Queensryche's new concept album....

sixxswine

rockandrollazine.blogspot
I can just see this concept turning into this huge soap box for Tate's huge, gigantic dome...

From Blabbermouth:

QUEENSRŸCHE: New Album Title, Concept Revealed - Oct. 29, 2008 QUEENSRŸCHE is currently in the studio putting the finishing touches on its twelfth studio album, "American Soldier". The concept effort, due this spring from Rhino/Atco, finds the band once again tackling some heavy subject matter, this time focusing on telling the story of war from a firsthand perspective. Singer and chief songwriter Geoff Tate has spent the last few years conducting extensive interviews with veterans and has crafted their thoughts into this epic tale. "American Soldier" examines American wars from World War II through Iraq from the viewpoint of those in the trenches and on the frontlines. Following the album's release, QUEENSRŸCHE plans to present tracks from the album live on an extensive spring tour of the U.S., with international dates to follow later in 2009. The first date of the tour will be a hometown gig at Seattle's Snoqualmie Casino on April 16.

"QUEENSRŸCHE has always had incredible support from members of the Armed Services," says Tate. "It seems like after every show, I'd end up speaking with a fan that was or had been involved with the military. The more and more I began to hear their accounts and feelings, the more I really felt a conviction to tell their story. Over the last two years, I've conducted dozens of one-on-one interviews with veterans of many different American wars. I listened to their amazing and moving recounts and did my best to examine war through their eyes."

QUEENSRŸCHE will help celebrate the music and legacy of Jimi Hendrix by performing on two dates of this year's Experience Hendrix 2008 tribute tour:

Nov. 05 - INB Performing Arts Center - Spokane, WA
Nov. 06 - The Paramount Theatre - Seattle, WA

These performances — which are part of a nationwide 19-city tour that began on October 15 in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire — will feature such other artists as Mitch Mitchell and Billy Cox of THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE, Doyle Bramhall II, Eric Gales, Buddy Guy, Robby Krieger, Jonny Lang, Chris Layton, Mato Nanji and Hubert Sumlin, among others.

Commented QUEENSRŸCHE frontman Geoff Tate: "Jimi Hendrix is not only a Seattle legend but a world legend. I feel it's such a privilege to be included on this tour and to have a chance to play his music with such a talented group of musicians."

Also on the horizon for release early next year is Geoff Tate's red wine signature blend called Insania, which has already garnered the attention of Wine Spectator magazine.

QUEENSRŸCHE performed with an orchestra (dubbed the "Empire Orchestra") for the first time ever on August 23 at the White River Amphitheatre in Auburn, Washington. The concert was part of Seattle station KISW 99.9 FM's Pain in the Grass 2008 event, also featuring SEETHER, SHINEDOWN, SEVENDUST, DROWNING POOL, JET BLACK STARE and EARSHOT.

Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be viewed below (clips uploaded by YouTube user "DrigrX").
 
You beat me to posting this. I'm heavily anticipating this album. Word is that DeGarmo had a hand in writing some of the material (not sure how true that is), but the material is supposed to be more along the lines of classic 'ryche rather than Hear in the New Frontier.
 
You beat me to posting this. I'm heavily anticipating this album. Word is that DeGarmo had a hand in writing some of the material (not sure how true that is), but the material is supposed to be more along the lines of classic 'ryche rather than Hear in the New Frontier.

One could only hope Chris was involved and that they've revisted their classic sound....
 
holy shit, been waiting for the news about this release. originally tate wanted it be released by the end of 2008, but early 2009 is ok. anyone know what kind of deal they signed with rhino records? i have a feeling whenever that contract is up queensryche might retire. it would probably be 2012 before they make another new album
 
You beat me to posting this. I'm heavily anticipating this album. Word is that DeGarmo had a hand in writing some of the material (not sure how true that is), but the material is supposed to be more along the lines of classic 'ryche rather than Hear in the New Frontier.

i actually liked q2k, hear in the now frontier and tribe better than omc:2
 
Great news!
So is Degarmo back in or what? I hope so...the band has suffered since his departure IMO. Thier last studio release...it pained me cause I thought it was so bad.
 
mc 2 was pretty cool...Why didn't you like it?

I grew up with the original album, I loved it, I listened to it for months after buying it. I still dusted it off in the years after and it hit the spot each and everytime. The second installment couldn't live up to the original it was a bad idea from the start. It's like Pink Floyd trying to do another installment of The Wall... It simply can't measure up. MC II is good buy not worthy to be mentioned in the same breath as MC.
 
I'm not going to get my hopes up. OM2 didn't recapture the glory days of QR, as I believe the intention was.
 
I'm not going to get my hopes up. OM2 didn't recapture the glory days of QR, as I believe the intention was.

i now actually listen to promised land-tribe more than anything released before that. i didn't like OMC2 either really but after another listen the 2nd half actually gets more queensryche like. the covers album is ok too. tate sings better on there than he does on OMC2
 
i now actually listen to promised land-tribe more than anything released before that. i didn't like OMC2 either really but after another listen the 2nd half actually gets more queensryche like. the covers album is ok too. tate sings better on there than he does on OMC2

I really like Tribe. On my first listen I couldn't stand it, but on my second something just clicked. Absolutely love the song Rhythm of Hope.

The covers album was forgettable save for the awesome live cover of Bullet the Blue Sky.

Promised Land was the last great Ryche disc. It's a grower (I hated it at first) but some real brilliance in the songwriting department.

OM2: It was a step in the right direction, like the new Metallica record. OM2, from a writing and guitar standpoint was a return to form for ryche (the broken chords, counterpoint guitar riffs, etc.)