. The shows will be presented in three suites, with the band performing sets from AMERICAN SOLDIER, Rage For Order, and Empire. The first date of the tour will be April 16 at Snoqualmie Casino in the band's hometown of Seattle.

 

AMERICAN SOLDIER

Track Listing

 

1. "Sliver"

2. "Unafraid"

3. "Hundred Mile Stare"

4. "At 30,000 ft."

5. "A Dead Man's Words"

6. "The Killer"

7. "Middle Of Hell"

8. "If I Were King"

9. "Man Down!"

10. "Remember Me"

11. "Home Again"

12. "The Voice"

 

http://www.queensryche.com/news/

[Geoff]

Cool concept, I'll give them that. In all honesty, I might actually even check this one out, after steering clear of this band for quite a while. I'll see what they can come up with.

[phaffas]

Cool concept, I'll give them that. In all honesty, I might actually even check this one out, after steering clear of this band for quite a while. I'll see what they can come up with.

 

THats a pretty quick return, OM2 wasnt that long ago. Id like to check this out. Whats the guitarist like?

[heaven&hell]

Cool concept, I'll give them that. In all honesty, I might actually even check this one out, after steering clear of this band for quite a while. I'll see what they can come up with.

 

THats a pretty quick return, OM2 wasnt that long ago. Id like to check this out. Whats the guitarist like?

 

Plus they did the cover album in between.

 

From what I've read on another message board is that Mike Stone is still in the touring band but they don't mention him playing on the album. I think he wrote quite a bit of OMII so I wonder if that's just a typo.

 

I do love the concept and the album cover.

[Fat Freddy]

I'm hearing that Chris DeGarmo recorded most of the lead guitars on the album... but Stone will take his place on tour...

 

Do ya think this album will have a cover of Toby Keith's "American Soldier" on it?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmF4E6PRBhQ

[heaven&hell]

I'm hearing that Chris DeGarmo recorded most of the lead guitars on the album... but Stone will take his place on tour...

 

Do ya think this album will have a cover of Toby Keith's "American Soldier" on it?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmF4E6PRBhQ

 

DeGarmo? Wow that sounds great.

I wonder if gets to practice when he's flying around the world?

[Fat Freddy]

Woops, never mind... the news i read was from Michael Wilton, who said he recorded all the guitars for the album... not DeGarmo. Sorry. Guess I picked the wrong week to quit sniffin' glue.

[phaffas]

Woops, never mind... the news i read was from Michael Wilton, who said he recorded all the guitars for the album... not DeGarmo. Sorry. Guess I picked the wrong week to quit sniffin' glue.

 

That wasnt glue.

[heaven&hell]

Woops, never mind... the news i read was from Michael Wilton, who said he recorded all the guitars for the album... not DeGarmo. Sorry. Guess I picked the wrong week to quit sniffin' glue.

 

Wow you really brought me down from cloud nine.

I thought DeGarmo was back and was celebrating and was dreaming of hearing "The Warning Part II".

[Faron]

Would interest me too if DeGarmo was back involved

[aMetalhead1966]

Would interest me too if DeGarmo was back involved

Backed...

[Captain Howdy]

Cool concept, I'll give them that. In all honesty, I might actually even check this one out, after steering clear of this band for quite a while. I'll see what they can come up with.

 

THats a pretty quick return, OM2 wasnt that long ago. Id like to check this out. Whats the guitarist like?

3 years really isnt that quick.

Its about the same sort of gap between most of their albums.

 

Of course, there is less than that if you include the covers CD, but as far as writing new material, then its 3 years!

[KarpetRydOFunk]

I'm still interested. My rule is: bands I love (even if their last few releases were crap) always get a chance. And I don't think OMII was bad.

[Faron]

I'm still interested. My rule is: bands I love (even if their last few releases were crap) always get a chance. And I don't think OMII was bad.

 

Probably right mate

[Dark Star]

I'll probably be picking this up.. I Love Queensryche, and well Mindrcime II wasn't really THAT bad...

[Fat Freddy]

I'll probably be picking this up.. I Love Queensryche, and well Mindrcime II wasn't really THAT bad...

 

I just finished spinning O.M. II for the first time in awhile... not bad, but still doesn't grab my nards the way the original did... that said, it's the first QR album in ages that didn't make me want to rip it out of the player and throw it out the window, I guess that counts for something...

