QUEENSRŸCHE — Queensrÿche (review)

QUEENSRŸCHE — Queensrÿche album cover EP · 1983 · US Power Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Queensrÿche" is an eponymously titled EP release by US power/heavy metal act Queensrÿche. The EP was released through 206 Records in May 1983 in a very limited quantity (206 Records was the band´s own label), but was originally recorded as a demo tape in June 1982 when the band was still known as The Mob. Lead vocalist Geoff Tate was not a permanent member of the band at this point (he was in a band called Myth), and was therefore a session musician on this release. Shortly before EMI Records signed Queensrÿche in 1983 and opted to reissue the "Queensrÿche" EP, Tate became a permanent member of the band.

Stylistically the 4 tracks (some later reissues feature the bonus track "Prophecy", which was written during "The Warning (1984)" sessions, but not recorded until the sessions for "Rage for Order (1986)") on the 17:31 minutes long EP are in a traditional heavy metal style strongly influenced by an artists like Iron Maiden and melodic early 80s heavy metal in general. It´s hard edged, melodic, and epic. Tate was a world class singer already at this point, and delivers his distinct sounding vocals with both passion, skill, and conviction. Predominantly in a very high pitched and powerful fashion. The rest of the band are very well playing too. Pounding heavy metal rhythms and hard rocking riffs and solos.

The first three tracks are hard edged rockers, while the 6:15 minutes long closing track "The Lady Wore Black" is an epic power ballad type track. To my ears "The Lady Wore Black" and "Queen of the Reich" are the two most memorable tracks off the EP, but both "Nightrider" and "Blinded" are quality material too. The sound production is raw, powerful, and pretty well sounding considering the time of release, so upon conclusion the "Queensrÿche" EP is a very promising start to the band´s recording career. It´s a quality release through and through and a 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.
Share this review

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
UMUR wrote:
more than 2 years ago
:-)
more than 2 years ago
I loved this EP so much that I wrote about why I thought Queensrÿche were the best new band for a grade eight English class essay assignment.
Unitron wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Great EP, although Rage for Order will probably always be my favorite Queensryche album.
siLLy puPPy wrote:
more than 2 years ago
This is actually one of my favorite albums that I never tire of

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Traumatica Metalcore
NO GUERRA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Within the Visceria Death Metal
NECKBREAKKER
Buy this album from MMA partners
EP 1 Sludge Metal
CHAOTIC AGGRESSION
Buy this album from MMA partners
Songs of Blood and Mire Black Metal
SPECTRAL WOUND
Buy this album from MMA partners
Everything Hurts And I'm Dying Atmospheric Sludge Metal
NEGATIVE BLISS
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us