BAND: QUEENSRYCHE
ALBUM: AMERICAN SOLDIER

TRACKLIST:
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

First off, I have to lay it down - I'm a huge fan of the ‘Empire’ album, to me that is their best album.  From the rest of their work I have only liked a handful of songs if any at all.  Geoff Tate has an amazing voice and I have always expected great songs to come from him.  At many times it's the song structure that has ruined the experience, and when I say that I mean there's nothing to get my teeth into ya know?

Secondly, this is yet another concept album from Queensryche so not new ground for them, but this has to be the best one they have done in my opinion so far.

On ‘American Soldier’ I feel we have what I call “catchabilty” the song structure is on form as Queensryche envisions war through the eyes of a soldier.  The album has a dozen songs inspired by numerous interviews with veterans conducted by Geoff Tate, 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 soldier and the consequences of war.  With some of the tracks even using sound bytes from a few of the soldier's voices, adding realism and passion to the music.  One of the tracks, "Unafraid" these excerpts are the verses of the song and Tate just sings the chorus, this is an unusual way of formatting a song and very memorable

The last three songs are the ballad numbers and one of them is my favourite on the album, it is a touching duet with his daughter Emily on "Home Again".

‘American Soldier’ is no ‘Empire’ but it is a great listen, and a definite heart-wrencher for anyone who has served.  This album gives the listener a true-blue intro into the world of war.

 
Reviewed by David Harris

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