 

I'm on the fence about whether or not I'll pick up the new one... the concept sounds cool though.

[Dark Star]

I'll probably be picking this up.. I Love Queensryche, and well Mindrcime II wasn't really THAT bad...

 

I just finished spinning O.M. II for the first time in awhile... not bad, but still doesn't grab my nards the way the original did... that said, it's the first QR album in ages that didn't make me want to rip it out of the player and throw it out the window, I guess that counts for something...

 

I'm on the fence about whether or not I'll pick up the new one... the concept sounds cool though.

 

 

Yea I hear that./. After being Less than impressed with Q2K?? I never bothered picking up Tribe... But OMII was a pleasant suprize... No, not as good as the GODLY First Mindcrime, but definitely better than anything they have done for the past decade.......

[Blue Charvel]

I'll probably be picking this up.. I Love Queensryche, and well Mindrcime II wasn't really THAT bad...

 

I just finished spinning O.M. II for the first time in awhile... not bad, but still doesn't grab my nards the way the original did... that said, it's the first QR album in ages that didn't make me want to rip it out of the player and throw it out the window, I guess that counts for something...

 

I'm on the fence about whether or not I'll pick up the new one... the concept sounds cool though.

 

 

Yea I hear that./. After being Less than impressed with Q2K?? I never bothered picking up Tribe... But OMII was a pleasant suprize... No, not as good as the GODLY First Mindcrime, but definitely better than anything they have done for the past decade.......

Plus it had Dio on it, horns up! \m/

[Fat Freddy]

Plus it had Dio on it, horns up! \m/

 

Putting Dio on anything makes it better.

[Blue Charvel]

Plus it had Dio on it, horns up! \m/

 

Putting Dio on anything makes it better.

Just one more thing he has in common with cheese.

[heaven&hell]

Plus it had Dio on it, horns up! \m/

 

Putting Dio on anything makes it better.

Just one more thing he has in common with cheese.

 

And whip cream.

[KarpetRydOFunk]

Plus it had Dio on it, horns up! \m/

 

Putting Dio on anything makes it better.

Just one more thing he has in common with cheese.

 

And whip cream.

Wine...

[heaven&hell]

I guess this explains why Mike Stone isn't playing on the new album:

 

 

Guitarist Mike Stone has announced his departure from QUEENSRŸCHE. He said in a statement, "After much consideration, I will not be joining QUEENSRŸCHE on the 2009 American Soldier Tour. I feel now is the time to focus on other musical endeavors, including my new band SPEED X with Nick Catanese of BLACK LABEL SOCIETY. I would like to thank all of the QUEENSRŸCHE fans around the world for being nothing less than amazing to me during my time with the band. You have treated me like gold, and I will never forget it. It has been an honor to be a part of the QUEENSRŸCHE family, and I wish Geoff, Michael, Scott and Eddie nothing but the very best."

 

QUEENSRŸCHE added in a statement, "We will miss [Mike]. He is a wonderful player and has contributed to our lives musically and spiritually. We wish him the best and hope to see him succeed in everything he chooses to participate in."

 

QUEENSRŸCHE's twelfth studio release, the epic concept album "American Soldier", will be available from Atco/Rhino on March 31 for a suggested list price of $18.98 (CD) and $9.99 (digital). The ambitious album encompasses a dozen songs inspired by numerous interviews with veterans conducted by Geoff Tate, the group's singer and chief songwriter, who was intent on telling their story using their words. After speaking with soldiers who served in various conflicts — from World War II to Iraq — Tate turned their firsthand experiences from the frontlines into an unflinching musical examination of the life of a solider and the consequences of war.

 

QUEENSRŸCHE guitarist Michael Wilton recently revealed that he recorded all the guitar parts for "American Soldier". He said in an online posting, "I recorded all the guitars this time so it should sound more like the original 'RŸCHE."

[Blue Charvel]

Honestly when I saw them at STRF we were commenting on how out of place he looked. Played great, no question, but he looked like they stole him from System of a Down or something.

[heaven&hell]

Honestly when I saw them at STRF we were commenting on how out of place he looked. Played great, no question, but he looked like they stole him from System of a Down or something.

 

From pics I've seen I was thinking the same thing.

I'm not sure why they never went and stole Chris Broderick from Jag Panzer like Megadeth eventually did.

Plus there's tons of solid Guitar players out there that look and play that style that are in other Queensryche influenced bands out there.